Epstein Files Mention Shreveport, Calling City a 'Dump'

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A newly released batch of documents tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case includes an email from former White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler referring to Shreveport, Louisiana as 'a dump' after an early morning visit to the city. The comment has sparked an online debate among Louisianans about the characterization of their city.

Why it matters

The inclusion of Shreveport in the Epstein files, even in a brief and unflattering way, has drawn national attention to the city and sparked discussions about the perception of Louisiana communities outside the state.

The details

In the email dated May 2017, Ruemmler, who now works as an attorney at Goldman Sachs, wrote that she was 'just leaving Shreveport' in the early morning hours and referred to the city as 'a dump'. The email is part of a new Justice Department release of millions of pages of documents related to the Epstein case, which has drawn criticism over heavy redactions.

• The email was sent in May 2017.
• The Epstein files were recently released by the Justice Department in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.