The Justice Department just announced it has uncovered more than a million documents that could add new details to the Jeffrey Epstein case, saying it may take a few more weeks to review them before they are released.
New Tranche of Documents
The department posted on its X account that “The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case.” The files were sent to the DOJ from SDNY and the FBI for review.
Review Process and Redaction
In the same X post, the DOJ explained that it is “reviewing and making the legally required redactions to protect victims.” Lawyers are working around the clock, the department said, and the process “may take a few more weeks” because of the mass volume of material.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Fox News on Friday that he expects the entire set of files to be online by Jan. 2. He added, “The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply to protect victims.” In an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Blanche said, “We’re going through a very methodical process with hundreds of lawyers looking at every single document and making sure that victims’ names and any of the information from victims is protected and redacted, which is exactly what the [Epstein Files] Transparency Act expects.”
Congressional Response
Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)-who led the bipartisan effort that passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act-have been pressing the DOJ to release the files. Khanna wrote on X, “@RepThomasMassie & I will continue to keep the pressure on. After we said we are bringing contempt, the DOJ is now finding millions more documents to release.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reacted on X, calling the announcement a “coverup.” He wrote, “A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup. The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding-and WHY? Justice delayed is justice denied. Release the files. Follow the law.” Schumer introduced a resolution to direct the Senate to initiate legal action against the DOJ for not releasing the full files by last Friday.
Current Status of Releases
The DOJ has publicly released thousands of pages of Epstein files. On Friday it released a batch that met the statutory deadline set by the Transparency Act, and another tranche was released Tuesday. According to an NBC News analysis, as of Wednesday the department had released about 40,000 documents.
Some of the documents already released mention President Donald Trump, including one that indicates he had flown on Epstein’s private jet more times than previously known. Trump has denied any wrongdoing, saying he cut ties with Epstein in the early 2000s because he was a “creep.” The DOJ said Tuesday that the release included “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump.
Background on Epstein and Maxwell
Jeffrey Epstein died in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York. Ghislaine Maxwell was indicted in July 2020 on federal sex-trafficking charges, found guilty in December 2021 in New York, and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Congressional Timing
Congress is scheduled to reconvene in the first full week of January. Some members have threatened impeachment or contempt charges over the delay, while others have called for the DOJ to comply with the Transparency Act.
Key Takeaways
- DOJ has found over a million additional documents related to the Epstein case.
- Review and redaction may take a few more weeks; full release expected by Jan. 2.
- Congressional leaders are pressing the DOJ, with some threatening legal action.
The Justice Department’s announcement underscores the scale of the remaining documents and the ongoing effort to balance public transparency with victim protection. The next few weeks will determine when the full set of files becomes available to the public.
