Epstein files: More than three million new pages released

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Global News Podcast 32 min 8 speakers 5 chapters transcribed 3 months ago
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Will Chalk 0:00
This BBC podcast is supported by ads outside the UK. Varaa aika heti. This is the Global News Podcast from the BBC World Service. I'm Will Chalk, and in the early hours of the 31st of January, these are our main stories. The US Justice Department releases over 3 million more documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, warned that US tariffs on countries helping Cuba could trigger a humanitarian crisis.

What new information was released in the Epstein investigation?

Will Chalk 1:22
Thousands of protesters have again gathered in the city of Minneapolis in the United States to demand the withdrawal of federal immigration agents. also in this podcast.
Ghanem Al-Masarir 1:35
We'll hear from a human rights YouTuber who's won a court case after his phone was infected with spyware.
Will Chalk 1:56
So 3 million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos. In other words, it's going to be a busy few weeks for lawyers, journalists and anyone else just curious to sift through the latest, and we're told, last dump of files relating to the case of the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. We're told there are references to public figures who've previously been associated with Epstein, including the former Microsoft boss Bill Gates, President Donald Trump and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. But there's no suggestion that appearing in the files implies any wrongdoing, and many people who have featured in previous releases have denied any illicit behaviour in relation to the late sex offender. Women who were abused by Epstein want criminal charges brought against some of his associates.
Will Chalk 2:43
Todd Blanche is US Deputy Attorney General.
Todd Blanche 2:46
There's this built-in assumption that somehow there's this hidden tranche of information of men that we know about that we're covering up or that we're choosing not to prosecute. That is not the case. I don't know whether there are men out there that abuse these women. If we learn about information and evidence that allows us to prosecute them, you better believe we will.
Will Chalk 3:06
Our North America correspondent Peter Bowes told me more. It is, as you imply, a vast collection of documents, images, videos, many with redactions, and that's what's making it so difficult. In some cases, entire pages blacked out, and that fact in itself has caught the eye of many since... it makes it very difficult to verify any of the claims being made. But we know that there are several high profile figures who are mentioned, including Donald Trump, with hundreds of references. In one document, there are a number of allegations about the president that come from an FBI tip line, which investigators at the time deemed not to be credible. Many of these appear to be based on unverified tips received by the agency and were made without any supporting evidence.
Will Chalk 3:56
Donald Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Jeffrey Epstein and has not been accused of any crimes. Bill Gates, another high-profile figure, has dismissed claims that he caught a sexually transmitted disease Claims made in email sent from Epstein's email account. A spokesman for Mr Gates told the BBC that these allegations were absolutely absurd and completely false. Obviously there's the redactions but there are also documents that still haven't been released. Is this doing anything to satisfy those people who are convinced that there is a cover-up still? No, far from it. In fact, there's probably more suspicion now than before this latest release of documents, which, as you say, would appear to be the final one.
Will Chalk 4:43
There are campaigners still say that they haven't been given full transparency. The Epstein survivors group. of women issued a joint statement saying, this is not over, we will not stop until the truth is fully revealed, adding that the Justice Department can't claim it is finished releasing files until every legally required document is released. And a similar theme from the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating this as well. saying that it is outrageous and incredibly concerning that roughly only 50% of these files have been released.

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