HomeWorldDOJ website buckles under traffic surge after release of Jeffrey Epstein files

DOJ website buckles under traffic surge after release of Jeffrey Epstein files

Heavy public demand for newly released Jeffrey Epstein files overwhelmed the US Justice Department’s website, causing crashes and delays as users sought access to thousands of investigation documents.

December 20, 2025 / 05:07 IST
Story continues below Advertisement
Epstein files trigger surge
Epstein files trigger surge

The US Justice Department’s official website struggled to cope with heavy traffic on Friday as the first batch of Jeffrey Epstein files was made public.

Following the release, dozens of people reported the site crashing on social media. Users said that the website was “not loading” or showing messages showing their requests were “in queue.” Users attempting to download documents were met with delays, forcing them to check other sources of legacy media for information.

Story continues below Advertisement

The documents were made public after years. It contains details from federal investigations into the pedophile and convicted sex offender. The release is expected to shed light on Epstein’s activities, his associates, wealthy friends, and ongoing civil and criminal inquiries into sexual abuse.

The documents include thousands of pages, covering court filings, correspondence, and investigative notes. The volume of material is expected to be large, as it contains thousands of interactions involving texts and other kinds of deals. It also includes hundreds of photographs, which occupy a lot of digital space. These aspects contributed to the strain on the DOJ’s online systems.