EFTA00027234.txt Text dataset_8 View on DOJ

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York responds to defense counsel's requests for document preservation and production in the Jeffrey Epstein case, outlining the government's position on the scope of discovery and its obligations. The letter asserts that the defense's requests are overly broad and constitute a "fishing expedition," while the government will comply with its legal obligations regarding document production.

Subject

United States v. Jeffrey Epstein, 19 Cr. 490 (RMB)

Sender

GEOFFREY S. BERMAN, United States Attorney, Southern District of New York

Recipients

Martin G. Weinberg, Esq., Reid Weingarten, Esq., Michael Miller, Esq.

Document ID

19 Cr. 490 (RMB)

Date

2019-08-08

Without conceding any obligation to preserve any of the categories of documents identified in the Letters (let alone any obligation to produce responsive documents to the extent any exist), we will take reasonable steps to ensure the preservation of any documents we believe may be responsive to the various categories identified in the Letters to the extent such documents are already within the possession, custody, or control of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York (this "Office").

We note, in this respect, that your Letters purport to require this Office to direct, without limitation, preservation and/or production of documents by all 93 U.S. Attorney's Offices across the nation; an individual prosecutor at another U.S. Attorney's Office; every component of "Main Justice" as you use that term, including the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the Criminal Division, and the Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section; the Securities and Exchange Commission; the Department of Homeland Security; the New York [City] Police Department; the Manhattan District Attorney's Office; the State Attorney's Office for the 15th Judicial District in and for Palm Beach County; the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office; the New Mexico Attorney General's Office; and any other "local, state, or foreign law enforcement entities involved in any way in regulating or investigating the activities alleged in the Indictment or related transactions."

We further note that many of these requests—which purport to extend, without temporal limitation, to wide categories of documents that do not involve this Office and thus are unlikely to be within the possession, custody or control of this Office—appear to constitute nothing more than general fishing expeditions, which are patently beyond the scope of the Government's Production Obligations.

• The defense's broad requests for documents from numerous agencies and offices could indicate an attempt to uncover potential misconduct or inconsistencies in the investigation.
• The government's resistance to producing certain documents, citing work product privilege and the scope of discovery rules, could raise concerns about transparency.

Context

The Jeffrey Epstein case was a high-profile matter with significant media coverage.

Media Worthy

Yes

Legal matters/litigationCommunications/correspondenceAllegations/complaints

Jeffrey EpsteinMartin G. WeinbergReid WeingartenMichael MillerGeoffrey S. Berman

U.S. Department of JusticeUnited States AttorneySouthern District of New YorkMartin G. Weinber P.C.Ste toe & Johnson LLPFBIUnited States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of FloridaUnited States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of FloridaUnited States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of GeorgiaMain JusticeChild Exploitation and Obscenity SectionSecurities and Exchange CommissionDepartment of Homeland SecurityNew York City Police DepartmentManhattan District Attorney's OfficeState Attorney's Office for the 15th Judicial District in and for Palm Beach CountyPalm Beach County Sheriff's OfficeNew Mexico Attorney General's Office

New York, New YorkBoston, MANew York, NYSouthern District of FloridaMiddle District of FloridaNorthern District of GeorgiaPalm Beach CountyNew Mexico

Tone

Formal, legalistic, defensive

Purpose

To respond to defense counsel's requests for document preservation and production in the case against Jeffrey Epstein, outlining the government's position on the scope of discovery and its obligations.

Significance

This letter outlines the government's stance on discovery in the Jeffrey Epstein case, specifically addressing the defense's broad requests for documents from various agencies and offices.

File Name

EFTA00027234.txt

Dataset

dataset_8

Type

Text

Model

gemini-2.0-flash-001

Processed

2026-02-07T18:44:34.037917

DOJ Source

View on DOJ