The U.S. Department of Justice has found an additional 1 million records from the late Jeffrey Epstein sex exploitation case.
On the 24th, local time, the Justice Department announced via social media that the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had newly discovered more than 1 million documents related to the Epstein case. The department said more time is needed to review the documents and to apply redactions to protect victims. The department said, "Attorneys are reviewing the documents around the clock, and we will release them as quickly as possible."
The announcement came after the disclosure deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act enacted by Congress had passed. The bill passed with bipartisan agreement and required that all records be released by the 19th of this month. But the Justice Department missed the deadline and, after the fact, revealed the existence of a large trove of additional materials, delaying the timetable.
Congress and victims immediately pushed back against the delay. Twelve senators—11 Democrats and one Republican—asked the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General to investigate the matter. The letter included the names of Lisa Murkowski, Richard Blumenthal, Amy Klobuchar, and Adam Schiff. They stressed, "Victims have a right to information, and an independent audit is essential."
In the ruling Republican Party, Rep. Thomas Massie said, "The Justice Department broke the law with unlawful redactions and by missing the deadline." Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the announcement "a blatant attempt at a cover-up."
Recently released materials included touchpoints suggesting former President Donald Trump and Epstein may have met multiple times. Records show that between 1993 and 1996, President Trump boarded Epstein's private jet eight times. During the release process, the Justice Department deleted and then restored 16 photos of President Trump, fueling distrust. Attorney General Pam Bondi previously noted that she had "received a truckload of evidence."
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 24th that the episode "is fueling public doubt about the government's commitment to transparency." The White House, however, defended the Justice Department's response. White House Spokesperson Abigail Jackson said, "The Cabinet is doing an excellent job carrying out the administration's agenda."
Epstein, a billionaire, died by suicide in 2019 while in custody. President Trump has flatly denied allegations of involvement in sex crimes. But with selective disclosures and redactions continuing, the controversy is unlikely to subside anytime soon.