Fbi Personnel Were Told To Flag Epstein Files Mentioning Trump, Senate Democrat Says

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., pressed Justice Department activity astir their handling of files related to nan national investigation into nan precocious Jeffrey Epstein, including reports that FBI unit were instructed to "flag" immoderate records that mentioned President Donald Trump.

In a bid of oversight letters written to Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Durbin questioned Bondi astir "contradictions" successful her nationalist statements connected nan case, Patel astir reports that he was "pressured" by Bondi to spot 1,000 unit connected 24-hour shifts to excavation astir 100,000 Epstein-related records and Bongino astir reported disputes among Trump officials astir “the deficiency of transparency” successful their handling of nan high-profile case.

In nan letters sent Friday, Durbin, nan apical Democrat connected nan Senate Judiciary Committee, asked each of nan Trump management officials to respond to information received by his agency that suggested FBI unit were specifically instructed to "flag" immoderate records mentioning Trump.

"My agency was told that these unit were instructed to 'flag' immoderate records successful which President Trump was mentioned. ... Why were unit told to emblem records successful which President Trump was mentioned," Durbin asked Bondi, Patel and Bongino successful abstracted letters. "What happened to nan records mentioning President Trump erstwhile they were flagged?"

A Durbin adjutant told NBC News that nan senator's agency received that accusation from a protected FBI whistleblower disclosure.

The FBI declined NBC News' petition for remark connected Durbin's letters.

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The letters people nan latest effort by Democrats to support attraction connected Epstein much than a week aft nan Justice Department released a memo outlining a determination to cease further disclosures related to nan investigation. The memo roiled Trump's MAGA base, creating a uncommon rift among Trump and nan far-right guidelines that thrusted him into powerfulness — a rift that Democratic lawmakers person aimed to widen.

In nan aftermath of nan Justice Department memo, Bondi has faced blowback successful portion because of erstwhile nationalist statements she made pointing to nan existence of thousands of pages of further documents related to Epstein, including a purported "client list."

Durbin, like galore of Trump's supporters complete nan past week, asked nan Attorney General to reconcile her earlier nationalist declarations pinch her department's uncovering that "no further disclosures" are warranted successful nan lawsuit and that a reappraisal of records "revealed nary incriminating customer list."

"Why did you publically declare connected February 21 that nan customer database was 'sitting connected my table correct now to review?'" Durbin asked Bondi. "If it was not a customer list, what was 'sitting connected your desk' astatine that moment?"

Bongino and Patel person besides faced backlash online. Both of them antecedently promoted conspiracy theories that suggested nan Epstein lawsuit was portion of a authorities cover-up to protect powerful governmental players progressive successful a kid maltreatment ring.

Patel, successful nan only post he's made to his individual societal media relationship since nan Justice Department memo was released, said "the conspiracy theories conscionable aren't true" and "never person been." Durbin, aiming to telephone attraction to Patel's past suggestions of a cover-up, asked nan FBI head to item nan conspiracy theories he was referring to successful his post.

"What are nan conspiracy theories you are referring to successful your July 12 tweet that 'were ne'er true?' If location are much than one, please explicate each successful detail," nan legislator wrote to Patel.

NBC News previously reported that Bongino was "out of power furious," skipped a time of activity and considered resigning from his station owed to nan Justice Department's handling of nan Epstein files, a taxable Durbin questioned nan erstwhile governmental commentator about.

"What was nan quality of nan conflict betwixt you and White House and DOJ officials aft nan merchandise of nan July 7 memorandum," Durbin asked Bongino. "Is this conflict betwixt you and White House and DOJ officials nan logic down your July 11 absence from work?"

Durbin besides questioned nan Trump officials astir reporting from nan Wall Street Journal that alleged Trump wrote a missive to Epstein successful 2003, accompanied by a drafting of a naked woman, that was included successful a leather-bound day medium talented to Epstein for his 50th birthday, according to documents reviewed by nan Journal.

Trump has denied that he wrote nan missive and he filed a suit against nan newspaper for publishing nan story. NBC News has not independently confirmed nan Journal's reporting.

The Journal's genitor institution and its patient did not instantly respond to requests for remark connected nan suit Friday night.

"Did unit reappraisal immoderate correspondence betwixt President Trump and Mr. Epstein, including a missive successful nan reported 'leather-bound album' arsenic portion of this year's reappraisal [of Epstein records]?" Durbin asked.

Hours aft nan Journal's reporting, Trump connected Thursday directed Bondi to "produce immoderate and each pertinent Grand Jury testimony" related to Epstein, "subject to Court approval." Bondi connected Friday revenge a mobility requesting nan unsealing of expansive assemblage transcripts related to nan Epstein case.

“Given nan nationalist liking successful nan investigative activity conducted by nan Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation into Epstein, nan Department of Justice moves nan Court to unseal nan underlying expansive assemblage transcripts successful United States v. Epstein, taxable to due redactions of victim-related and different individual identifying information,” nan archive said.