RE: (SBU/DP) Urgent Guidance for DOJ: MLAT to Question

Referring them to DOJ is the correct move. Calls started coming in late last night to DOJ. We have the standard: we do not confirm or deny the existence of investigations. I can get the language if you like but has it.

U.S. Dept. of Justice Attaché - London

Sent from a mobile device

The Sun alle es the U.S. Department of Justice has formally asked the Home Office, via MLAT request , for the UK that To answer questions in the criminal probe of Jeffrey Epstein.

Get Outlook for iOS

DOJ and EUR/Press Colleagues,

(U) Per the link below, the Sun alleges DOJ has made an MLAT request to have questioned in the Jeffrey Epstein criminal probe.

(U) We will need press guidance urgently. Until I hear otherwise from Washington our stance will be to defer to any questions to the Department of Justice.

(SBU/DP) While the press office never comments on any ongoing investigation, if this is untrue it would helpful to have DOJ correct the record, even off the record.

(SBU/DP) This will be enormously sensitive in light of: the Harry Dunn case, the fact that the Duke is the son of the Queen, the allegation that the Palace was not informed, and that the Duke may not have sovereign immunity.

(SBU/DP) We can expect questions like "Did the Department of Justice side-step informing the Palace in retaliation for the UK not informing the U.S. about the international arrest warrant on Anne Sacoolas?"

(SBU/DP) If the allegation is accurate, the PAO and IO should have been informed so we were not caught unaware and unprepared as we are this morning.

Best,

Matt

Get Outlook for iOS

Sky News has already asked for comment. Off the record we have referred them to DOJ. We have made no comment on the record. That will be our press posture until given other guidance.

Get Outlook for iOS

Thanks

We will still refer to DOJ absent separate guidance from State. So far we have had inquires from Sky and Press Association (PA). PA asked about the impact of the MLAT request on the request for Sacoolas extradition. We have not commented.

Hi Matt,

I have been responding to press with the following: As a matter of policy, the U.S. Department of Justice does not publicly comment on communications with foreign governments on investigative matters, including confirming or denying the very existence of such communications.

Thank you,

Spokesperson
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)

Pardon my ignorance. Will the SDNY follow main DOJ's press posture on this?

Embassy press will continue to defer any inquires to DOJ.

Get Outlook for iOS

Our office has no intention of commenting on the MLAT process, let alone the request made in this particular case. However, the office does intend to respond to the factually inaccurate statement issued earlier today by Blackfords LLP.

Chief Public Information Officer
U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY

Embass London team,

legal team issued a statement earlier today criticizing DOJ for how we have treated him during the Jeffrey Epstein probe. They claim that he has offered to help with the Department of Justice's Jeffrey Epstein investigation on "at least three occasions this year" and has not been taken up, also that details have been erroneously briefed by the DOJ "in breach of its own rules of confidentiality" that he is non-cooperative when he is seeking to cooperate. He accuses the DOJ of "perhaps seeking publicity rather than accepting the assistance."

Also his la ers claim that two statements by U.S Attorney Geoffrey Berman in January and March that was not coo crating were "inaccurate" and claim the DOJ actions have led to an "entirely misleading account" of attitude in the media. To view statement in its entirety, see:

Press is asking us to comment on these allegations. If we fire back, it will contradict my previous statement and deviate from our standard practice of not commenting on MLA requests. However, if we respond with an accurate history of the discussions (and an accurate statement of DOJ rules), then others will join in the call for

him to testify. It will make more clear that our use of a MLA request was our last choice, after all other avenues were exhausted. I am curious on Embassy's thoughts. Please advise. thank you

EUR Press supports Embassy London's concerns that publicly messaging on this case be reviewed in light of other ongoing, high-profile interactions between our two governments.

Beth

Thanks for reaching out on this. Ambassador Johnson feels DOJ should stick with the standard practice of not commenting on MAT requests. We don't want to get into a public back and forth with team on this — there would be significant downsides to that.

Thanks,

Yael

Deputy Chief of Mission
U.S. Embassy London