President Donald Trump's Department of Justice (DOJ) recently responded to the release of a hidden-camera video of a senior official making comments about Jeffrey Epstein.

The Hill reports the DOJ as condemning the video, saying that it has "absolutely zero bearing with reality."

First, we'll get you up to speed with the background of this situation, and then we will look at the DOJ's response.

BREAKING: DOJ Deputy Chief Admits Government Will “Redact Every Republican” While “Leav[ing] All the Liberal, Democratic People” on the Epstein Client List; Says Ghislaine Maxwell Was Moved to a Lower-Security Prison As “A Benefit… to Keep Her Mouth Shut”

“She [Maxwell] got… pic.twitter.com/QzSEdxnBqR

— James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) September 4, 2025

Background

The senior official has been identified as Joseph Schnitt, a deputy chief of staff at the Office of Enforcement Operations. He was recently caught in a "sting" operation by journalist James O'Keefe.

The Daily Mail reports on the contents of the released video.

Per the outlet:

[Schnitt] went on to discuss infighting at the top of the Department of Justice and FBI, how the Epstein files would be redacted to protect big-name Republicans, and how Ghislaine Maxwell had been moved to a minimum security jail so she would keep her 'mouth shut.'

The Trump administration, of course, has been facing significant criticism over its handling of the Epstein saga.

This video, to say the least, does not help matters.

The DOJ responds

The video's release garnered enough of a response from the public that the Trump administration, specifically the Department of Justice, decided to release a public statement on the matter.

The department said:

The comments in this video have absolutely zero bearing with reality and reflect a total lack of knowledge of the DOJ’s review process. The DOJ is committed to transparency and is in compliance with the House Oversight Committee’s request for documents.

The department also published a statement from Schnitt to his director, in which he explained the circumstances of the video.

He wrote:

She claimed to be an au pair in Georgetown. She gave no clues that she was a reporter or recording our date. Had I a clue, the first date would have immediately ended and there would never have been a second one . . . I have no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Maxwell other than what is reported in the news. I also never divulged anything about what I do at work. I recall that she asked if I had any knowledge about Maxwell and I specifically said I only know what’s been reported in the media.

More development in the Epstein case is expected in the coming weeks.