Department of Justice Announces Further Delay in Jeffrey Epstein Document Release After Discovering Over a Million New Files

Department of Justice Delays Full Release of Epstein Files

Washington D.C. — The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday that it requires additional weeks to release all records pertaining to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This delay follows the discovery of over one million new documents potentially relevant to the case, further postponing compliance with a congressionally mandated deadline that passed last Friday.

This development occurred hours after a bipartisan group of 12 U.S. senators, comprising 11 Democrats and one Republican, formally requested the Justice Department's internal watchdog to investigate the department's failure to meet the initial deadline. In a letter to Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume, the senators emphasized that victims are entitled to full disclosure and the reassurance of an independent audit.

In a statement via social media, the Justice Department disclosed that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) "have uncovered over a million more documents" related to the Epstein case. This information emerges months after department officials had previously indicated a comprehensive review of Epstein-related materials had been undertaken.

Earlier in March, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on Fox News that a "truckload of evidence" had been produced following her directive to the FBI to provide "the full and complete Epstein files to my office." She issued this order after reportedly learning from an unspecified source that the FBI in New York possessed "thousands of pages of documents."

By July, the FBI and Justice Department had issued an unsigned memo asserting an "exhaustive review" and concluding that no further evidence should be released. This memo did not mention the possibility of additional unreviewed or undiscovered evidence. The recent DOJ post did not specify when the department became aware of the newly uncovered files.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche previously noted in a letter last week that Manhattan federal prosecutors already possessed over 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations involving Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, although many were duplicates of material already provided by the FBI.

The Justice Department stated that its lawyers are actively working to review the documents, with the task of redacting victim names and other identifying information as stipulated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This law, enacted last month, mandates the government to make its files on Epstein and Maxwell public.

"We will release the documents as soon as possible," the department affirmed. "Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks."

The announcement has intensified scrutiny regarding the Justice Department's phased release of Epstein-related records from victims and members of Congress.

Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), a principal author of the transparency law, posted on X that the "DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline." Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), another architect of the law, indicated that he and Massie would "continue to keep the pressure on," noting the DOJ's release of more documents after threats of contempt proceedings.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) commented on the timing of the announcement and the volume of new files, suggesting it indicated a cover-up and questioned what was being concealed.

The White House defended the Justice Department's management of the Epstein records, with spokeswoman Abigail Jackson stating that Attorney General Bondi and her team were effectively implementing the President's agenda.

After an initial release of records last Friday, the Justice Department posted additional batches over the weekend and on Tuesday. The department has not provided a schedule for future releases.

Records already made public include photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, and court documents. Many of these were either previously public or heavily redacted, and some lacked contextual information. Newly released materials include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents detailing interviews with girls and young women who reported being paid for sex acts with Epstein. Other recent disclosures include a federal prosecutor's note from January 2020 indicating former President Trump had flown on Epstein's private plane more frequently than previously known, and emails between Maxwell and an individual signing off with the initial "A," containing references suggestive of Britain's former Prince Andrew.

The senators' request for an inspector general audit follows Senator Schumer's introduction of a resolution aimed at directing the Senate to pursue legal action to ensure the Justice Department complies with disclosure and deadline mandates. Schumer characterized the staggered, heavily redacted release as a "blatant cover-up."

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK) joined Democratic Senators Richard Blumenthal (CT) and Jeff Merkley (OR) in leading the call for an audit. Other signatories included Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar (MN), Adam Schiff (CA), Dick Durbin (IL), Cory Booker (NJ), Andy Kim (NJ), Gary Peters (MI), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Mazie Hirono (HI), and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI).

The senators' letter stated: "Given the [Trump] Administration's historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential." They concluded that full transparency is "essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein's crimes."