Hidden camera catches DOJ aide lured by dating app
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A billboard in Times Square calls for the release of the Epstein files on July 23 in New York City. Photo: Adam Gray/Getty Images
The acting deputy chief of a Justice Department unit said on hidden camera that the government will "redact every Republican" from an Epstein client list. He later admitted he was basing his comments on media reports.
Why it matters: The O'Keefe Media Group, a far-right media organization, secretly recorded Joseph Schnitt's comments and published them on Thursday.
In a statement addressed to the DOJ's acting director, Schnitt said he had no idea he was being recorded on video and that he met the O'Keefe reporter — who he said was pretending to be an au pair — on the dating app Hinge.
- Schnitt said: "The comments I made were my own personal comments on what l've learned in the media and not from anything I've done at or learned via work."
The intrigue: James O'Keefe, the founder of O'Keefe Media Group, is also behind the far-right Veritas Project, which is known for recording undercover videos of Democrats.
- Schnitt did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Driving the news: Schnitt also made comments in the video about the DOJ's relationship with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was recently moved to a lower-security prison following her interview with a Justice Department official.
- Schnitt said in his letter that he has "no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Maxwell other than what is reported in the news."
The other side: The Justice Department directed Axios to its statement on X, where it denounced the comments made in O'Keefe's video.
- 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 department's public affairs account said.
- The DOJ told Axios this statement refers to "all comments in the video," but would not confirm whether they were referring to both O'Keefe's and Schnitt's words.
Catch up quick: The House Oversight Committee released over 33,000 documents on Tuesday related to Epstein that the Justice Department shared with the panel following months of pressure to make the files public.
In the video, O'Keefe questions the Justice Department's level of transparency, pointing out that the DOJ and FBI claim their investigation into Epstein revealed "no incriminating 'client list'" despite top FBI officials' previous assertions to the contrary.
- "The DOJ is committed to transparency and is in compliance with the House Oversight Committee's request for documents," the department said.
Editor's note: This version has been updated throughout.
