The Justice Department on Friday released a new batch of records from its investigative files on Jeffrey Epstein, including details of his interactions with prominent figures and previously withheld information. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release of over 3 million pages of documents, more than 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images related to the case, according to Fortune. The files, posted on the department's website, are part of an ongoing disclosure under a law intended to reveal what the government knew about Epstein's sexual abuse of young girls and his connections to wealthy and influential individuals, such as Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
The released records include information concerning Epstein's contact with Howard Lutnick, Steve Bannon, and a Goldman Sachs lawyer, Fortune reported. These files supplement an initial release in December from which officials said several million pages of records were withheld.
In related news, unearthed emails revealed that Jeffrey Epstein was permanently banned from Microsoft's Xbox Live gaming platform in December 2013. According to The Verge, citing information spotted by XboxEra, Epstein was initially suspended due to "harassment, threats, and/or abuse of other players." However, a subsequent email from Microsoft the same day indicated the ban was due to Epstein being a registered sex offender.
In other legal news, the Justice Department has opened a federal civil rights investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis resident killed by Border Patrol officers on Saturday. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the investigation on Friday, stating, "We’re looking at everything that would shed light on what happened that day and in the days and weeks leading up to what happened," according to Fortune. Blanche did not specify the reason for the investigation but noted that a similar probe was not warranted in the January 7 death of Renee Good, who was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis. He clarified that the Civil Rights Division does not investigate every law enforcement shooting and requires specific circumstances to warrant an investigation.
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