The Department of Justice is facing backlash after heavily redacting documents from the Epstein files released this past Friday. The public, eager for new insights into the life of the disgraced financier, Jeffrey Epstein, was left frustrated by the lack of transparency.

These documents, tied to Jeffrey Epstein—who was a convicted sex offender and died in a New York jail cell in 2019—are subject to specific legal requirements concerning their release. The guidelines clearly define what information can be legally redacted.

Notably, one rule states that information cannot be withheld just because it might embarrass a government official or a public figure.

Despite hopes for significant revelations, the initial release has not met public expectations. The Department of Justice announced a searchable website for the files, but it has yet to deliver on its promise of easy access.

Currently, the search feature remains non-functional, forcing journalists and the public to sift manually through hundreds of thousands of pages to uncover any significant details.

Social media users have already shown abject frustration that some documents are fully redacted without a single shred of identifying information contained within them.

‘One of the Epstein documents is just 100 straight pages of entirely redacted pdf. Just black rectangles. No gaps,’ one person wrote.

‘The world is ran by a pedo elite but the general public will likely never know the full story. 90% of the released Epstein files are fully redacted,’ another raged.

A undated photo of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein from Friday’s tranche of documents from the Department of Justice

Social media users were outraged that many of the documents released by the DOJ were entirely redacted

‘No way this is real. The whole thing is [redacted]. This isn’t “releasing” anything, this is lack of transparency.’ 

Brian Krassenstein, a liberal influencer on X, said he opened a file about Ghislaine Maxwell’s trial, only to find that it was redacted. 

Social media users also pointed out that many images in the Epstein files are redacted as well.

However, some photos that were included in the files have already generated plenty of reactions.

Former President Bill Clinton, for example, was seen lazing about in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend and sex trafficking accomplice.

Clinton was also seen in a photo with Epstein himself where both men were wearing satin shirts with loud patterns.

Epstein was also seen with Michael Jackson in an undated photograph. The late King of Pop was also seen with Clinton, though it was unclear if this was a different occasion.

The front man of the Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, was seen in a photo seated in between Clinton and Epstein at a table.

Billionaire Richard Branson was also seen in a photo with Epstein.

Bill Clinton was seen frolicking in a swimming pool with Ghislaine Maxwell in bombshell images from the latest Epstein files release

Epstein was also seen cozying up to the former president in the image release on Friday 

In one image shared Friday, Clinton was seen with his hands on the shoulders of actor Kevin Spacey

Sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell is among those pictured in the release, including one outside Number 10 Downing Street

The context in which the pictures were taken is unknown, as is the date of the photographs

Billionaire Richard Branson was also seen in a photo with Epstein

Photos of actor Kevin Spacey were also included in Friday’s release, though none have emerged that show him in the vicinity of Epstein or Maxwell.

Maxwell, who is currently serving 20 years for her role in recruiting and sex trafficking minors for Epstein, is pictured in one photograph outside the Prime Minister’s office in London.

In another image, Maxwell pulled down the front of her top for the camera. The context for many of these photos remain unknown.