Democrat accuses Justice Department of withholding documents on Trump Epstein accusation

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON, Feb 25 (Reuters) - A top Democrat in Congress accused the Justice Department on Wednesday of withholding FBI interview records with a woman who accused ‌President Donald Trump of sexually abusing her as a minor.

Representative Robert Garcia, the ‌senior Democrat on the House of Representatives Oversight Committee, said he had confirmed media reports that the Justice Department ​withheld more than 50 pages of material related to the woman's claims from more than 3 million documents it released related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

He said the withheld material showed that the FBI took the allegations seriously and interviewed the woman four times but only released ‌the first interview, which did not ⁠detail her accusations against Trump.

"The fact that DOJ is suppressing documents alleging President Trump’s commission of sexual abuse of an underage victim only heightens ⁠my genuine concerns about a White House cover-up," Garcia wrote in a letter to the department.

The Justice Department said it is reviewing whether any of its remaining Epstein-related documents were improperly withheld, and said ​they ​would be published if appropriate.

DOJ has warned that some of ​the material it has released includes ‌unfounded accusations and sensationalist claims against Trump.

The department also says it has withheld material that could compromise the identity of Epstein's victims or jeopardize ongoing investigations.

Documents released by the Justice Department include photos of Trump with several women whose faces are redacted and a suggestive note to Epstein, framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to bear Trump's signature.

Evidence and ‌testimony submitted in the 2021 trial of Epstein's associate ​Ghislaine Maxwell indicate Trump traveled on Epstein's plane multiple ​times. Epstein wrote in one email ​that Trump "knew about the girls," though it is not clear what he meant.

White ‌House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Trump had ​been "totally exonerated on anything ​relating to Epstein."

Trump socialized extensively with Epstein in the 1990s and 2000s, but has denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes, and says he broke off ties before the ​financier's 2008 conviction on solicitation ‌of a minor for prostitution. Trump denies ever flying on Epstein's plane and has ​said the suggestive note was faked.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan; additional reporting by Nandita ​Bose; editing by Andy Sullivan and Bill Berkrot)