Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced its review of Jeffrey Epstein-related files found insufficient evidence to warrant investigating any individual not already charged and declined to open any additional probes.
That decision has sparked widespread backlash, seemingly in collision with earlier suggestions by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi that more information could be released.
As pressure on the DOJ mounts — from a new probe by Congress, to former President Trump’s demand for the release of grand jury testimony — three Republican candidates in the 2026 race for Alabama Attorney General addressed their outlook on the legal implications from the state level.
If credible allegations arise, all three candidates said they would support investigations into those named in the records regardless of political or financial status.
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Katherine Robertson, currently chief counsel to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and a former DOJ official under U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, said she is supportive of federal or state efforts to release all unsealed Epstein-Maxwell documents.
“In the interest of transparency and reviving public confidence in our government, these documents should be released,” Robertson said in a statement to Yellowhammer News.
“Of course, this information should be released in a manner that prioritizes the protection of victims and adheres to the highest standards of legal integrity.”
Former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell said he trusts Trump’s handling of the matter over the Biden administration’s approach.
“After years of Democrats and their media enablers weaponizing the Department of Justice, I trust President Trump and his team to handle this issue appropriately and seriously,” Mitchell said in a statement to Yellowhammer News.
“As Alabama Attorney General, my focus will be to ensure the safety of Alabama citizens and end the lawfare against President Trump and conservatives everywhere.”
Pamela Casey, District Attorney of Blount County, also said transparency must be balanced with protecting the victims.
“While I support the President’s efforts to unseal the grand jury testimony, my experience as a career prosecutor reminds me that there are valid and important reasons investigative files are often kept sealed- chief among them, the need to protect the identities and safety of sex abuse victims,” Casey said in a statement to Yellowhammer News.
“In this case, the fact that these files have been exclusively under the control of the Biden administration for the past four years raises legitimate concerns about the integrity of the evidence and whether any tampering or mishandling has occurred.”
On the topic of the possibility of securing crucial testimony from Ghislaine Maxwell, each candidate weighed whether incentives, or even partial immunity, might be warranted to persuade her to fully disclose information about her clients.
“I would consider incentives in exchange for Ms. Maxwell’s testimony, as I believe that exposing the truth in this matter would best serve the public interest,” Katherine Robertson said.
Casey said a prosecutor would first need to understand exactly what Maxwell could offer before making such a deal.
“When a defendant possesses valuable information that could lead to the prosecution and conviction of individuals who might otherwise evade justice, it’s sometimes necessary to offer incentives in exchange for cooperation,” she said. “That appears to be the approach the Department of Justice is now pursuing with Maxwell.”
If credible allegations arise in the case, all three say they are in favor of investigating individuals named in the Epstein‑Maxwell records regardless of their political or financial status.
“Yes,” said Robertson. “All credible allegations should be investigated.”
Pamela Casey agrees.
“Of course. Politics and financial status have no place in decisions regarding the administration of justice,” Casey said. “I have spent my career as a prosecutor protecting sex abuse victims of all ages. No one should ever turn a blind eye when there is solid evidence that a crime has occurred.”
Past investigations into the Epstein network have faced criticism for limited scope and secrecy, fueling public suspicion that powerful figures were shielded from scrutiny.
Robertson believes there are reasonable pathways to justice and transparency alike.
“I would support an additional review by Congressional Republicans, for instance, but would caution that, too often, independent reviews have been weaponized in the past against President Trump and were conducted with no intention of getting to the truth,” Robertson said.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
