What is document EFTA00022617?

This is an internal email chain from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York dated August 5, 2019. It coordinates the preparation of briefing memos for 'Geoff' (likely U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman) to brief Attorney General William Barr on various ongoing 'brass' (high-profile) investigations.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document references 'Geoff,' almost certainly Geoffrey S. Berman, who was the U.S. Attorney for SDNY from January 2018 until his controversial firing in June 2020. The attachments reference 'GSB' (Geoffrey S. Berman) and matters from which he had recused himself. The Attorney General at the time was William Barr.

What does this document reveal?

The document provides insight into DOJ internal communications about high-profile 'brass' cases requiring Attorney General-level briefings. It shows the SDNY preparing detailed memos for AG briefings, with some cases involving recusals. The timing—August 5, 2019, during the Epstein prosecution and 5 days before his death—makes this historically significant, though the specific cases discussed are redacted.

What are 'brass memos' in DOJ context?

'Brass' is informal DOJ terminology for senior leadership. 'Brass memos' are briefing documents prepared for high-ranking officials like the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General on significant, sensitive, or high-profile cases requiring executive-level awareness.

Why is the timing of this document significant?

This email was sent on August 5, 2019, while SDNY was actively prosecuting Jeffrey Epstein on sex trafficking charges. Epstein died in federal custody five days later on August 10, 2019. Geoffrey Berman oversaw the Epstein prosecution and later stated his office's investigation would continue despite Epstein's death.

What is document EFTA00022617?

This is an internal email chain from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York dated August 5, 2019. It coordinates the preparation of briefing memos for 'Geoff' (likely U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman) to brief Attorney General William Barr on various ongoing 'brass' (high-profile) investigations.

Who is mentioned in this document?

The document references 'Geoff,' almost certainly Geoffrey S. Berman, who was the U.S. Attorney for SDNY from January 2018 until his controversial firing in June 2020. The attachments reference 'GSB' (Geoffrey S. Berman) and matters from which he had recused himself. The Attorney General at the time was William Barr.

What does this document reveal?

The document provides insight into DOJ internal communications about high-profile 'brass' cases requiring Attorney General-level briefings. It shows the SDNY preparing detailed memos for AG briefings, with some cases involving recusals. The timing—August 5, 2019, during the Epstein prosecution and 5 days before his death—makes this historically significant, though the specific cases discussed are redacted.

What are 'brass memos' in DOJ context?

'Brass' is informal DOJ terminology for senior leadership. 'Brass memos' are briefing documents prepared for high-ranking officials like the Attorney General or Deputy Attorney General on significant, sensitive, or high-profile cases requiring executive-level awareness.

Why is the timing of this document significant?

This email was sent on August 5, 2019, while SDNY was actively prosecuting Jeffrey Epstein on sex trafficking charges. Epstein died in federal custody five days later on August 10, 2019. Geoffrey Berman oversaw the Epstein prosecution and later stated his office's investigation would continue despite Epstein's death.

EFTA00022617 - EFTA00022618

Internal DOJ email from August 5, 2019, coordinating briefing memos for SDNY U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman to brief Attorney General William Barr on ongoing "brass" (high-profile) cases.

This is a high-value internal communication from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York dated August 5, 2019, just five days before Jeffrey Epstein's death. The emails discuss preparing briefing memos for "Geoff" (Geoffrey Berman) to brief the Attorney General on various cases, including some where officials had recused themselves. The redacted case names and attachments referencing "GSB" (Geoffrey S. Berman) recusals suggest these involved politically sensitive matters. The timing is notable as the SDNY was then prosecuting Jeffrey Epstein on sex trafficking charges.

Key Highlights

•Internal DOJ coordination email dated August 5, 2019, just 5 days before Epstein's death
•References 'Geoff' (likely Geoffrey Berman, SDNY U.S. Attorney) briefing the Attorney General on multiple cases
•Mentions recusal memos and 'brass' (high-profile) cases requiring AG-level briefings
•Attachments include memos to the Deputy Attorney General dated May 2019 marked as relating to 'GSB recused' matters

Frequently Asked Questions

Books for Further Reading

Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

Julie K. Brown

Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open

Filthy Rich: The Jeffrey Epstein Story

James Patterson

Bestselling account of Epstein's crimes and network

Relentless Pursuit: My Fight for the Victims of Jeffrey Epstein

Bradley J. Edwards

Victims' attorney's firsthand account

Document Information

Bates Range

EFTA00022617 - EFTA00022618

Pages

Document Content

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From: Subject: RE: Brass memos Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2019 20:41:03 +0000 Attachments: combined.brass.memolonag.meet.gsb.recused.fo cx.docx; brass.memo.for.ag.meet.w.gsb.docx; SDNY_Memo_to_DAG.GSB.cases.5.23.19.final.pdf; SDNY_Memo_to_DAGn GSB_Recused.5.23.19.Finaldocx.pdf I don't think we've done update memos for Geoff and since February. Those are attached. We have since done shorter update memos for the DAG, most recently in May. From: Sent: Monday, August 5, 2019 2:03 PM To: Subject: RE: Brass memos Would you mind sending us the final version of the most recent update memos on these investigations? I know in some cases they were part of a larger memo. I don't think we have the final draft in some instances. From Sent: Monday, August 5, 2019 12:32 PM To: Subject: Brass memos All — Geoff has to brief the AG on various cases next week, to potentially include As of now we do not need to do memos for the AG, but Geoff would like fairly meaty briefing memos on these matters. Some of them you have already done, so they can be supplemented/revised as appropriate — find one of us to discuss or answer any questions. We would like them from you by Wednesday if possible so that we can get them to Geoff by Thursday night or Friday. That sound okay? United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York EFTA00022617

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