Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking Democratic member of the House Oversight Committee, Thursday sent a letter to Fox Corp Chairman Lachlan Murdoch and Fox News Media CEO Suzanne Scott, accusing Fox News of “deceptively” editing a June 2024 interview with then-candidate Donald Trump regarding Jeffrey Epstein’s documents.
The letter, first reported by CNN, claims the edits misled the public and distorted Trump’s stance, raising concerns about potential interference by Trump or his campaign team.
Details of the Controversy: The interview, aired on Fox & Friends Weekend, addressed whether Trump would release Epstein-related documents. The televised version suggested unequivocal support for releasing the files. However, the unedited version, broadcast the next day on Fox’s radio platform and later posted online, included Trump’s qualifiers expressing concerns about “phony stuff” and potential harm to individuals.
Garcia’s letter argues that Fox News’ selective omission of these qualifiers misrepresented Trump’s position, potentially shielding him from scrutiny over his documented social ties to Epstein.
The letter suggests the edits may have been deliberate to distance Trump from Epstein’s “horrific crimes,” prompting concerns about journalistic integrity.
The letter reflects a broader Democratic strategy to challenge conservative media, with Garcia’s action signaling a “hardball” approach, according to MSNBC.