The US Justice Department is labouring under the weight of hundreds of thousands of remaining documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with a team of 200 analysts working through the vast archive. This comes amid growing public and political outrage over heavily redacted initial releases.
Mounting Pressure for Full Transparency
According to officials cited by Axios, approximately 750,000 records have already been reviewed and disclosed, but a further 700,000 items remain to be examined. The department notes many may be duplicates, potentially leaving only thousands of unique documents. The vetting process is expected to take at least another week.
The phased disclosure follows a legal requirement for the full release of all Epstein-related files by 19 December. The initial, limited drops have sparked anger from victims' representatives and legal threats, with critics accusing the DoJ of obfuscation.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated on the day of the first release, 12 November 2025, that several hundred thousand documents, including photographs, would be made public. A third tranche of 30,000 records was released the following Tuesday.
Trump Mentions and Fake Documents Emerge
The latest document dumps contained more frequent references to former President Donald Trump than earlier releases. One email from 2020, apparently sent by a federal prosecutor, claimed Trump “traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported”. It cited one flight where the only passengers listed were Epstein, Trump, and a “then-20-year-old”.
The releases have also been muddied by the inclusion of fabricated materials, which officials are compelled to publish under the law. These include a fake letter from Epstein to convicted sex abuser Larry Nassar and a hoax video purporting to show Epstein’s suicide in his jail cell.
Blanche addressed the issue on social media, urging the public to separate fact from fiction. “The so-called Epstein Nassar letter is clearly FAKE – wrong handwriting, wrong return address, and postmarked three days after Epstein died,” he stated, criticising the “sensational tales and lies” circulating online.
Redacted List of Potential “Co-Conspirators” Fuels Demand
One document, an FBI email from after Epstein's July 2019 arrest, listed ten potential “co-conspirators”. Only three names were visible without redaction: Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, model agent Jean-Luc Brunel – who died by suicide in French custody – and billionaire retail magnate Leslie Wexner.
A representative for Wexner, 88, reiterated that he had fully cooperated, provided background on Epstein, and was told by prosecutors at the time that he was “neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect.” He has consistently denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes.
The heavily censored list has provoked a sharp political response. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer demanded greater clarity, stating, “Protecting possible co-conspirators is not the transparency the American people and Congress are demanding.” He called on the DoJ to explain who was on the list and why they weren't prosecuted.
As the document review continues, a lone protester outside the US Capitol this week held a sign pleading for the full release of the Epstein files – a sentiment echoing across the political spectrum as the deadline approaches.
