One former federal prosecutor is asserting that President Donald Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) is actively engaging in a "cover-up" due to significant redactions in Friday's release of Jeffrey Epstein documents.

During a Friday segment on MS NOW's "All In," Harry Litman — a former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania — observed that the Epstein Files Transparency Act stipulated that the DOJ had 30 days to release all remaining Epstein-related evidence, with redactions allowed only to protect victims' identities and to protect ongoing investigations. He argued that the redactions seen in Friday's release go well beyond the legislation's boundaries.

"The law is thelaw. It's it's not a grand juryanymore," Litman said, stressing that the Trump administration was making redactions to lessen "reputational harm" of men named in the files.

"I just want to go to yourupfront point about this. Couldnot be willy-nilly. It must bea cover up," he continued. "My12-year old could do just thestats. You have one or two picturesor searches of Trump, over 100of [former President Bill] Clinton ... Everything they say is to tryto excuse the violation of law.No doubt about it."

Upon releasing the documents, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (who is one of Trump's former personal criminal defense lawyers) said that there were more than 1,200 victims in the files, and that redactions were made not only to shield them but to also protect classified national security information and even attorney-client privilege. However, Litman maintained that the redactions were made to "control the narrative."

"I'm reminded alittle bit of the [former DOJ special counsel Robert] Muellerreport," he said. "They think ...the fronting of stuff involving Clinton and other people mayobscure the stuff about Trump,but it's very, very far fromwhat they're required to do."

Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the DOJ has two weeks to explain any redactions to Congress. Lawmakers have already left Washington D.C. for the holiday recess, and are not due to return until early January.

Watch Litman's segment below:


- YouTubewww.youtube.com

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