The Justice Department said Wednesday that it may need a few more weeks to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents.
A Sudden Surge of Evidence
The announcement came on Christmas Eve, hours after a dozen U.S. senators wrote to the department’s watchdog, Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume, demanding an independent audit. The letter, signed by 11 Democrats and a Republican, urged that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an impartial review.
In a social-media post, the department revealed that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that could be tied to the Epstein case. This late-night development followed earlier statements that a comprehensive review had already accounted for the vast universe of Epstein-related materials.
Past Promises and New Surprises
In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” had been produced after she ordered the FBI to “deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office.” She had acted on information that the FBI in New York was “in possession of thousands of pages of documents.”
By July, the FBI and Justice Department had issued an unsigned memo claiming that an “exhaustive review” had found no additional evidence that should be released. That memo did not raise the possibility that new documents existed or that officials had missed them.
The Wednesday post did not say when the department learned of the newly uncovered files, leaving questions about how the documents slipped through earlier reviews.
The Scale of the Records
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote last week that Manhattan federal prosecutors already had more than 3.6 million records from investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell. Many of those records were copies of material already turned over by the FBI.
The department said its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and remove victims’ names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that mandates the government to open its files on Epstein and Maxwell.
“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”
Congressional Backlash
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, one of the chief authors of the law mandating the document release, posted on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.” Another architect of the law, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he and Massie will “continue to keep the pressure on” and noted that the Justice Department was releasing more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.
“A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after the DOJ’s announcement. “The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding – and WHY?”
White House Response
The White House defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein records. “President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team – like Deputy Attorney General Blanche – who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.
After releasing an initial wave of records on Friday, the Justice Department posted more batches to its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.
What Has Been Released
Records that have been released include photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents. Many were already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context. New records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews with several girls and young women who said they were paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.
Other records made public in recent days include a note from a federal prosecutor dated January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than previously known, and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.” The emails contain references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”
Senators’ Call for an IG Audit
The senators’ call for an inspector general audit comes days after Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in leading the call for an inspector general audit. Others signing the letter were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
“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,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”
Key Takeaways
- The Justice Department discovered over a million new documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, delaying the release of all records.
- Senators from both parties have demanded an independent inspector general audit, citing illegal redactions and missed deadlines.
- The White House defended the department’s handling, while new records include grand jury testimony and emails suggesting Prince Andrew’s involvement.
The unfolding situation highlights the tension between the Justice Department’s promise of transparency and the political forces that may influence the pace and completeness of the release. As more batches appear on the department’s website, the pressure on the agency to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act intensifies.
