Survivors of the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein have voiced profound shock, outrage, and disappointment following the incomplete and heavily censored release of thousands of documents related to his crimes.
A 'Slap in the Face' for Survivors
Thousands of files were made public late on Friday, 20th December 2025, just ahead of a legal deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. However, only a fraction of the material was released, with many pages entirely blacked out.
Marina Lacerda, a Brazilian-born survivor who was abused by Epstein from the age of 14, described the release as "a slap in our faces." She told Sky News, "We were all excited yesterday before the files came out. And when they did come out, we were just in shock, and we see that there is nothing there that is transparent."
Another victim, Ashley Rubright, who met Epstein when she was 15, was unequivocal when asked if the process felt like a cover-up. "There's no way that there's not a cover-up - what it is, I don't know," she stated, adding her reaction to the redactions was one of being "so not shocked, but let down. Disappointed."
Survivors Share Their Harrowing Stories
The partial disclosure has prompted several survivors to recount their traumatic experiences publicly. Alicia Arden, a former model and actress, detailed a disturbing 1997 audition with Epstein in a California hotel room when she was 25.
"He started taking off my top and my pants and touching my rear end and my breasts," Ms Arden recalled. "He goes, 'let me come over here and spin for me and let me man-handle you.'" She fled the room and later filed a report with the Santa Monica Police Department, which she found to be unsupportive.
In a more positive reaction, Maria Farmer, who complained to the FBI about Epstein as early as 1996, expressed gratitude. "This is amazing. Thank you for believing me. I feel redeemed," she said in a statement. Dani Bensky also noted a feeling of validation, stating, "I think so many of us have been saying, 'No, this is real, like, we're not a hoax.'"
Legal Criticism and Political Fallout
Prominent lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents several Epstein victims, strongly criticised the Department of Justice's handling of the release. "It's very disappointing that all of the files were not released yesterday as required and, in fact, mandated by law," she said. Ms Allred labelled the partial release a "distraction" and asserted, "This is not over."
The US Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, defended the process, stating the DoJ was withholding documents under exemptions to protect victims and that "the only redactions being applied are those required by law." He indicated additional disclosures could be expected by the year's end.
However, this stance has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans, who argue the release fails to comply with the law. The disclosure occurred alongside a US military strike in Syria, leading some to question the timing.
The Department of Justice suggests that the identities of approximately 1,200 victims and their families have been protected in the released documents. For the survivors, the fight for full transparency and accountability for everyone implicated in Epstein's network continues, with the latest release seen as another obstacle in their long quest for justice.
