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The Justice Department announced Wednesday it may need several more weeks to release all records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after discovering over a million additional potentially relevant documents, missing last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline for full disclosure.
The unexpected Christmas Eve announcement came just hours after twelve U.S. senators—eleven Democrats and one Republican—called on the Justice Department’s Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume to investigate the agency’s failure to meet the deadline. The bipartisan group emphasized that Epstein’s victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” that would come from an independent audit.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI uncovered the massive trove of additional documents in what appears to be a surprising late-stage development. The revelation is particularly jarring given that department officials had previously suggested they had already conducted a comprehensive review of all Epstein-related materials.
In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News she had ordered the FBI to “deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office” after learning from an undisclosed source that the FBI in New York possessed “thousands of pages of documents.” By July, however, the FBI and Justice Department had reversed course, indicating in an unsigned memo that they had completed an “exhaustive review” and determined no additional evidence should be released.
Wednesday’s announcement did not explain when officials first learned about the newly discovered cache of documents. In a letter last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged that Manhattan federal prosecutors already had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, though many were duplicates.
“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department stated, noting that lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the materials and remove victims’ names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This law, enacted last month, mandates the government to open its files on Epstein and Maxwell.
The Justice Department’s staggered release and missed deadline have drawn increasing criticism from Epstein victims, lawmakers, and the public. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who co-authored the transparency law, bluntly stated on X (formerly Twitter): “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer was even more pointed in his criticism, calling the timing of the announcement a “Christmas Eve news dump” that “only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup.” Schumer questioned what the administration might be hiding and why.
The White House defended the Justice Department’s handling of the records. “President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team — like Deputy Attorney General Blanche — who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.
Documents released so far have included photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records, and other materials, though many were either already public or heavily redacted. The released records include previously unseen transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents describing interviews with several girls and young women who reported being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.
Other newly public records include a prosecutor’s note from January 2020 indicating that former President Trump had flown on Epstein’s private plane more frequently than previously known, as well as emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off as “A,” with contextual references suggesting this may be Britain’s former Prince Andrew.
The bipartisan group of senators calling for an inspector general audit was led by Republican Lisa Murkowski of Alaska along with Democrats Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Jeff Merkley of Oregon. In their letter, they emphasized that “given the Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential.”
Senator Schumer has also introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with disclosure requirements.
The senators concluded that full transparency “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes” – a sentiment that reflects growing public demand for accountability in a case that has implicated numerous high-profile individuals across politics, business, and entertainment.
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7 Comments
Discovering over a million additional documents is a significant development. The DOJ will need time to thoroughly review all the information to ensure nothing is missed or overlooked.
Agreed, it’s important they take the time to do a proper and comprehensive investigation, even if it means missing a deadline.
This case has huge implications, both legally and politically. I hope the DOJ can maintain impartiality and focus solely on uncovering the facts to bring some measure of justice.
This is a complex and sensitive case involving a high-profile individual. I hope the DOJ can expedite the review and release of these Epstein files to provide transparency and closure for the victims.
The sheer volume of documents found is staggering. The DOJ will need to be thorough, but also expeditious, in reviewing this information for the sake of the victims.
Releasing the Epstein files is critical for public trust in the justice system. I’m glad to see Congress pushing for transparency, even if it means more time is needed.
The bipartisan call for an independent audit is understandable given the gravity of this case. Victims deserve the full truth, no matter how difficult it may be to uncover.