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Justice Department begins Epstein file release
The US Department of Justice will start publishing hundreds of thousands of pages linked to Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, though not all documents will be made public immediately, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced.
Initial release and timeline
Blanche stated that the department expects to release "several hundred thousand pages" initially, with additional material to follow in the coming weeks. The process involves reviewing each document to protect victims' identities and sensitive information.
"We are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce, ensuring every victim-their name, their identity, their story-is completely protected," Blanche told Fox & Friends.
Legal deadline and political pressure
The Friday release stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which received near-unanimous congressional support and was signed into law by then-President Donald Trump after he reversed his earlier opposition. The law mandated the DOJ to release all unclassified records related to Epstein's investigation and prosecution by December 19.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the department for not releasing all files by the deadline, calling it a violation of the law. "The Trump administration had 30 days to release all the Epstein files, not just some. Failing to do so is breaking the law," Schumer said in a statement.
Democratic lawmakers are working with Epstein's victims' legal teams to assess what has been released and what may still be withheld.
Congressional scrutiny and document review
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna, who co-sponsored the transparency act, emphasized that the law requires the release of all relevant files within 30 days. Khanna demanded a full timeline for the remaining documents before the deadline.
Separately, House Democrats have been releasing batches of documents and photos from Epstein's estate, including 20,000 files and 95,000 images. Many of these materials arrived without context, prompting lawmakers to redact potential victims' information.
Some of the released materials feature high-profile figures such as former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and Britain's Prince Andrew. Lawmakers stressed that appearing in the documents or photos does not imply wrongdoing, and many of those pictured have denied involvement in Epstein's crimes.
Next steps
The Justice Department plans to continue releasing documents in phases over the coming weeks. Officials have not provided a definitive timeline for the full disclosure but reiterated their commitment to protecting victims' privacy throughout the process.
