Epstein files released, but thousands of records remain withheld despite legal deadline

Epstein files released, but thousands of records remain withheld despite legal deadline

The US Justice Department on Friday released more than 13,000 documents and photographs connected to its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, following a law passed by US Congress that mandated disclosure by midnight. While officials described the release as substantial, they also acknowledged that tens of thousands of additional records were withheld or redacted, citing victim privacy and ongoing investigative reviews, the New York Times reported.

Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said the department had initially planned to release “several hundred thousand” Epstein-related records but was unable to complete its review in time. In a letter to Congress, Blanche said lawyers had identified about 1,200 victims or relatives whose identities needed protection and required more time to redact sensitive information. He promised additional releases over the next two weeks and said the review process would be completed by the end of the year.

A preliminary review of the released material suggests it draws largely from three investigations: a Palm Beach police inquiry opened in 2005, a federal investigation in Florida that ended in Epstein’s 2008 plea deal, and a 2019 federal case in Manhattan that was cut short by Epstein’s death in jail.

The trove includes court filings, FBI records, interview notes and hundreds of photographs. Many files are heavily redacted, including a 119-page document labelled “Grand Jury NY” that is entirely blacked out. Officials said the redactions were necessary to avoid identifying victims or exposing sensitive investigative details.

Among the photographs are images of Epstein with well-known figures, including former President Bill Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell, Prince Andrew and entertainers such as Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger. In many cases, the context of the images — where they were taken or why they were collected — is unclear.

Former President Bill Clinton features prominently in the released images and documents, with dozens of photographs showing him in social settings with Epstein and Maxwell. Clinton’s face was left unredacted, as were those of Epstein and Maxwell, while many others were obscured. Clinton has denied any wrongdoing and has said he cut ties with Epstein before his criminal conduct became widely known. No Epstein victims have accused him of abuse.

By contrast, President Trump appears only sparingly in the newly released materials. White House officials have acknowledged that Trump’s name appears in Epstein-related files, but most of the references and photographs involving him were already public. Justice Department officials said they did not select documents to highlight any particular individual.

Epstein’s victims reacted with disappointment, saying the release did little to clarify how authorities handled allegations against Epstein for years or whether others helped enable his abuse. Several survivors said the volume of redactions undermined the promise of transparency that drove the legislation.

Lawmakers from both parties echoed those concerns. Senator Chuck Schumer said releasing “a mountain of blacked-out pages” violated both the spirit and letter of the law. Representatives Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, who co-sponsored the legislation, said key materials appeared to be missing, including draft indictments and unredacted investigative files. They said Congress was considering legal and procedural options if the department fails to justify its withholdings.

One notable document in the release was an FBI report from 1996 showing that Maria Farmer, one of Epstein’s earliest victims, filed a complaint alleging his interest in child pornography. Farmer has said for decades that federal authorities failed to act on her report. Its appearance in the released files was welcomed by survivors as long-overdue confirmation, even as many said it underscored institutional failures rather than accountability.

Under the law, the Justice Department must submit a report to Congress within 15 days detailing which records were withheld and the legal basis for each redaction. Officials say more documents will be released in phases, but critics remain sceptical.

Rather than closing the chapter on Epstein, the partial disclosure has revived scrutiny of how his crimes were investigated and why accountability remains elusive years after his death.