Wed Dec 24 20:03:26 UTC 2025: US Justice Department Scrambles to Process Over a Million Newly Discovered Epstein Files, Citing Transparency Act
Washington D.C. – The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) announced Wednesday that it has uncovered over a million additional documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, prompting a delay in the congressionally mandated release of information under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The DOJ stated it needs “a few more weeks” to review and redact the massive volume of material in accordance with the Act, which requires the government to open its files on Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The Department insisted that lawyers are “working around the clock” to comply with the law and former President Trump’s direction to release the files.
However, the delay has drawn criticism from a bipartisan group of senators, including Republican Lisa Murkowski, who have called on the DOJ’s Inspector General to investigate the department’s failure to meet the original Friday deadline. They cite concerns about the Trump Administration’s “historic hostility” to releasing the files and the need for an independent audit to ensure compliance with the law.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor of the transparency act, has accused the DOJ of breaking the law by making illegal redactions and missing the deadline.
Despite the deadline, the Justice Department plans to release records on a rolling basis, attributing the delay to the time-consuming process of protecting victims’ identities. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the department’s actions, stating that the process is necessary to protect victims and that those criticizing the delay are the same ones who don’t want victims protected. The department has not announced when the next batch of records will be released.
First Piper 