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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has made "substantial progress" in its review of the documents related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, an effort that has faced "inevitable glitches," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a letter to two federal judges.
In the letter to U.S. District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmeyer, filed on Thursday, Bondi wrote that the department has more than 500 people assigned to the review and make redactions to the files.
The letter did not provide a timeline for when the review may be complete, but said the DOJ "is working to complete this review as expeditiously as possible without compromising victims’ privacy."
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Newsweek has contacted the DOJ for comment via an message sent through a contact form on its website.
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Why It Matters
The Trump administration has faced criticism over its failure to meet the December 19 deadline to release everything it has on Epstein, as was required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Administration officials have said the delay is due to the large volume of materials and the need to maintain the anonymity of Epstein’s victims. But the delay in the release has frustrated lawmakers and victims, and prompted calls for investigations and potential penalties against the DOJ and its leadership.
Last week, Representatives Ro Khanna (Dem) and Thomas Massie (GOP), who co-authored the law mandating the document release, asked a judge to special master and independent monitor to oversee the DOJ’s release of its files on Epstein.
What To Know
In the letter, Bondi wrote that the progress made in the review is notable for several reasons.
She said the materials reviewed and redacted to date "include many of the most sensitive categories of information for victims" and that the DOJ is coordinating resources for the review from "various components and offices."
Bondi also said the department is overseeing the "processing, deduplication, and review of voluminous documents using a centralized platform."
She said because of the scope of the review, platform operations "require around-the-clock attention and technical assistance to resolve inevitable glitches due to the sheer volume of materials."
In its last update to the court, DOJ officials said in a January 5 letter that the department had released 12,285 documents so far and that there were "more than 2 million documents" that remain in "various phases of review." The Associated Press andThe New York Times have reported that the DOJ had expanded its review of Epstein-related documents to more than five million records.
What People Are Saying
Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote in the letter: "The Department has made substantial progress in its review since its last update to the Court. This is a time-intensive process due to the voluminous materials, the idiosyncratic nature of many of the materials, and the need to protect victim- identifying information. The Department will continue to apprise the Court of its progress in this regard."
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, said in a statement to Newsweek last week: "The Department of Justice is openly defying the law by refusing to release the full Epstein files. Millions of files are being kept from the public. The DOJ has failed to make the necessary redactions to protect survivors while removing records after publication without any explanation. That is why we are requesting the appointment of a Special Master to oversee the release of the files and ensure that the DOJ is following the law."
Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said in a statement to Newsweek: "Attorney General Pam Bondi is egregiously violating the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Under her leadership, the Department of Justice is missing statutory disclosure deadlines, making excessive redactions, and illegally withholding the Department's internal communications. Because the Department of Justice has shown it cannot be trusted with making the disclosures required by law, a Special Master should be appointed to oversee the release of the Epstein files."
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche wrote on X on December 31: "Update on our Epstein files review: DOJ lawyers from Main Justice, FBI, SDFL, and SDNY are working around the clock through the holidays, including Christmas and New Year’s, to review documents in compliance with federal law. It truly is an all-hands-on-deck approach and we're asking as many lawyers as possible to commit their time to review the documents that remain. Required redactions to protect victims take time but they will not stop these materials from being released. The Attorney General’s and this Administration’s goal is simple: transparency and protecting victims."
What Happens Next
It’s not clear when the next release of Epstein files could come, but The Associated Press reported, citing a person briefing on a letter to U.S. attorneys, that the DOJ does not expect to release more documents until January 20 or 21.
Meanwhile, Khanna and Massie are also awaiting a ruling on their request for a special master to oversee the release.
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