The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it has received a new tranche of records-more than one million documents-“potentially” related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, adding a new layer of complexity to the ongoing effort to release the full Epstein Files.
The DOJ’s X post stated, “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,” and that the documents are being reviewed before release.
In the same statement, the department added, “The DOJ has received these documents from SDNY and the FBI to review them for release, in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, existing statutes, and judicial orders. We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible. Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche explained the delay on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” Sunday, saying, “The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply to protect victims.” He added, “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.”
Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.)-who co-authored the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act-used the new release to reinforce their earlier threats. 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 reacted on X, accusing the DOJ of a cover-up. He posted, “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.”
The newly released documents include several references to President Donald Trump, one of which indicates he had flown on Epstein’s private jet more times than previously documented. Trump has denied wrongdoing and said he cut ties with Epstein in the early 2000s because Epstein was a “creep.” The Justice Department said Tuesday that the release included “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump.
According to an NBC News analysis, the Justice Department had released about 40,000 documents related to Epstein as of Wednesday. The department had already publicly released thousands of pages Friday, meeting the statutory deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and another tranche was released Tuesday.
The Transparency Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump last month, requires the DOJ to release all files by a specified deadline and mandates redaction of victims’ personal information. The department said it needed more time to review the files it has on hand and to redact text and images related to Epstein’s victims.
Congress is scheduled to reconvene the first full week of January, and members have threatened impeachment or contempt charges against the DOJ for the delay. The Senate introduced a resolution that would direct the Senate to initiate legal action against the DOJ for not releasing the full Epstein files by last Friday.
Key Takeaways
- The DOJ received over one million new documents potentially related to the Epstein case, extending the release timeline.
- Deputy AG Todd Blanche emphasized the priority of protecting victims through extensive redaction.
- Congressional leaders, including Khanna, Massie, and Schumer, criticized the delay and urged prompt release.
The Justice Department’s extended review underscores the challenges of balancing transparency with victim protection, while congressional pressure continues to mount as the full scope of the Epstein Files remains incomplete.
