Justice Department begins release of Epstein case files
by Mike Heuer · UPIDec. 19 (UPI) -- The Justice Department on Friday released records from the Jeffrey Epstein case in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law last month by President Donald Trump.
The DOJ has made the files publicly available online on the Justice Department website's section on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but the names of victims and other identifying information have been redacted. Congress overwhelmingly approved the legislation and it was signed by Trump on Nov. 19 with a 30-day deadline to release files.
"By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee's subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epstein's Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement shared with NBC News.
Friday's files release gives the public access to hundreds of thousands of records, with more to be released over the next several weeks, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a letter to members of Congress, as reported by CBS News.
"We are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce, making sure that every victim, their name, their identity, their story to the extent it needs to be protected is completely protected," Blanche added.
The DOJ had 187 attorneys review the documents ahead of their release and 25 more on a quality control team, he said.
"Protecting victims is of the highest priority for President Trump, the Attorney General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice," Blanche said in the letter.
He also said Trump has said he wants full transparency on the matter and has supported the release of the Epstein case files for several years.
The president signed the supporting legislation in November to expedite the release of the Epstein case files.
The documents include information that was already made public, along with files that are "very likely to have never seen the light of day before," CNN crime and justice reporter Katelyn Polantz said.
The records are in addition to the tens of thousands of files already released regarding the federal case against former financier Epstein.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have also released files and photos from Epstein's estate.
On Aug. 10, 2019, Epstein hung himself while jailed in Manhattan and awaiting a federal trial that accused him of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors.
The release of hundreds of thousands of pages of the case files and other information will keep news outlets busy going through them well into the foreseeable future.
The released files include documents, telephone records, audio recordings and photographs, but many lack context that explains why they are included in the case files.