U.S. Justice Department Misses Deadline to Release Full Epstein Files

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed it will not release all of its files related to Jeffrey Epstein by the federally mandated Friday deadline, citing the sheer volume of documents and the need to protect sensitive information, including the identities of victims.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department began releasing a large batch of records Friday, amounting to several hundred thousand documents, but acknowledged that the disclosure falls short of the requirements set out in the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last month. The legislation required the DOJ to make all unclassified records related to Epstein publicly available within 30 days of enactment.

According to Blanche, hundreds of thousands of additional pages remain under review and will be released on a rolling basis over the coming weeks. Justice Department officials say the delay is necessary to carefully redact personal identifying information and to ensure that victims of Epstein’s sex trafficking operation are not further harmed by public disclosure.

The law mandates the release of all unclassified records, communications, investigative files, and internal decision-making documents related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, including materials explaining why certain individuals or entities were not charged in connection with the case. Lawmakers who supported the legislation argued it was essential to restore public trust after years of secrecy surrounding Epstein’s political, financial, and social connections.

However, the DOJ’s failure to meet the deadline has sparked bipartisan criticism on Capitol Hill, with some members of Congress accusing the department of undermining the intent of the law. Several lawmakers have questioned whether the staggered release violates federal statute, though legal experts note that the legislation does not include a clear enforcement mechanism or penalties for missing the deadline.

Epstein, a wealthy financier with ties to prominent figures, died in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death, ruled a suicide, intensified public scrutiny and conspiracy theories surrounding the case, fueling demands for greater transparency. Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, was later convicted of sex trafficking and sentenced to prison.

While the Justice Department insists that transparency remains a priority, critics argue that partial disclosures and delays continue to erode confidence in the government’s handling of one of the most high-profile criminal cases in recent U.S. history. As additional documents are released in the coming weeks, lawmakers and the public alike are expected to closely examine whether the files provide meaningful answers or raise further questions.