In what is, arguably, a betrayal of the MAGA community, it has been revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been working overtime to review and redact the notorious and highly sought Epstein files.
For months, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi and President Donald Trump were subjected to fierce criticism from their supporters for delaying the release of the files.
Amid such a wave of backlash, Trump ultimately signed the Epstein Files Act into law, requiring the Department of Justice (DOJ)to release the documents. However, there is a caveat.
The department could choose how and when to release certain documents, as Resist the Mainstream previously reported.
Internal emails shared by Bloomberg News detailed how the FBI, along with officers from the Freedom of Information Act office (FOIA), worked together to review the Epstein files.
The outlet reported that after the Trump administration released “Phase 1” of the files in March, Patel ordered FBI agents to join FOIA officers at a bureau facility in Winchester, Virginia.
“The army of agents from the New York and Washington field offices, along with FOIA officers, were instructed on how to review and apply redactions to the documents,” Bloomberg News reported.
Author Jason Leopold revealed that he filed an FOIA request in search of the directives between the FBI and the office regarding the reviewing process of the Epstein files.
Agents from New York and Washington filed offices were instructed via email on how to review the documents.
The operation was titled “Epstein Transparency Project,” and on other occasions referred to as the “Special Redaction Project.”
FBI agents spent a bulk of their shifts at the office reviewing the files, with some having to work through the night. They were arguably compensated well.
“The FBI paid personnel from various divisions, including counterintelligence and international operations, $851,344 in overtime for working on the Epstein files between March 17 and March 22, according to the documents. FBI personnel clocked in a total of 4,737 hours of overtime between January and July. Of that, more than 70% occurred during the month of March while personnel reviewed the Epstein files, the documents show,” Leopold said.
In an email from March 10, FBI Information Management Division Assistant Director Shannon informed an individual named “Sam” that New York agents would be traveling to the Washington field office (WFO) and would then arrive at the Virginia facility to scan and process the Epstein files.
“Once I see the volume, I’ll have a better estimate of processing times, although I suggest we do a rolling delivery to further demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to delivery and transparency,” the email read.
In a separate email, the FBI agents were instructed to pause their review of the Phase 1 files.
“We have identified more files requiring Phase l review. Please continue to refresh as files will be populated momentarily,” the email stated, according to Leopold.
In other words, the FBI was picking and choosing which files to redact.
By March 24, an email was sent out to all FBI agents involved in the process, pointing out the end of the Phase 1 review.
“Phase 1 redactions are complete,” the email said, adding that Phase 2 was being prepared to be sent to the DOJ.
