Epstein files live updates: Trump breaks silence while pressure grows on Andrew over new pictures – UK Times

A group representing Epstein survivors is pushing for the full release of the Justice Department files with Attorney General Pam Bondi scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee next month, the Associated Press reported.

In a statement released Friday by the publicist for the late Virginia Giuffre, the group said the Justice Department “cannot claim it is finished releasing files until every legally required document is released and every abuser and enabler is fully exposed.”

“We need to hear directly from Attorney General Pam Bondi when she appears before the House Judiciary Committee,” the statement said, adding that the matter “is not over.”

The group said it would continue pressing for accountability and urged lawmakers from both parties to support the full release of the files, emphasizing that their demands are “not about politics,” but about transparency and justice for survivors.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for full transparency around the Epstein files on Saturday, saying the latest release was just a ‘minority’ of what the DOJ holds.

“Even with everything in this Epstein drop, remember: this is a minority of the files,” the Democrat representative wrote on social media.

“This is STILL just what they were *willing* to release – in violation of the law, which requires release of all files. Pam Bondi’s DOJ is still hiding most of them. We need them all.”

Robert Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, said Saturday that he had accepted the resignation of Miroslav Lajcak, his national security adviser.

Lajcak, a former foreign minister, hasn’t been accused of wrongdoing, but emails showed that Epstein had invited him to dinner and other meetings in 2018.

The records also include a March 2018 email from Epstein’s office to former Obama White House general counsel Kathy Ruemmler, inviting her to a get-together with Epstein, Lajcak and Steve Bannon.

Lajcak said his contacts with Epstein were part of his diplomatic duties. Pressure mounted for his ouster from opposition parties and a nationalist partner in Fico’s governing coalition.

A government minister has denied any knowledge of Peter Mandelson’s alleged financial links with Jeffrey Epstein, saying that he “does not know how far” the former US ambassador’s “lack of disclosure” to the government goes.

Asked whether the government had knowledge of Mr Mandelson’s alleged financial links with the convicted pedophile, Steve Reed told the BBC: “Of course not. Absolutely, not. I mean, you’re talking about things that happened 20 years ago, more than 20 years ago. Of course, there was no knowledge.”

He added: “I want to hear what happened just as much as you do, just as much as people watching this show.”

Asked whether Lord Mandelson was not telling the truth when he previously claimed that he had told Downing Street everything there was to know about his links with Epstein, Mr Reed said: “The reason he was removed as ambassador to the US is because there were things he had not disclosed.

“Now I don’t know how far that lack of disclosure goes. I think he should answer questions about his own life.”

The Government on Sunday continued to pile pressure on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to testify before a US investigation into Epstein.

Communities Secretary Steve Reed was asked on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News if the Government would comply with an extradition request from the US for the former duke, should one be made.

He said while it would not be sensibly to discuss hypotheticals, “he principle here is very, very clear: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor clearly has insight into what was going on, and he should testify, because the victims deserve and need him, and anybody else who may have witnessed things, to do that.”

Mr Reed added he had “no idea” if the Government could compel Andrew to take part in the congressional investigation.

Cabinet minister Steve Reed has declined to say whether Peter Mandelson should be stripped of the Labour whip if he returns to the Lords after fresh revelations emerged about his links with Jeffrey Epstein.

He told Sky News: “Before taking any action like that, we need to understand exactly what’s happened. You’re asking me here about something that happened nearly 20 years ago. I don’t know the full detail of it.

“I wasn’t in the government 20 years ago.”

Referring to allegations Epstein transferred Mr Mandelson’s husband a fee for him to attend the British School of Osteopathy, Mr Reed added: “I think it would be for Peter Mandelson to explain whether or not that money was properly declared, and if not, then he will need to account for that. But I don’t want to jump the gun and make assumptions. I think we need to find out exactly what happened.”

One email released in the new files shows an Xbox Live account linked to Epstein’s email address was permanently banned from online functions.

An email dated December 19, 2013 reads: “This email is to notify you that your Xbox Live account privileges have been permanently suspended due to harassment, threats, and/or abuse of other players. This conduct has been determined to be severe, repeated, and/or excessive.”

Another email, also dated 19 December 2013, says the permanent suspension was “based on the New York Attorney General’s partnership with Microsoft and other online gaming companies to remove New York registered sex offenders from online gaming services to minimize the risk to others, particularly children”.

The US justice department released more than three million files pertaining to the case of paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein on Friday.

Those files are still being analysed. Many emerged with major redactions and critics said there were still files missing.

Survivors also criticised the handling of the release, with some named in files shared with the public.

– A man who appeared to be the former prince Andrew was pictured several times on all fours over a woman on the floor.

– Andrew also appeared to invite Epstein to Buckingham Palace for dinner and “lots of privacy”.

– Epstein said in an email he wanted Sarah Ferguson to release a statement saying he was “not a pedo” after she distanced herself himself from him.

– One file details what appeared to be internal emails by federal investigators looking into salacious accusations involving Donald Trump and Epstein. The investigators said several accusers were not deemed credible.

On his return from Japan on Saturday, the prime minister addressed the revelations from the new release of Epstein files.

“Anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that,” he told reporters. “You can’t be victim centred if you’re not prepared to do that.”

He said: “Epstein’s victims have to be the first priority.

“As for whether there should be an apology, that’s a matter for Andrew.”

New files published on Friday included emails that showed King Charles’s brother maintaining regular contact with Epstein for more than two years after he was found guilty of child sex crimes.

In November, members of a U.S. congressional committee investigating the Epstein case intensified their calls for Andrew to answer questions.

Although notable people may be named or featured in photographs in the Epstein files, their presence alone does not mean they are accused of wrongdoing or even knew of Epstein’s crimes.

Epstein, once a wealthy financier, was well-connected to celebrities, powerful businessmen and world leaders.

Prosecutors collected all photos and documents that they could during investigations, meaning those who knew Epstein, but played no role in his crimes, or perhaps did not even know about it, can be mentioned.