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The Justice Department on Friday resumed releasing additional investigative files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, more than a month after publishing thousands of previously unreleased records tied to the high-profile case.
The latest document dump comes after the department missed a statutory deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law on Nov. 19 and required Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all Epstein-related DOJ files within 30 days.
The Justice Department did not immediately explain the delay or specify whether Friday’s release completes its obligations under the law.
Earlier disclosures and redactions
In December, the DOJ published roughly 3,500 documents on its website, including court filings, correspondence and dozens of photographs that had not previously been made public. Some of the material was heavily redacted, while other files were labeled CSAM, an abbreviation for child sex abuse material.
The records included photographs of Epstein and his convicted associate Ghislaine Maxwell during what appeared to be vacations or social gatherings with others.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 and charged in Manhattan federal court with sex trafficking minors, allegations involving girls he allegedly abused while they were brought to his residences under the guise of providing massages. Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial; his death was ruled a suicide.
Political implications and Trump ties
Epstein’s extensive connections to wealthy and politically powerful figures have fueled years of public scrutiny and conspiracy theories.
A searchable database of the documents showed President Donald Trump’s name appearing hundreds of times. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has never been charged in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
Trump and Epstein were friends for years before a falling out roughly 15 years ago. Epstein also maintained relationships with prominent figures including former President Bill Clinton, Ohio retail billionaire Les Wexner, and Britain’s Prince Andrew.
Transparency promises and backlash
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to “declassify the Epstein files” if elected. In February, Bondi said an Epstein client list was “sitting on my desk right now,” suggesting additional revelations were forthcoming.
However, binders later distributed by Bondi to conservative influencers contained no such client list and largely consisted of material already in the public domain.
In July, the DOJ and FBI announced that a comprehensive review of the Epstein case uncovered no evidence warranting further investigations into additional individuals. The agencies also said no further disclosures were planned.
That announcement sparked backlash from some of Trump’s core supporters, who accused the administration of reversing course on transparency. Facing mounting criticism, Trump dismissed renewed calls for disclosure as a “Democratic hoax.”
It remains unclear how much new information was included in Friday’s release or whether additional disclosures are forthcoming. The DOJ has not said whether all Epstein-related records have now been made public, as required by law.
The renewed release is likely to reignite debate over government transparency, Epstein’s powerful associates and the unresolved questions surrounding one of the most notorious criminal cases in recent history.
