The US Justice Department on Friday released the final batch of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, fulfilling a law passed in November requiring all Epstein-related records to be made public.
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Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the release includes more than three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images. Extensive redactions have been applied, including to protect victims’ identities and materials tied to ongoing investigations. The department will provide Congress with a report summarizing all redactions and withheld documents.
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The law, passed over former President Donald Trump’s objections, mandated disclosure of internal Justice Department communications regarding whether to investigate or charge Epstein or his associates. Blanche said some materials were withheld due to attorney-client and work-product privileges. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer expressed skepticism about full compliance.
Trump, who had a personal relationship with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, has denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes. It remains unclear how many of the newly released documents reference Trump, although previous batches contained few mentions. The Justice Department noted that some claims against Trump in the files are “unfounded and false.”
The massive release comes amid persistent public and political interest in Epstein’s network of high-profile connections. Epstein, a New York financier, died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges; his death was ruled a suicide. The case has fueled conspiracy theories, some of which were amplified by Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign.
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Blanche defended the slow pace of releases, explaining that hundreds of attorneys reviewed the voluminous files to ensure compliance with legal requirements. He dismissed claims that the department had purposefully avoided investigating potential associates of Epstein.
The final release marks the completion of the Justice Department’s effort to make Epstein-related records public under the new law, concluding months of scrutiny and political controversy