The Department of Justice (DOJ) is mobilizing approximately 400 lawyers to review over two million documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. This announcement comes after the DOJ requested additional time to fulfill its obligations under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Although the DOJ initially stated it would begin releasing documents on December 19, 2023, new findings have complicated the timeline.
On Christmas Eve, the DOJ indicated that many of the newly discovered documents are in various stages of review. The U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI unearthed these additional materials, leading to further delays in compliance with the congressional deadline. According to federal prosecutors, the lawyers will dedicate significant portions of their workday to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Act.
Extensive Review Process Underway
In a recent court filing, Jay Clayton, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, explained that the team includes attorneys from both the criminal and national security divisions, as well as more than 100 FBI analysts experienced in handling sensitive victim materials. “Many of the attorneys dedicated to this review from the Department have experience in victim-privacy related matters, which is necessary given the nature of the materials,” Clayton stated. He emphasized that while substantial efforts have been made, significant work remains.
As of now, the DOJ has made 12,285 documents available in the “DOJ Epstein Library,” totaling approximately 125,575 pages. The department anticipates that a meaningful portion of the documents could be largely duplicative of others already collected. Nonetheless, these documents must still go through a processing and deduplication process.
The DOJ has also reported receiving numerous inquiries from alleged victims and their representatives, requesting further redactions to safeguard their privacy. “The department remains committed to providing as much protection to the privacy interests of victims and their relatives as is practicable,” the letter from Clayton reads.
Commitment to Transparency
The DOJ began releasing Epstein-related materials following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2023. Following the initial release, lawmakers and members of the public criticized the documents for being heavily redacted and potentially incomplete. In response to these concerns, a dozen U.S. senators have requested the DOJ’s inspector general to investigate the agency’s failure to meet the initial deadline.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche assured the public on New Year’s Eve that the department’s lawyers are working tirelessly, even through the holidays, to comply with federal law. “It truly is an all-hands-on-deck approach,” Blanche stated. “Required redactions to protect victims take time but they will not stop these materials from being released. The Attorney General’s and this Administration’s goal is simple: transparency and protecting victims.”
The scrutiny surrounding the Epstein files is heightened by the notorious background of the late financier, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for similar charges.
As the DOJ continues its extensive review, the agency remains under pressure to fulfill its commitment to transparency while ensuring the protection of victims’ rights.
