The US Justice Department on Friday released a massive new cache of records linked to disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, publishing more than three million pages of documents, along with over 2,000 videos and nearly 180,000 images, as part of a legally mandated transparency exercise.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the release marked the conclusion of an extensive document identification and review process carried out to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation enacted after months of sustained public and bipartisan political pressure.
“These disclosures represent the end of a very comprehensive review aimed at ensuring transparency for the American people while remaining fully compliant with the law,” Blanche said while announcing the release. The files have been uploaded to the Justice Department’s official website.
Officials said the newly released material includes a substantial portion of records that were withheld from an initial disclosure in December, when only a limited set of documents had been made public. At the time, the department had acknowledged that several million pages still remained under review.
The transparency law requires the federal government to open its files related to Epstein and his longtime associate and former partner Ghislaine Maxwell, subject to limited redactions to protect victims’ identities and preserve ongoing investigations.
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Delays drew congressional criticism
The Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein files has previously drawn criticism from lawmakers, who accused the administration of moving too slowly and failing to meet statutory deadlines. By the end of last year, officials had admitted that more than five million pages still needed to be reviewed, prompting the reassignment of hundreds of lawyers to the task.
Blanche defended the pace of the review, pushing back against claims that delays amounted to indifference toward victims. “The suggestion that justice for victims was somehow denied because we didn’t process over six million pages in 30 days is simply incorrect,” he said, adding that careful review was necessary to avoid further harm.
Despite the latest disclosure, several lawmakers have expressed frustration over the extent of redactions, noting that some documents remain heavily blacked out or entirely obscured, limiting public insight.
Political implications and Trump connection
The Epstein case has remained a politically sensitive issue, particularly due to Epstein’s past social connections with powerful figures. Former US President Donald Trump, who knew Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s before their relationship deteriorated, has faced renewed scrutiny amid the disclosures.
Trump has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. Blanche stressed that the release process did not involve political considerations.
“I can assure you that we complied fully with the statute,” Blanche told reporters. “No one was protected. We did not protect President Trump, and we did not target or shield anyone else.”
He also said the White House had no role in the review of the newly released files, asserting that the Justice Department conducted the process independently. “There was no oversight, no direction on what to redact or what to release,” Blanche said.
No ‘client list’, says DOJ
Addressing long-standing speculation, Blanche dismissed claims that the Justice Department was concealing a so-called Epstein ‘client list’—a rumoured compilation of influential individuals allegedly linked to Epstein’s abuse network.
“There is no hidden tranche of names that we are covering up or choosing not to prosecute,” Blanche said. He added that if credible evidence emerges against any individual, the department would pursue prosecution, but cautioned against assuming that the released files would reveal a definitive list of abusers.
The Justice Department reiterated that redactions were applied strictly in accordance with the law, primarily to protect victims and maintain the integrity of any unresolved inquiries.
Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, remains at the centre of one of the most controversial criminal cases in recent US history. The latest disclosure is expected to intensify public scrutiny of the government’s handling of the case and its commitment to transparency.
Officials said no further bulk releases are currently planned, but additional material could be made public if required under law or court orders.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
