DOJ Begins Release of Jeffrey Epstein Files

On Friday, the DOJ began releasing what officials say will be hundreds of thousands of pages from the criminal and civil investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender whose connections to elites across politics, finance, and entertainment have long drawn public scrutiny.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking on Fox & Friends, said:

“We expect several hundred thousand documents will be released today, with more coming in the next few weeks.”

The release includes photographs, legal filings, and investigative records — some newly unsealed, others previously disclosed but now compiled as part of a comprehensive effort to bring public clarity to the long-running case.

Some of the released material contains graphic imagery and is heavily redacted, particularly to shield the identities of alleged victims. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Trump earlier this year, allows for certain names and details to be withheld if they could compromise victim safety or active investigations.

“The attorney general and FBI Director [Kash] Patel have both emphasized the importance of protecting victims,” Blanche said. “Every single page is being reviewed with that in mind.”

To speed up the review, the DOJ has brought in attorneys from the National Security Division, a rare move that underscores the scale — and sensitivity — of the materials.

Passed with bipartisan support in Congress, the Epstein Files Transparency Act was introduced after years of frustration from both lawmakers and the public over delayed or blocked access to case records.

Many of Epstein’s victims have long argued that the full truth has not yet come out — particularly regarding the people who may have enabled or participated in the abuse.

President Trump, who had a falling out with Epstein nearly two decades ago, emphasized transparency when he signed the bill into law.

“Americans deserve to know who was involved — and who looked the other way,” Trump said in a Truth Social post. “I signed this law because the cover-up ends now.”

Some Democratic lawmakers responded Friday by criticizing the initial release as incomplete, calling for the DOJ to accelerate the process. But Blanche clarified that the rollout is being done in phases to comply with federal court rulings, including a recent order from the Southern District of New York requiring verification of all redactions.

“We’re balancing urgency with responsibility,” Blanche said. “The public wants answers, but we won’t sacrifice the privacy or safety of victims to move faster.”

Asked whether any criminal charges are expected as a result of the release, Blanche said no charges have been filed at this time but confirmed that ongoing investigations are active.

“The president directed us to keep investigating. And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Sources familiar with the matter say prosecutors are reviewing possible connections between Epstein and public figures from both parties, with a renewed focus on any individual who may have knowingly participated in or concealed misconduct.

Epstein, a financier with vast real estate holdings and global contacts, was first convicted in 2008 on sex crimes charges — but served just 13 months in jail under a controversial plea deal with federal prosecutors in Florida. That agreement shielded many of his alleged co-conspirators from prosecution.

He was later indicted in 2019 by federal prosecutors in New York on charges of running a sex trafficking ring involving underage girls as young as 14, allegedly recruiting victims for abuse in New York, Florida, New Mexico, and on his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Before he could stand trial, Epstein was found dead in a Manhattan jail cell. The death was ruled a suicide, though the circumstances have remained a source of public suspicion.

The DOJ says the release process will continue in weekly phases, with redactions gradually lifted as victim protections are confirmed. Advocacy groups are already combing through the documents, and journalists across the political spectrum are expected to spotlight names and networks previously unknown to the public.

“These files are a step toward long-overdue accountability,” said Blanche. “No matter how powerful someone is, they are not above the law.”