The US Justice Department has released millions of pages of Jeffrey Epstein documents, the final batch under a new law, with extensive redactions.
WASHINGTON: The US Justice Department has published a final, massive cache of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The release on Friday fulfills a law passed in November requiring all Epstein-related records to be made public.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated this batch marks the end of the Trump administration’s planned releases under the mandate.
READ MORE: US Justice Department misses deadline for Epstein files release
The new cache includes more than three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images.
Blanche noted the files contain “extensive” redactions, as permitted by law to protect victims or active investigations.
Previous heavily redacted releases have drawn criticism from some members of Congress.
Former President Donald Trump, a friend of Epstein in the 1990s before a falling out, resisted the release for months.
Congress advanced the law over his objections, forcing the administration’s hand.
Trump has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing and has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
Blanche said the department also withheld some files based on legal privilege, including attorney-client privilege.
Some lawmakers argue these withholdings appear to run counter to the law’s requirements.
The Justice Department will provide Congress a report summarising all redactions and withheld documents.
A department press release stated some documents contain “untrue and sensationalist claims” against Trump.
It clarified these claims are “unfounded and false” and lacked credibility.
Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
His death, ruled a suicide, has spawned years of conspiracy theories.
Blanche expressed frustration over accusations the department declined to pursue Epstein’s associates.
He rejected assumptions of a hidden tranche of information about men being covered up.
The scandal remains a persistent political problem for Trump amid other challenges.
Blanche defended the slow pace, citing the voluminous files requiring hundreds of attorneys to review.
The law had set a deadline, but officials said they needed more time to prepare the files for release. – Reuters
