Ranking Member Robert Garcia Alleges DOJ Withheld Proof of Trump Sexual Abuse Of Minor

WASHINGTON — In a staggering development that has sent shockwaves through the Capitol, Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a formal statement on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, accusing the Department of Justice of illegally withholding evidence that President Donald Trump sexually abused a minor.

The allegation stems from a review of unredacted evidence logs at the DOJ, where Oversight Democrats say they discovered “FBI interviews with a survivor” from 2019 that were missing from the millions of pages previously released to the public.

The “Unredacted” Discovery

According to Ranking Member Garcia, the discovery was made on Monday, February 23, during an Oversight Committee review of documents that the DOJ had claimed were fully produced under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and a standing committee subpoena.

• The Survivor Allegation: Garcia confirmed that Oversight Democrats have been investigating the FBI’s handling of a 2019 sexual assault allegation involving a minor.
• The “Illegal” Withholding: Garcia alleged the DOJ removed or withheld specific FBI interviews with this survivor, which he claims is a direct violation of the law.
• A Parallel Investigation: In response, Oversight Democrats have announced they are opening a parallel investigation into the DOJ’s handling of these specific files and the potential cover-up of “heinous crimes” by the sitting President.

The “Epstein Files” Stalemate

The controversy is the latest and most explosive chapter in the ongoing battle over the 6 million documents related to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates.

The Administration’s Defense

Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (formerly Trump’s personal lawyer) have consistently maintained that the Department is following the law and protecting the identities of victims.

• The “Sensationalist” Label: In January, the DOJ released a statement warning that the Epstein files may contain “fake or falsely submitted images, documents, or videos” and “untrue and sensationalist claims” meant to target the President.
• The “Privacy” Argument: Blanche argued that “extensive redactions” were necessary to protect survivors, though Democrats point out that in many cases, survivor names were left exposed while the names of powerful men were blacked out.

Escalating Legal Threats

The allegation has dramatically increased the pressure on the administration just hours before the State of the Union address.

1. Civil Contempt: Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) has already moved to hold AG Pam Bondi in civil contempt of Congress, a measure that was previously blocked by Oversight Republicans but is gaining new momentum following Garcia’s discovery.
2. Obstruction of Justice: Several lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), have suggested that the intentional withholding of documents could constitute federal obstruction of justice.
3. The “Survivor Guest”: In a symbolic move, Garcia has announced that Annie Farmer, a prominent Epstein survivor, will be his guest at tonight’s State of the Union address.

“Covering up direct evidence of a potential assault by the President of the United States is the most serious possible crime in this White House cover-up.” — Ranking Member Robert Garcia, Feb 24, 2026

What’s Next?

Oversight Democrats are expected to demand an immediate, unredacted briefing on the 2019 FBI interviews. If the DOJ continues to withhold the files, Garcia has signaled that Democrats will pursue “all tools at our disposal,” potentially including articles of impeachment against Attorney General Pam Bondi.