At a Glance
- 5.2 million pages of Epstein records are under review.
- DOJ plans to deploy roughly 400 lawyers from Jan. 5 to Jan. 20.
- A Dec. 19 deadline compels full release, sparking political backlash.
- Why it matters: The effort reflects federal transparency demands and high-profile political tensions.
In a high-stakes effort to meet a congressional deadline, the Justice Department is mobilizing hundreds of lawyers to sift through 5.2 million pages of documents related to former financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Review Scope and Timeline
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced that DOJ lawyers, the FBI, and the Southern Districts of Florida and New York are working around the holidays to review the material.
Todd Blanche stated:
> “are working around the holidays, including Christmas and New Years, to review documents in compliance with federal law.
> It truly is an all-hands-on-deck approach and we’re asking as many lawyers as possible to commit their time to review the documents that remain.
> Required redactions to protect victims take time but they will not stop these materials from being released. The Attorney General’s and this Administration’s goal is simple: transparency and protecting victims.”
- 5.2 million pages identified
- 400 lawyers enlisted
- Review window: Jan. 5-Jan. 20
Political Fallout
The December 19 deadline, set by a bipartisan law signed by President Trump, has prompted criticism from Congress and the Trump administration.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche posted on X:
> “working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims,” but because of the massive volume of material, the process “may take a few more weeks.”
Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie are speaking with members of Congress about holding Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would introduce a resolution to “initiate legal action against the DOJ” for releasing only some of its records related to Epstein.
A day later, the DOJ released 30,000 more documents, including an email claiming that flight logs show President Trump flew on Epstein’s plane at least eight times in the 1990s. The email was from an unnamed assistant U.S. attorney from the Southern District of New York, but the sender and recipient were redacted.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche added on X:
> “untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election.”
Rep. Ro Khanna wrote on X:
> “.@RepThomasMassie & I will continue to keep the pressure on. After we said we said … The DOJ is now finding millions more documents to release. They need to release the 302 FBI statements & the emails on Epstein’s computer. The Epstein class must go.”
President Trump acknowledged that more than a million documents potentially related to the Epstein case were turned over to the DOJ. He complained that the DOJ “is being forced to spend all of its time on this Democrat inspired Hoax.” He added, “The Radical Left doesn’t want people talking about TRUMP & REPUBLICAN SUCCESS, only a long ago dead Jeffrey Epstein – Just another Witch Hunt!!!”
Key Takeaways
- DOJ is reviewing 5.2 million Epstein documents amid a Dec. 19 deadline.
- Roughly 400 lawyers are assigned to the task from Jan. 5 to Jan. 20.
- Political pressure from Congress and the Trump administration is intensifying as documents are released.
The DOJ’s push to balance transparency with necessary redactions continues to draw scrutiny from lawmakers and the public alike.
