DOJ Delays Epstein Document Release Following Discovery of Additional Files

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The US Justice Department said that it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after suddenly discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents, further delaying compliance with last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline.

The Christmas Eve announcement came hours after a dozen U.S. senators called on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine its failure to meet the deadline.

A diverse group of 12 lawmakers, consisting of 11 Democrats and one Republican, has urged Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume to conduct an independent audit, asserting that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the comfort of transparency.

This undated photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP) — This undated photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. (AP)

The Justice Department said in a social media post that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that could be related to the Epstein case — a stunning 11th hour development after department officials suggested months ago that they had undertaken a comprehensive review that accounted for the vast universe of Epstein-related materials.

In a March interview with Fox News, Attorney General Pam Bondi revealed that her office received a “truckload of evidence.” Bondi had directed the Justice Department to hand over all Epstein-related files after being informed by an anonymous source that the FBI in New York held “thousands of pages of documents.”

In July, the FBI and Justice Department indicated in an unsigned memo that they had undertaken an “exhaustive review” and had determined that no additional evidence should be released — an extraordinary about-face from the Trump administration, which for months had pledged maximum transparency.

The memo made no mention of the possibility of undiscovered or unreviewed evidence.

There was no indication in Wednesday’s announcement regarding when the Justice Department learned about the newly discovered documents.

Several questions still remain despite the release of thousands of Epstein Files. — Completely redacted pages in the Epstein files. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters via CNN Newsource)

In a recent correspondence, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that Manhattan federal prosecutors had already obtained over 3.6 million records from investigations into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. However, he noted that many of these were duplicates of documents previously provided by the FBI.

The Justice Department said its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and remove victims names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to open its files on Epstein and Maxwell.

“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

The announcement came amid increasing scrutiny on the Justice Department’s staggered release of Epstein-related records, including from Epstein victims and members of Congress.

Republican Representative Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, one of the chief authors of the law mandating the document release, posted on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.” Another architect of the law, Representative Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, said he and Massie will “continue to keep the pressure on” and noted that the Justice Department was releasing more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters following the weekly policy luncheons at the Capitol, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is putting pressure on DOJ to act faster. (AP)

“A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said after DOJ’s announcement.

“The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding — and WHY?”

The White House defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein records.

“President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team — like Deputy Attorney General Blanche — who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

After releasing an initial wave of records on Friday, the Justice Department posted more batches to its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.

Records that have been released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context.

Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein together. (House Oversight Committee)

Records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.

Other records made public in recent days include a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.”

They contain other references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

The senators’ call for an inspector general audit comes days after Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”

Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Senators Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Conneticut and Jeff Merkley, a Democrat from Oregon, in leading the call for an inspector general audit.

This undated photo released by the U.S. Department of Justice shows Jeffrey Epstein. (U.S. Department of Justice via AP) (AP)

Others signing the letter were Democratic Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”