CloseThousands of documents in the Epstein files were released by the Department of Justice in line with a legal deadline Friday afternoon – but not all materials were made public, prompting calls of a cover-up from Democrats.
Around 4 p.m. ET, the DoJ posted thousands of documents to its website. It appeared so many people were trying to access the documents at the same time the site required users to wait in a queue for access, and frequently crashed as attempts to open files were made.
The documents are part of government investigations into sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019. He was accused of abusing women and girls for years in a sex trafficking ring.
Last month, President Donald Trump reluctantly signed a measure into law compelling the Department of Justice, FBI and U.S. Attorney’s offices to release the materials by December 19.
Hours before the deadline, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ would make only “several hundred thousand” pages available and release the rest over the coming weeks to ensure redactions properly protect survivors.
Democrats accused the president and other Trump administration officials of engaging in a cover-up and violating federal law.
Recommended
What could be left out of the Epstein files by AG Pam Bondi
New photos from Epstein estate published by Democrats ahead of deadline for files release
The deadline for the release of the Epstein files is set for tomorrow – but will they actually be made public?
Redacted photos contain explicit images of women
Redacted images in the trove of the government’s collection appear to be photographs of women posing without clothes on – either with other people or alone.
Some of the images show nude, or nearly nude women, performing massages.
During Maxwell’s federal child sex trafficking trial, prosecutors said Epstein took young women to his private island for vacations, where he would force them to give him massages.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 21:33
Redacted evidence photos show Epstein posing with women
Parts of the released documents include photos the government seized during its investigation that show Jeffrey Epstein posing with what appear to be young women around his property.
The women’s faces are redacted.
A person being photographed with Epstein does not mean they were involved with or knew of Epstein’s crimes.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 21:30
Photo shows former President Bill Clinton painted wearing a dress
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 21:24
Video of Epstein's jail cell included
Some of the documents are multimedia pieces the public has seen before – such as the video of Epstein’s jail cell that was released by the DoJ earlier this year.
The Justice Department also released transcripts of its interview with Ghislaine Maxwell earlier this year – something that is also already publicly available.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 21:23
Files contain redacted photos and documents
The giant trove of documents released contains a vast number of redacted documents and photos that were collected to be used during Epstein’s trial and used in Maxwell’s trial.
Datasets posted online contain pages and pages of scanned documents that are heavily redacted, including flight logs, and interview transcripts.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 21:19
What is the DoJ allowed to redact from documents?
The Epstein Files Transparency Act directed the Justice Department to release everything it has — which could include recently unsealed grand jury documents and previously unreleased interviews — unless they “jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary.”
The measure also requires the release of documents related to Epstein’s death behind bars.
Attorney General Pam Bondi can redact or withhold documents that include “personally identifiable information” or medical files relating to victims, as well as any content that depicts child sexual abuse, according to the legislation.
Ariana Baio, Alex Woodward19 December 2025 21:10
Breaking: Trump’s Justice Department drops Epstein files on deadline day
Thousands of documents from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein have finally been released by Donald Trump’s administration after months of public pressure.
Read more here:
Trump’s Justice Department drops Epstein files on deadline day
Justice Department launches public website with thousands of documents tied to convicted sex offenderAlex Woodward19 December 2025 21:10
Justice Department breaks documents into four categories
On the Justice Department’s new special section for the Epstein files, it appears they’ve broken documents into four categories:
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
DisclosuresFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
DOJ Disclosures, Including Disclosures Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405)
Court Records
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 21:08
Justice Department begins releasing files
The Justice Department began releasing documents in the Epstein Files via a searchable website.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 21:02
Epstein Files Transparency Act does not allow DoJ to redact names of government officials
Although Bondi is permitted to redact sensitive information in the Epstein files, it explicitly states that individuals, including government officials, cannot be withheld.
“No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary,” the act states.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 20:57NewerOlder