US Justice Department removes Epstein records from site after victim data revealed

DOJ data breach retraumatizes Epstein survivors

The US Department of Justice has taken down thousands of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein after victims said their personal information was exposed in what attorneys called “the single most egregious violation of victim privacy in one day in United States history.”

Lawyers for Epstein’s survivors said improper redactions in the released records had “turned upside down” the lives of nearly 100 victims. The materials included email addresses and nude images where names and faces of alleged victims were visible, prompting swift backlash and urgent legal action.

Survivors seek immediate court intervention

Victims released a statement condemning the disclosure as “outrageous,” saying they should not be “named, scrutinized and retraumatized” by the very agency responsible for their protection. Attorneys Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards petitioned a federal judge in New York to compel the DOJ to immediately remove the files, warning of “an unfolding emergency that requires immediate judicial intervention” because the department was “failing to redact victims names and other personally identifying information in thousands of instances.”

Several survivors submitted personal accounts as part of the filing. One described the exposure as “life-threatening,” while another said she received death threats after her private banking information appeared online.

DOJ blames human or technical failures

The Department of Justice acknowledged the lapse, attributing it to “technical or human error.” In a letter to a federal judge, the department said it had removed all documents flagged by victims or their legal teams for additional review.

“All documents requested by victims or counsel to be removed by yesterday evening have been removed for further redaction,” the department stated. It added that officials were continuing to assess new requests and determine whether more files require changes. A “substantial number” of documents identified independently have also been pulled.

A DOJ spokesperson told CBS News that the agency “takes victim protection very seriously and has redacted thousands of victim names in the millions of published pages to protect the innocent.” The spokesperson said the department was “working around the clock to fix the issue,” noting that “to date 0.1% of released pages” contained information that could identify victims.

Survivors say damage overshadows new revelations

Epstein survivor Annie Farmer told the BBC that the privacy breach had eclipsed any meaningful disclosures contained in the documents.

“It’s hard to focus on the new information that has been brought to light because of how much damage the DOJ has done by exposing survivors in this way,” Annie Farmer said.

Another survivor, Lisa Phillips, said frustration among victims was widespread and accused the department of mishandling the process.

“The DOJ has violated all three of our requirements,” she said, adding, “Number one, many documents still haven’t been disclosed. Number two, the date set for release has long passed. And number three, DOJ released the names of many of the survivors. We feel like they’re playing some games with us but we’re not going to stop fighting.”