Gov. DeSantis calls on Trump admin to release Epstein files
For years, President Donald Trump and top Republican officials have called for transparency about Epstein's alleged "client list" and said that Epstein didn't die by suicide in 2019. Many of the same people are upset that the Justice Department report indicated there was no such list and that he took his own life.
"What I would say is just release it, let people see. But I do think there's a desire for justice because Jeffrey Epstein and (Ghislaine) Maxwell didn't just do this amongst themselves. I mean, there were obviously other people involved, and yet no one's been brought to justice," DeSantis told Fox News on July 20.
Last year, DeSantis signed legislation that would authorize "the public release of grand jury documents," including those related to a 2006 Florida investigation into Epstein's abuse of underage girls.
In July 2006, Epstein was indicted by a grand jury on a felony charge of soliciting prostitution. He was arrested and spent one night in the Palm Beach County jail. He was released the following day on $3,000 bond.
He pleaded guilty in 2008 to solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of a minor for prostitution in Florida. He served a 13-month stint in county jail and was regularly allowed to leave as part of a generous work release program. He died in a New York federal detention center in 2019 before he could be tried on sex trafficking charges.
Amid public clamor over the Justice Department's report, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi on July 17 to produce grand jury testimony from Epstein's sex-trafficking case, assuming a court will allow it.
Contributing: Kinsey Crowley and Holly Baltz, USA TODAY Network
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All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Trump butchers Kristi Noem's name Mary concluded by slamming a press conference about the 2028 Olympics held by her uncle on Tuesday. She noted: "Surrounded by his staff with whom he speaks daily, he couldn't even manage to get their names right." During the press conference, Trump mistakenly introduced Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem as Cristie Kerr, a pro golfer. 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