{"id":2571468,"date":"2026-02-19T13:56:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T18:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-doj-ally-says-focus-on-epstein-delaying-accountability-on-lawfare\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T13:58:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T18:58:32","slug":"trump-doj-ally-says-focus-on-epstein-delaying-accountability-on-lawfare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-doj-ally-says-focus-on-epstein-delaying-accountability-on-lawfare\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump DOJ ally says focus on Epstein delaying &#8216;accountability on lawfare&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-doj-ally-says-focus-on-epstein-delaying-accountability-on-lawfare%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2571468&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A Washington Examiner piece reports that the Justice Department diverted hundreds of lawyers to review thousands of epstein-related documents, a workload some Trump allies say has slowed other investigations and delayed accountability they describe as political weaponization of the justice system. The Epstein files were compelled to be reviewed and released under transparency requirements,prompting a large-scale effort across multiple DOJ divisions and the creation of a digital Epstein Library that has since been expanded wiht additional files. Critics, led by Mike Davis of the Article III Project, argue that this focus on Epstein material has starved other Trump-related inquiries and highlighted what they call \u201clawfare\u201d against him and his allies, while DOJ officials insist the Epstein review and a separate \u201cWeaponization Working Group\u201d probe are distinct efforts that share resources but pursue different goals. The article also notes tensions within the Trump orbit, including pushback from figures like Viva Frei, and reports that the department has begun unredacting some names in the Epstein files after lawmakers pressed for transparency. Additionally, the piece describes controversial moments such as the unmasking of individuals who were later shown to have no Epstein connection, and it covers ongoing debates over how quickly and how thoroughly the documents should be made public.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Diversion of 500 lawyers to Epstein files delayed &lsquo;accountability on lawfare,&rsquo; top Trump ally says<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2509487\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/page\/79\/\">Justice Department<\/a>&rsquo;s extensive review of records tied to convicted sex offender <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeffrey-epstein\/\">Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> has diverted resources away from investigations the administration views as central to its pledge to examine lawfare under former President Joe Biden, according to a prominent ally of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>DOJ leaders had to detail hundreds of lawyers from across the department to review thousands of documents related to Epstein, thanks to legislation requiring the release of those files. The extraordinary undertaking comes as progress on Trump&rsquo;s DOJ priorities has seemingly stalled.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4463232\/uk-police-arrest-prince-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-over-misconduct-jeffrey-epstein\/\">UK police arrest Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor over misconduct tied to Jeffrey Epstein<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4461016\/capitol-police-arrest-18-year-old-gun-capitol-building\/\">Capitol Police arrest 18-year-old with gun near Capitol building<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4460643\/gloves-nancy-guthrie-home-no-dna-matches\/\">Gloves found near Guthrie home produce no DNA matches as investigators analyze more evidence<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Mike Davis, founder of the conservative Article III Project and a former clerk to Justice <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/neil-gorsuch\/\">Neil Gorsuch<\/a>, said Tuesday the department&rsquo;s manpower has been consumed by demands for transparency surrounding Epstein-related files, slowing progress on inquiries linked to what Trump often refers to as the weaponization of the justice system against him and his allies during the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/biden-administration\/\">Biden administration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Want accountability for lawfare against Trump and his allies?<\/p>\n<p>Then stop demanding every good person at the Justice Department sit through months of Epstein document review.<\/p>\n<p>There is no accountability on lawfare right now because Massie and his Democrat buddies have Trump&#8217;s&hellip; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/poQCXUREfO\">pic.twitter.com\/poQCXUREfO<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; &#127482;&#127480; Mike Davis &#127482;&#127480; (@mrddmia) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/mrddmia\/status\/2023868557499465913?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you want to bring accountability for the lawfare against President Trump, his aides and his allies, then let&rsquo;s not demand that every good person in the Justice Department has to sit through months and months of document review,&rdquo; Davis, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3223230\/trump-potential-picks-lead-justice-department\/\">who previously called himself Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;viceroy,&rdquo;<\/a> said during an interview on Real America&rsquo;s Voice.<\/p>\n<p>A source familiar with the DOJ&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-worked-to-bring-back-remain-in-mexico-before-supreme-court-ruling\/\" title=\"Biden Worked to Bring Back \u2018Remain in Mexico\u2019 Before Supreme Court Ruling\">internal deliberations told<\/a> the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> the scope of the review required an unusually large commitment of personnel.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;By definition, we had 500 lawyers and leadership in the Office of the Deputy Attorney General and Office of the Attorney General and the National Security Division and the Criminal Division working on this for several months,&rdquo; the source said.<\/p>\n<p>Davis&rsquo;s comments reflect growing frustration among some Trump-aligned legal advocates who say congressional pressure to release Epstein materials has monopolized finite departmental resources at a time when Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pam-bondi\/\">Pam Bondi<\/a> is under pressure to produce results from her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4456909\/doj-failed-side-quests-undercut-trump-accountability\/\">&ldquo;Weaponization Working Group.&rdquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Bondi <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3327493\/bondi-biden-weaponized-doj-under-review-it-ends\/\">launched that initiative<\/a> shortly after taking office last year to review controversial investigations into Trump and his allies, including cases brought by former special counsel <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jack-smith\/\">Jack Smith<\/a> and state prosecutors in New York and Georgia. The group has yet to release public findings, even as Trump has urged faster action, and DOJ personnel are now expected to meet more frequently to accelerate the work.<\/p>\n<p>Davis&rsquo;s remarks have also drawn criticism from some figures in Trump&rsquo;s broader political orbit. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This is pathological gaslighting&hellip;<\/p>\n<p>It went from &ldquo;things are happening, Pam Bondi is doing great, it doesn&rsquo;t happen overnight, be patient, don&rsquo;t be a black-piller and a panican, things are going on behind the scenes you just don&rsquo;t see them&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>to <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not happening, and it&rsquo;s&hellip; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/KltV5Tq4tB\">https:\/\/t.co\/KltV5Tq4tB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/thevivafrei\/status\/2023878537841656319?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>David Freiheit, a pro-Trump lawyer and online commentator better known as Viva Frei, pushed back on Davis&rsquo;s remarks, responding on X that his explanation amounted to &ldquo;pathological gaslighting&rdquo; and suggested the messaging had shifted from urging patience to blaming transparency advocates for delays.<\/p>\n<p>The demand on DOJ resources intensified after Reps. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY) and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ro-khanna\/\">Ro Khanna<\/a> (D-CA) spearheaded the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act with a Dec. 19 deadline, giving the department just 30 days to procure the documents for public release.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ failed to meet that deadline, though it did accomplish making a digital <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\">Epstein Library<\/a> publicly available by the date, with a pledge to continue releasing additional files on a rolling basis. Bondi announced Saturday that all Epstein files have been published in compliance with the transparency act, following the Jan. 30 release of more than 3 million files in the department&rsquo;s possession.<\/p>\n<p>In response to public frustrations about additional redactions aired by Massie, Khanna, and other transparency advocates, the department has, in recent days, continued to remove redactions from documents flagged by lawmakers that they said included names of possible Epstein coconspirators.<\/p>\n<p>Khanna last week read several recently unredacted names from the files on the House floor, describing them as powerful figures whose identities had been concealed. But DOJ officials responded by acknowledging four of those individuals had no apparent connection to Epstein and instead appeared in a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >photo lineup compiled years earlier<\/a> by investigators in the Southern District of New York.<\/p>\n<p>Deputy Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> said in an X post last week that the lawmakers had &ldquo;forced the unmasking of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/whoops-four-names-from-epstein-files-unredacted-by-khanna-massie-just-random-men-in-police-lineup-with-him\/\" title=\"Whoops: Four ... from ... Unredacted by Khanna, Massie Just Random Men in Police Lineup with Him\">completely random people selected years ago<\/a> for an FBI lineup&rdquo; who had &ldquo;nothing to do with Epstein or Maxwell.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">.<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepRoKhanna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RepRoKhanna<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepThomasMassie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@RepThomasMassie<\/a> forced the unmasking of completely random people selected years ago for an FBI lineup- men and women. These individuals have NOTHING to do with Epstein or Maxwell. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9nPAMCU83n\">https:\/\/t.co\/9nPAMCU83n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DAGToddBlanche\/status\/2022405692926366034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 13, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Two of the men publicly identified denied any relationship with Epstein and said they were unaware their names had surfaced until contacted by reporters. Both acknowledged prior unrelated arrests that may have resulted in their photographs being included in law enforcement databases.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4461762\/les-wexner-deposition-conned-in-epstein-relationship-did-nothing-wrong\/\">LES WEXNER TESTIFIES HE WAS &lsquo;CONNED&rsquo; IN EPSTEIN RELATIONSHIP BUT DID &lsquo;NOTHING WRONG&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Davis, however, has accused these lawmakers of politicizing the problem and diverting attention from investigations into what Trump and his allies describe as improper prosecutions during the previous administration.<\/p>\n<p>DOJ officials say the Epstein review and the weaponization inquiry are separate efforts, though both draw on personnel across divisions. A department spokesperson declined to discuss specifics but <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/politics\/justice-department\/trump-dojs-weaponization-group-pressure-deliver-results-source-says-rcna257429\">told NBC News earlier this month<\/a> the working group is &ldquo;diligently working to restore integrity to the Department of Justice.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Epstein files drain 500 DOJ lawyers, delaying lawfare<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2571469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26043745133807.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7076,9006,3634],"class_list":["post-2571468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-doj","tag-epstein","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26043745133807.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571468","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571468"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571468\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2571472,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571468\/revisions\/2571472"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2571469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571468"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571468"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571468"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}