Survivors slam the new Epstein file release, claiming their details are exposed while powerful men remain hidden
The bill was introduced in the House in mid-July, but Republican leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, delayed the process for months. PHOTO:BBC
US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday that the department was releasing more than 3 million pages of documents, more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. The files, posted to a Department of Justice (DOJ) website, include some of the several million pages of records that officials said were withheld from an initial release of documents in December.
The release came six weeks after the department missed a deadline signed into law by US President Donald Trump that mandated all Epstein-related documents be shared with the public.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the White House played no role in the review of the extensive files related to the convicted sex offender, a former friend of Trump.
“Today’s release marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people and compliance with the act,” Blanche said at a news conference announcing the disclosure.
Blanche is referring to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which obliges the government to make all documents related to the prosecution public.
“They did not tell this department how to do our review, what to look for, what to redact, what not to redact,” Blanche said.
The Justice Department said some of the documents being released contained “untrue and sensationalist claims” about the 79-year-old Trump submitted to the FBI before the 2020 presidential election.
“We did not protect President Trump,” he said. “We didn’t protect or not protect anybody.”
All images of girls and women were being redacted, aside from those of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of trafficking underage girls for Epstein and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. Epstein’s former girlfriend remains the only person convicted in connection with his crimes.
However, a statement by survivors of Epstein’s alleged abuse claimed identifying information about them still remained in the files, “while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected.”
The letter, signed by 19 individuals, some using aliases or initials, demanded “the full release of the Epstein files” and that Attorney General Pam Bondi directly address the matter when she testifies before Congress next month.
