Jul 18, 2025 - Politics & Policy

FBI asked to "flag" Epstein files that mention Trump, senator says

Josephine Walker

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-IA) (L) and ranking member Sen. Richard Durbin (D_IL) question former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi during her confirmation hearing to be the next U.S. attorney general in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025 — Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) (L) and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) on Capitol Hill on January 15, 2025. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said about 1,000 FBI agents were instructed to "flag" any records related to Jeffrey Epstein that mention President Trump.

Why it matters: In multiple letters sent to top Justice and FBI officials, Durbin sought to press for more answers from the Department of Justice that is engulfed by the Epstein investigation fallout.

Zoom In: Durbin said that the FBI agents were pressured to review about 100,000 Epstein-related records from March 14 to the end of March.

Many of the agents "lacked the expertise to identify statutorily-protected information regarding child victims and child witnesses," Durbin added.
Durbin pointed out that Attorney General Pam Bondi's previous past statements that she would release additional documents directly contradicted the DOJ's about-face earlier this month when the department said no additional releases would happen.

What they're saying: The letters asked Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino if they personally reviewed all of the files in the DOJ's possession that relate to Epstein.

Durbin also questioned why personnel were told to flag records in which Trump was mentioned, and what happened to the records mentioning the president once they were flagged.

What we're watching: Durbin letter concluded with a request for top DOJ officials to provide information and materials to a range of questions by August 1.

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a Friday evening request for comment.

Go Deeper: Inside the GOP-led plot to defy Trump on the Epstein files

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FBI asked to "flag" Epstein files that mention Trump, senator says

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