Justice Department calls the report a last-ditch effort to mislead the public
United States Department of JusticeJustice Department spokesperson, in a statement to Newsweek
A Justice Department spokesperson tells Newsweek the report is an effort to mislead the public, says the department complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act by releasing nearly 3 million documents, and says the claims were investigated by agents at the time.
Responding to
A growing body of evidence shows that Donald Trump was an active participant in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of young women in the mid-to-late 1990s, and the Justice Department has obstructed investigations and withheld records to protect him.
“This 'report' is nothing more than a last-ditch effort by House Judiciary Democrats to mislead the public”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
House Judiciary Democrats' report says Trump took part in Epstein's abuse of young women and details a new rape allegation; the White House says none of the allegations are true
A staff report released by House Judiciary Committee Democrats on Oct. 26, 2026, says Trump was an active participant in Jeffrey Epstein's abuse of young women in the 1990s and details former model Beatrice Keul's allegation that he raped her at a 1993 pageant. The White House says none of the allegations are true, and the Justice Department calls the report misleading.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Newsweek interview with Beatrice Keul after the report's release, with statements from White House spokesperson Lauren Bis and a Justice Department spokesperson. Newsweek says it has not independently verified Keul's allegations.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Newsweek reports that the report accused the Justice Department of improperly withholding Epstein-related records required by law and of impeding investigations to protect the president.
After the quotation
The spokesperson says the department complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, offered members of Congress the chance to view the files unredacted, and that the claims were investigated by agents at the time without charges being brought.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is the report's allegation that Trump took part in Epstein's abuse of young women, including Keul's rape allegation, and that the Justice Department covered it up. The department rejects the report's account of a cover-up and says it complied with the law, disputing the report's characterization without addressing each allegation against Trump.
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- People and groups discussed
- Jamie Raskin
More from this case
Read the full caseWhite House says none of the report's allegations are true
The White House
“None of these allegations are true. This 'report' is nothing more than a desperate attempt by crazed Democrats to distract Americans from the surging Republican momentum driven by President Trump's historic achievements”Read statement
Jamie Raskin says evidence involving 11 women tells a far more damning story about Trump and Epstein
“Evidence involving 11 women tells a completely different and far more damning story about their relationship and the abuse of young women and girls that took place in their network.”Read statement
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- Justice Department calls the report a last-ditch effort to mislead the public
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The Dispute Index. "Justice Department calls the report a last-ditch effort to mislead the public". First published: 2026-11-03. Last updated: 2026-11-03. https://disputeindex.com/events/8025-a-justice-department-spokesperson-tells-newsweek-the-report