A Justice Department official was captured on a secretly recorded video claiming the department would redact the names of Republican figures from its investigative files on the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The video, released Thursday by conservative activist James O’Keefe, shows Joseph Schnitt, acting deputy chief of the DOJ’s Office of Enforcement Operations, stating that the department would make “very redacted” versions of the files available, removing Republican or conservative names while leaving Democratic names visible. Schnitt apparently believed he was speaking to someone he had met on a dating app, not an undercover operative.
The release comes amid ongoing controversy over the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files. While the administration has publicly touted its transparency by providing some documents to Capitol Hill, critics argue the materials have been heavily curated and selectively redacted.
In response to the video, the Justice Department issued statements distancing itself from Schnitt’s remarks. Schnitt clarified that his comments reflected his personal views based on media reports, not his work at the department. A DOJ spokesperson added that the statements “have absolutely zero bearing with reality and reflect a total lack of knowledge of the DOJ’s review process.”
O’Keefe’s video, consistent with his history of undercover reporting, targets a mid-level official who made unflattering statements about the department. Schnitt’s comments, however, echo longstanding public speculation about the handling of Epstein’s documents, which reportedly include references to President Donald Trump.
Earlier this year, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she possessed Epstein’s so-called “client list,” only to later announce that no additional information would be released. The House Oversight Committee subsequently issued a subpoena for the files, and the DOJ has provided a limited set of materials that the committee has begun making public.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), advocating for legislation requiring the full release of the files, described the documents provided to the committee as heavily “curated” and containing unnecessary redactions. The DOJ maintains it is “committed to transparency and is in compliance with the House Oversight Committee’s request for documents.”
O’Keefe, in his analysis accompanying the video, suggested that Schnitt’s comments indicate a potential political bias while questioning why the administration, which campaigned on releasing the Epstein files, has now claimed that a comprehensive client list does not exist.
The incident underscores continued scrutiny over the handling of sensitive investigative materials and the broader debate over transparency in the Epstein investigation.
BREAKING: DOJ Deputy Chief Admits Government Will “Redact Every Republican” While “Leav[ing] All the Liberal, Democratic People” on the Epstein Client List; Says Ghislaine Maxwell Was Moved to a Lower-Security Prison As “A Benefit… to Keep Her Mouth Shut”
“She [Maxwell] got… pic.twitter.com/QzSEdxnBqR
— James O’Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) September 4, 2025
