Sen. Marsha Blackburn called Monday on newly inaugurated FBI Director Kash Patel to follow through on his commitment to transparency in the case of notorious sex predator Jeffrey Epstein.
Blackburn (R-Tenn.), 72, insisted Patel and acting IRS Commissioner Douglas O’Donnell release their respective agencies’ “complete, unredacted records” on Epstein amid longstanding public questions and speculation about his associates that have swirled since his death in 2019.
“This critical information identifying every individual who could have participated in Jeffrey Epstein’s abhorrent conduct is long overdue,” Blackburn wrote in a letter to Patel.
“The survivors of Mr. Epstein’s horrific crimes want transparency and accountability, and they—and the American people—deserve nothing less.”
The Republican is demanding the FBI fork over the complete flight logs from Epstein’s jet and helicopter, his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell’s records — including the pervert’s notorious “little black book” containing the names and contact info of the rich and famous — and surveillance footage of his Palm Beach, Fla. residence.
Redacted versions of the little black book and flight logs have previously leaked online or appeared in past lawsuits but Blackburn wants the full version to be made public.
“Since Mr. Epstein’s death in 2019, there is still much about this tragic case that is not known—including the names of his associates that are listed in the flight logs of his private jet and in Ghislaine Maxwell’s ‘little black book,’” Blackburn wrote.
“It is paramount that the FBI provide full transparency to the American people and immediately release the complete, unredacted records in this case.”
Additionally, Blackburn wants the IRS to produce “any and all” documents that “reveal the names of individuals and entities that held any type of financial relationship” with Epstein or Maxwell, along with all IRS files on the pair.
Epstein, a financier who had been well-connected in elite circles, died in his Manhattan jail cell on Aug. 10, 2019, weeks after his arrest by federal investigators on child sex trafficking charges. The official ruling was suicide.
During his confirmation hearing last month, Patel told Blackburn that he would “absolutely” work with her to bring about more transparency on those files.
It is not immediately clear how far Patel will go in divulging that material given prior concerns about releasing personal information of individuals who met with Epstein but committed no criminal conduct.
Blackburn has long battled for access to those records, including pushing for the Senate Judiciary Committee to slap a subpoena for those files.
She also pressed Patel’s predecessor, Christopher Wray, to fork over that material. In December 2023, Wray had told the Senate Judiciary Committee that his team would “figure out if there’s more information we can provide” on Epstein.
“Director Wray never provided any such follow-up information. Over a year has elapsed since then, and we still do not have all of the necessary information regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s crime,” Blackburn noted to Patel.
Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed last week that Epstein’s client list is “sitting on my desk” for a review on whether or not to release it.
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