By — Hannah Grabenstein Hannah Grabenstein Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-sen-kennedy-presses-fbi-director-patel-to-release-the-epstein-files Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Sen. Kennedy presses FBI Director Patel to release the Epstein files Politics Sep 16, 2025 12:30 PM EDT Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed FBI Director Kash Patel on his department’s handling of the case files in investigations against Jeffrey Epstein, asking him to commit to releasing all the files he can legally. Watch the clip in the video player above. Patel responded that the FBI would “release whatever we are legally permitted” to make public, noting that his agency has been complying with subpoena requests by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. WATCH: Patel says 2006 prosecution against Epstein committed ‘original sin’ in the case But he pushed back against the idea that the files that can be legally released show that Epstein trafficked women or girls to anyone other than himself. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. “There is no credible information. None. If there were, I would bring the case yesterday,” Patel said. He added that the information available to the FBI is limited by the original investigation against Epstein from two decades ago, some of which was put under protective court orders. The Trump administration has faced bipartisan pressure to release the government’s files on the Epstein case, which the president and other officials have labeled as a “hoax.” WATCH: Patel says ‘FBI will not be weaponized anymore’ on either side of the aisle Patel testified Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has been under fire in recent days for social media posts he made about the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation and for dining out at an upscale Manhattan restaurant hours after the conservative activist was killed. Last week, three former high-ranking FBI officials sued Patel, alleging they were fired in August as part of a “campaign of retribution” and that the director knew it was “likely illegal” to remove workers based on the cases they investigated. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Hannah Grabenstein Hannah Grabenstein @hgrabenstein
Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed FBI Director Kash Patel on his department’s handling of the case files in investigations against Jeffrey Epstein, asking him to commit to releasing all the files he can legally. Watch the clip in the video player above. Patel responded that the FBI would “release whatever we are legally permitted” to make public, noting that his agency has been complying with subpoena requests by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. WATCH: Patel says 2006 prosecution against Epstein committed ‘original sin’ in the case But he pushed back against the idea that the files that can be legally released show that Epstein trafficked women or girls to anyone other than himself. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. “There is no credible information. None. If there were, I would bring the case yesterday,” Patel said. He added that the information available to the FBI is limited by the original investigation against Epstein from two decades ago, some of which was put under protective court orders. The Trump administration has faced bipartisan pressure to release the government’s files on the Epstein case, which the president and other officials have labeled as a “hoax.” WATCH: Patel says ‘FBI will not be weaponized anymore’ on either side of the aisle Patel testified Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has been under fire in recent days for social media posts he made about the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation and for dining out at an upscale Manhattan restaurant hours after the conservative activist was killed. Last week, three former high-ranking FBI officials sued Patel, alleging they were fired in August as part of a “campaign of retribution” and that the director knew it was “likely illegal” to remove workers based on the cases they investigated. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now