The United States Department of Justice has admitted that the thousands of pages of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, released to the public so far, constitute less than one per cent of the total material in its possession.
A Mammoth Task with a Lengthy Timeline
In a statement issued in early January 2026, the DOJ confirmed that while approximately 12,000 files – including photographs, personal notes, and legal papers – were made public in December 2025, a staggering two million additional documents remain under review. The department acknowledged the substantial effort already undertaken but warned that substantial work remains.
Initial estimates suggest the process of reviewing and disclosing the remaining cache could take up to eight years, even with hundreds of attorneys assigned to the task. This timeline would mean the final tranche of files would not see the light of day until well after the conclusion of a potential second term for former President Donald Trump.
Political Fury Over Delays and Alleged Obscuration
The protracted schedule has sparked significant political anger, not least because it appears to breach the Epstein Files Transparency Act. This legislation required the Justice Department to release all unclassified information concerning Epstein within 30 days.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, has been vocal in his criticism, accusing the Trump administration's DOJ of lawlessness. In a post on social media platform X, Schumer stated: ‘It’s been 17 DAYS since the Trump DOJ first broke the law and failed to release all the Epstein files… with the DOJ doing everything in its power to delay and obfuscate.’ He has labelled the situation as potentially ‘one of the biggest cover-ups in American history’.
Democrats have also raised specific concerns about redactions, claiming an image featuring Donald Trump was removed from the publicly released files. An oversight group posted an alleged screenshot of the missing file, numbered 468, which showed a drawer containing the photo.
What the Released Files Have Revealed
The documents disclosed last month contained references and images linking numerous high-profile figures to Epstein’s social circle. Among them was former President Bill Clinton, photographed in a hot tub with an anonymous woman, swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell, and posing with Epstein and other women. Clinton has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
The files also included pictures of Epstein with the Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, billionaire Richard Branson, and veteran news anchor Walter Cronkite. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Regarding Donald Trump, the files contained a photograph appearing to show Epstein holding a cheque bearing Trump’s name, and another image from Epstein’s New York home featured a copy of Trump’s 1997 book, ‘The Art of the Comeback’. Trump’s name also appeared on passenger lists for Epstein’s private jet and in his contact book. The former president has stated he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities during their association.
As the political storm intensifies, the focus remains firmly on the Justice Department and the immense volume of material yet to be examined, leaving many to question what further revelations may eventually emerge from the remaining 99% of the Epstein files.
