DOJ Releases Minimal Epstein Files
The Department of Justice (DOJ) admitted on Monday that fewer than 1% of the documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein have been made public. According to the DOJ, they have released 12,285 files related to Epstein, while over 2 million documents are still being reviewed.
In a court submission, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “There are more than two million documents that could be subject to the law and are being considered at various stages,” adding that considerable work is still required.
The collection comprises various types of materials such as documents, videos, photos, and audio, stored in the FBI’s primary case management system. These files originate from the long-standing Epstein investigation, focusing largely on Florida and New York. A memo from the FBI indicated that an assessment of these materials had revealed over 300 gigabytes of digital data along with physical evidence.
This information was released following the passage of the Epstein File Transparency Act last November, which mandated the DOJ to release files related to Epstein, a convicted sex offender who passed away in 2019, by December 19. The Trump administration, however, failed to meet this 30-day deadline.
Blanche noted on December 19 that the DOJ had started to release material under the new act but will continue to generate additional records as the review progresses.
On December 23, the DOJ shared approximately 30,000 more documents about Epstein, which included accusations involving former President Donald Trump. The DOJ characterized these claims as “false and sensational.” In late December, they also discovered over 1 million additional documents that may relate to Epstein, cautioning that the review process could take several more weeks.
Public interest in the Epstein files surged in July when the DOJ and FBI concluded that Epstein died by suicide while in custody and found no evidence of a client list. This effectively closed the investigation into his death.
