'That's all misdirection!' Dem lawmaker hammers Kash Patel over release of Epstein files

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) hammered FBI Director Kash Patel on Wednesday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, demanding to know why he and the Justice Department continue to withhold investigation files around accused trafficker and molester Jeffrey Epstein.

Raskin began by asking if everything had been released that the FBI seized from Epstein's house, which includes documents, financial records, computer records, and other items.

Patel claimed that he had released what the court allowed them to.

"Which court are you talking about?!" exclaimed Raskin.

Patel cited three federal courts.

"We're talking about the evidence you've got. It's got nothing to do with what those courts have," said Raskin.

The DOJ has resisted releasing information, claiming that it's hamstrung by judges who presided over the grand jury. Both judgeswrote in their respective rulings that the FBI and DOJ could release all of the information they have without approval from the judges.

"Why don't you just release the entire Epstein file as you promised to do?" Raskin yelled.

"There are multiple federal court orders. I'm not going to break the law to satisfy your curiosity," claimed Patel.

"That's all misdirection," said Raskin.

Patel said not long after entering the job that there was nothing significant in the Epstein files, despite fighting for the files to be released.