CNN’s Elie Honig Says DOJ Can Withhold Some Information In Epstein Files After Release

CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig said on Friday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) can leave out information related to possible criminal investigations or national security risks following the release of the files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The DOJ has until 11:59 p.m. on Friday to release the files in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law on Nov. 19. Honig said on “CNN News Central” that Attorney General Pam Bondi does not have to go into specific details on why certain documents are being withheld from the public.

“DOJ can withhold information relating to ongoing criminal investigations. Now, what criminal investigations are out there? We don’t know. DOJ knows they’re going to be able to redact out information relating to that. And third, any information that might undermine or impact national security or foreign policy. A lot of play there, a lot of wiggle room, a lot of discretion in Pam Bondi’s hands,” Honig said. 

“So, so how will we know if we’re getting everything? How will we know if anything’s being withheld?” CNN host John Berman asked. 

“We won’t know, nor will Congress,” Honig responded. “The law does require the AG to provide written notification to Congress of anything they withheld, but that’s sort of vague. That’s subject to interpretation. I mean, it could be enough under the law for Pam Bondi to say, ‘dear Congress, dear world, be advised, I have withheld certain materials because they relate to criminal investigations because they relate to national security,’ period. And then there’s not a heck of a lot we can do to get underneath that.” (RELATED: Kamala Harris Goes To Bat For Biden Administration Over Not Releasing Epstein Files)

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Honig previously criticized Bondi in July over her handling of the files, stating that she made “grandiose promises” that she had failed to fulfill.

“Are there others where the FBI or DOJ has evidence that could have led to criminal charges? I’m not so interested in, in sort of just all the atmospherics, but are there people who evaded meaningful criminal liability here?” Honig said. 

The files gained national attention after the DOJ and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) concluded in July that Epstein committed suicide in his jail cell and that he never possessed a client list. The memo was an abrupt end to the investigation after Bondi stated that she had the client list on her desk for review.

Trump initially opposed releasing the files, but later changed his tune by saying that he had nothing to hide. Ghislaine Maxwell, the former business partner of Epstein serving a 20-year prison sentence, told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche that she never witnessed Trump engage in any inappropriate acts during his friendship with Epstein.

Victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking ring also told NBC News’ Hallie Jackson in September that they never witnessed or had any knowledge of Trump committing any wrongdoing.

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