Uncovering the Epstein Files: A Massive Review Effort

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is tackling a huge task: reviewing 5. 2 million pages of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. These files are set to go public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. To get this done, the DOJ has called in 400 lawyers to sift through the papers, make necessary redactions, and prepare them for release. This effort is expected to take until January 20th. The goal here is clear: make the files public while protecting the identities of victims. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized this point, saying that the DOJ is committed to both transparency and victim protection. The team working on this includes lawyers from the FBI, the Southern District of Florida, and the Southern District of New York.So far, three batches of files have been released, totaling hundreds of thousands of pages. These can be found in the DOJ's Epstein Library, but visitors are warned that the content may include graphic descriptions of sexual assault. The initial deadline for releasing all files was December 19th, but the sheer volume of material and the need for careful review caused delays. Now, with the discovery of an additional 5. 2 million pages, the task has become even more daunting. Some lawmakers, like Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, who co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, are considering holding Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt due to the delays. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. His former assistant, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 on related charges and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.