When Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden faced scrutiny over classified documents, top Trump-era Justice Department and FBI officials aggressively demanded criminal investigations and severe penalties. But now, those same officials remain conspicuously silent on the SignalGate scandal, where senior Trump administration figures used the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss military attack plans—messages that included a journalist by accident.

Prominent figures such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino, and DC interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin were vocal in their past condemnation of Clinton and Biden. Yet, they have refused to publicly criticize Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and other Trump officials involved in the SignalGate controversy.

The Trump administration has denied that classified information was shared in the leaked texts, first reported by The Atlantic, detailing plans to bomb rebel targets in Yemen. However, CNN reports that some of the information exchanged in the chat was highly classified at the time.

As Florida’s Attorney General, Pam Bondi was relentless in her calls for legal action against Clinton and her aide Huma Abedin. She insisted their handling of classified emails warranted prosecution, stating in a 2018 Fox News appearance:

“When you have the top-secret security clearance that Huma Abedin had—you know when you send those emails that you are violating the law. No objective law enforcement officer would refuse to charge her.”

Yet, when addressing the SignalGate scandal, Bondi defended the Trump officials involved, downplaying concerns by stating:

“What we should be talking about is how successful the mission was. If you want to discuss classified information, look at Hillary Clinton’s home and Biden’s garage.”

Kash Patel, now FBI Director, previously called for harsh prison sentences for those leaking classified material. In a 2021 interview, he emphasized:

“A leak of classified information—that’s a federal offense punishable by over a decade in prison.”

Yet, Patel has remained silent on SignalGate, despite past criticisms of special counsel Robert Hur’s decision not to charge Biden for classified document mishandling.

Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent turned FBI Deputy Director, also had strong words on Clinton’s email scandal. He labeled the FBI’s 2016 decision not to charge Clinton a “travesty of justice,” asserting that a conviction could have been secured based on the evidence presented.

Bongino even questioned whether former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had improperly handled classified information, yet he has not commented on Trump officials’ use of Signal for military communications.

As interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Ed Martin could oversee any prosecution related to SignalGate. In the past, he made his position on classified documents clear:

“When Biden took those classified documents, he broke the law, period.”

In 2018, Martin declared that “almost anyone” leaking classified material should go to jail. However, he has not addressed whether the SignalGate incident merits investigation.

Despite previous calls for strict enforcement of classified information laws, Trump’s Justice officials have yet to apply the same scrutiny to SignalGate. The FBI declined to comment when approached by CNN.

The contrast in their responses raises a key question: Is the outrage over classified information truly about national security, or is it just political theater?

Source: CNN – Trump Justice officials demanded charges for Hillary, Biden for classified docs scandals. They’re silent on SignalGate

The post Trump’s Justice Officials Silent on SignalGate After Pushing Charges for Hillary & Biden appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The Justice Department’s release of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents, teased as “breaking news” by Attorney General Pam Bondi on Fox News, is unlikely to contain any shocking new details. While Bondi hinted at significant disclosures, officials later admitted that most of the files have already circulated publicly.

What’s in the Documents?

The release, scheduled for Thursday, is part of the government’s effort to promote transparency. However, rather than being made widely available online or shared with journalists, the files were handed out at the White House in binders labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase I”—a move favoring conservative influencers with large social media followings.

By Thursday evening, neither reporters nor the general public had received the documents. This approach frustrated both journalists and some conservatives, who had hoped for meaningful new information. Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) criticized the rollout as a “complete disappointment,” demanding, “GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!”

Pressure for More Disclosure

In response to concerns that key records may still be withheld, Bondi sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday, stating that additional Epstein files had recently been discovered. She ordered the FBI to turn over “the full and complete Epstein files” by Friday morning and launched an investigation into why her previous request for all documents had not been followed.

Trump and the Epstein Case

President Donald Trump, in office when Epstein was arrested in 2019, had previously hinted at plans to release government files on the case. Epstein’s arrest reignited public interest in his long history of sexual abuse allegations.

Epstein, a wealthy financier, was accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls in the early 2000s. However, he served only 13 months in jail after striking a secret plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida. In 2019, he was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges in New York, more than a decade later.

High-Profile Connections & Prior Releases

The case has drawn intense media attention due to Epstein’s connections with powerful figures, including:

• Donald Trump – Once called Epstein a “terrific guy” but later distanced himself.
• Bill Clinton – Flew on Epstein’s private jet multiple times, though he denied wrongdoing.
• Prince Andrew – Accused of sexual misconduct involving one of Epstein’s victims.
• Ghislaine Maxwell – Epstein’s longtime associate, convicted in 2021 for her role in trafficking victims.
• David Copperfield & Michael Jackson – Mentioned in documents, though no accusations were made against them.

Over the years, thousands of pages of Epstein-related records have surfaced through lawsuits, criminal proceedings, and Freedom of Information Act requests. In January 2024, a court unsealed documents linked to a lawsuit by victim Virginia Giuffre, revealing additional details but no major surprises.

Epstein’s Death & Investigation Findings

In 2023, The Associated Press obtained internal jail records detailing Epstein’s final days before his reported suicide in August 2019 at a Manhattan federal detention center. Emails, psychological evaluations, and memos painted a picture of severe negligence within the prison system.

A Justice Department report later confirmed that Epstein’s death resulted from “a combination of negligence, misconduct, and outright job performance failures” by prison staff. However, no evidence of foul play was found.

Final Thoughts

Despite Bondi’s claims of a major release, the newly disclosed documents are unlikely to provide any groundbreaking revelations. With continued calls for full transparency, it remains to be seen whether additional Epstein files will emerge—or if the public’s lingering questions will ever be fully answered.

Source

The post Epstein Files Released, But Don’t Expect New Revelations appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.