Former White House Official Blames Merrick Garland for Lack of Investigation into Epstein Files

A former senior official at the White House has criticized ex-Attorney General Merrick Garland, accusing him of failing to thoroughly investigate files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender.

When asked by a podcast host why the Biden administration had not acted on the Epstein files, Neera Tanden, who was a senior adviser to President Biden, suggested that Garland’s approach was overly cautious. She indicated that Garland might have been reluctant to pursue further criminal cases against Epstein’s associates, fearing political repercussions.

“The White House didn’t involve itself in enforcement actions; due to past abuses, they kept a distance,” Tanden stated. She added that Garland’s focus on avoiding perceived bias might have prevented deeper investigations into Epstein’s criminal network.

She further expressed that Garland, perhaps, was overly cautious, especially after the political fallout from the Capitol riot cases. Tanden voiced her regret that Garland did not pursue a more aggressive inquiry into Epstein’s associates, including Ghislaine Maxwell.

Recently, a House Oversight subcommittee voted to subpoena Garland and other officials for their connections to Maxwell, highlighting ongoing congressional scrutiny. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice and FBI stated that their review of Epstein files found no evidence to bring criminal charges against third parties, a conclusion that has fueled controversy.