Question Everything

The Loophole That Could Keep the Epstein Files Hidden


Listen Later

By December 19th, the Department of Justice is supposed to release all DOJ and FBI files related to Jeffrey Epstein. But through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, Bloomberg investigative reporter Jason Leopold has uncovered evidence of a secretive operation on the Epstein files that the FBI called the “Special Redaction Project.” That doesn’t necessarily inspire confidence about how much information will become public, does it? 

Jason found that nearly 1,000 FBI agents were trained to review and redact the files, which included thousands of pages of documents, interview summaries, surveillance footage, search warrant photos, and more than 8 terabytes of digital evidence. The Department of Justice can withhold anything it claims is tied to an ongoing investigation – a huge loophole that could keep many of these records from the public.  

But all hope is not lost. Jason also reported on a nearly decade-old FOIA lawsuit from a defunct magazine that could ultimately force the government to release more of the Epstein records. 

This week, we’re airing an episode of Disclosure, where investigative reporter Jason Leopold and First Amendment attorney Matt Topic walk us through what we can expect when the deadline to release the Epstein files hits next week.

Check out more episodes from the premiere season of Disclosure.

Question Everything is a production of KCRW and Placement Theory. And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.

Guests:
  • Jason Leopold, Disclosure co-host and Bloomberg News investigative reporter
  • Matt Topic, Disclosure co-host and First Amendment attorney
  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Question EverythingBy Brian Reed

    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6

    4.6

    628 ratings


    More shows like Question Everything

    View all
    Serial by Serial Productions & The New York Times

    Serial

    75,192 Listeners

    This American Life by This American Life

    This American Life

    91,271 Listeners

    Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

    Reveal

    8,468 Listeners

    Embedded by NPR

    Embedded

    11,894 Listeners

    In The Dark by The New Yorker

    In The Dark

    28,181 Listeners

    Heavyweight by Pushkin Industries

    Heavyweight

    17,503 Listeners

    The Cult Queen of Canada from Uncover by CBC

    The Cult Queen of Canada from Uncover

    10,330 Listeners

    Deep Cover by Pushkin Industries

    Deep Cover

    4,485 Listeners

    Chameleon by Audiochuck | Campside Media

    Chameleon

    8,040 Listeners

    Search Engine by PJ Vogt

    Search Engine

    4,566 Listeners

    Proxy with Yowei Shaw by Y3 Productions

    Proxy with Yowei Shaw

    574 Listeners

    Wisecrack by Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts

    Wisecrack

    1,272 Listeners

    A Whole Other Country by Marfa Public Radio

    A Whole Other Country

    183 Listeners