US DoJ releases heavily redacted version of Epstein Files, draws backlash from Democrats

The US Department of Justice on Friday released a heavily redacted version of the long-awaited Epstein Files , detailing its investigation into the wrongdoings of British financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. While a significant chunk of the large tranche of documents has been redacted, those that are viewable include Epstein’s photographs with an array of prominent figures.

Some of the prominent personalities featured in the files included: Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, Diana Ross, and the entrepreneur Richard Branson. However, the highlight of the first phase of the documents was the frequent mention of former US President Bill Clinton . The erstwhile Democratic star appeared in several photos, including one in which he is in a swimming pool alongside Epstein’s convicted accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell .

The images also showed disgraced former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor . In a letter to the US Congress, Todd Blanche said that the documents dated back to 2006, when Epstein was investigated on child prostitution charges. “The volume of materials to be reviewed … means that the department must publicly produce responsive documents on a rolling basis,” the deputy attorney general wrote in the letter obtained by Fox News.

He also acknowledged the large amount of redaction, which included identities of more than 1,200 victims and their family members. Soon after the files were released, Congressional Democrats accused US President Donald Trump’s administration of failing to adhere to the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Demands for more transparency

The legislation in question required the US Justice Department to release all “unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” in its possession related to the financier’s cases by 19 December. It is pertinent to note that Epstein died in jail in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors.

The law required the department to publish any materials from the investigations that relate to Maxwell, who was found guilty in 2021 of aiding Epstein’s sex trafficking of teen girls and sentenced to 20 years in prison. “Technically, they’re not in compliance,” said Democratic congressman Ro Khanna , a leader of the push to get the legislation passed.

“The law calls for all the unclassified documents to be released. They have not done that. The law also calls for them to explain redactions. I haven’t seen yet whether they’ve done that or not. My initial read is that they have a lot of redactions without explanation,” he added.

Meanwhile, top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer also shared similar concerns over the matter. “We will pursue every option to make sure the truth comes out," he said in a statement. Some Republicans, like Thomas Massie , also joined the chorus. He wrote on social media that the document release “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law that [Donald Trump] signed just 30 days ago."

Amid the backlash, Abigail Jackson, the White House deputy press secretary, said the documents’ release proves that “the Trump administration is the most transparent in history” and said it “has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have” by making the files public and cooperating with a separate congressional investigation. Despite the whole back and forth, the findings of the Epstein Files are expected to remain in the news cycle for a while.