The US Justice Department has released millions of new documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, a move that is intensifying political tension and placing renewed pressure on President Donald Trump.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said more than three million pages of records were published on a department website, alongside about 180,000 photos and 2,000 videos tied to the late financier.
Blanche described the release as the conclusion of a lengthy review process aimed at ensuring transparency for the American public. He said the material had undergone careful screening before publication.
According to the Justice Department, images of girls and women were redacted to protect victims, except for those showing Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell, Epstein’s former partner, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking underage girls.
Blanche said images of men were only redacted when it was impossible to remove women from the same images. He added that the review followed strict legal and ethical standards.
The newly released files are expected to include material not previously made public from the investigation into Epstein, who died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Earlier document releases revealed Epstein’s connections to powerful figures in business, politics, and entertainment, including Trump and former president Bill Clinton. Neither has been accused of wrongdoing.
Among the most notable records disclosed so far are two FBI emails from July 2019 referencing 10 alleged Epstein “co-conspirators.” The names remain redacted, and only Maxwell has been charged in connection with the case.
Some key documents remain unpublished, including a draft federal indictment reportedly abandoned and a 2007 prosecution memo, according to Axios.
Trump, who previously maintained a social relationship with Epstein, opposed the full release of the files for months. Internal pressure from within the Republican Party eventually led to the passage of a law mandating disclosure.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act required all Justice Department records to be released by December 19. Blanche said Friday’s disclosure brings the department into compliance, blaming delays on the need to protect more than 1,000 victims.
Critics have raised concerns about heavy redactions and alleged political interference. Blanche rejected claims the department acted to shield Trump, saying the review was conducted independently.
He also denied any involvement by the White House in the handling of the files, stating that officials had no influence over what was reviewed or redacted.
The Justice Department acknowledged that some documents contain unverified or sensational claims about Trump, but confirmed he once moved in the same social circles as Epstein and traveled on his private jet.
A 2020 prosecutorial note indicates Trump flew on Epstein’s aircraft several times in the 1990s. Trump has offered differing explanations over the years about why he later distanced himself from Epstein.
A spokesperson for Bill Clinton has urged the Justice Department to release all remaining documents related to the former president, insisting he has nothing to hide.
