Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche just flat-out accused Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) that he “completely fabricated a story for clicks.” This fiery exchange kicked off after Wyden alleged that the Trump administration was obstructing his request for an unredacted document from the Justice Department’s extensive Epstein files.
The whole dispute centers around a 2015 memorandum that was prepared by the DOJ for the Drug Enforcement Agency, as part of an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. In the recent batch of released files, this particular memo was heavily redacted. What we could see was pretty eye-opening, though, revealing an interagency investigation into “illegitimate wire transfers which are tied to illicit drug and/or prostitution activities.”
Per Politico, Wyden, who is on the Senate Finance Committee, reached out to Blanche last month to request a complete, unredacted copy of that document. However, he never received it. The Senator claimed that “DOJ stepped in to prevent DEA from complying with my request,” even though DEA Administrator Terry Cole was apparently willing to hand over the document.
Well, it isn’t the first file they have dodged around
In a letter to Blanche, Wyden wrote, “Your alleged interference in this matter is highly disturbing, not just because it continues the DOJ’s long-running obstruction of my investigation, but also because of your bizarrely favorable treatment of Ghislaine Maxwell, one of Epstein’s closest criminal associates.”
Blanche decided to bell the cat, writing on X: “No one is blocking anything. This DEA report is available to members of Congress unredacted in our reading room.”
HUGE: A sitting U.S. Senator has completely fabricated a story for clicks. No one is blocking anything. This DEA report is available to members of Congress unredacted in our reading room. Always has been. Of course, @RonWyden has never bothered to visit. https://t.co/jFP5ybvU2t
— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) March 18, 2026
Wyden’s letter also brought up some intense details. He suggested the federal investigation into Epstein “suggests the government had ample evidence indicating he was engaged in large-scale drug trafficking and prostitution as part of a cross-border criminal conspiracy and that Epstein was likely pumping his victims, including underage girls, with incapacitating drugs to facilitate abuse.”
Not one to back down, Wyden quickly fired back, accusing Blanche and Attorney General Pam Bondi of “hiding these files in a black box at DOJ in violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.” He also raised concerns that the Justice Department is surveilling lawmakers who visit the department to view the files.
Blanche and Bondi are hiding these files in a black box at DOJ in violation of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. They're not accessible to the public. DOJ is surveilling members of Congress who go to view them. This is not on the level. https://t.co/VfIRcEjBKi
— Ron Wyden (@RonWyden) March 18, 2026
Both Bondi and Blanche, who served as President Trump’s personal attorney, have faced scrutiny over how these files are being handled. In fact, Bondi is going to be subpoenaed by House lawmakers on Tuesday.
This isn’t the first time Blanche’s actions concerning Epstein’s orbit have drawn attention. Last summer, he met with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime co-conspirator and convicted accomplice, for an interview.
*BREAKING*
— America Is Divided (@PetRep) March 19, 2026
According to Heather Cox Richardson's substack post last night it appears that Epstein was under investigation by Obama's DOJ and DEA, but after Trump took office the investigation was squashed.
That opens up a bunch of peccadilloes.
READ: https://t.co/Ze1YpV0Vh7 pic.twitter.com/0w7X4dtDXd
Democrats have also questioned the DOJ’s decision to move Maxwell, who is seeking a pardon from Trump, to a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas after that interview.
