The Justice Department is releasing a significant portion of Jeffrey Epstein files on a Congressionally-imposed deadline, though Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche states not all documents will be released immediately due to necessary redactions for survivor protection, ongoing litigation, and national security. This partial release has drawn sharp criticism and accusations of a cover-up from House Oversight Committee Democrats and Senator Ron Wyden, who claim the DOJ is violating federal law by not providing a full disclosure.
Todd Blanche says DoJ will release Epstein files Friday to meet Congressionally-imposed deadline Your support helps us to tell the story SUPPORT NOW From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. Read more Democrats on the House Oversight Committee accused the Justice Department of engaging in a cover-up and violating the law after officials said they would not release the full cache of Epstein files in its possession. “Donald Trump and the Department of Justice are now violating federal law as they continue covering up the facts and the evidence about Jeffrey Epstein’s decades-long, billion-dollar, international sex trafficking ring,” ranking members on the committee said Friday afternoon. The files, expected to contain unclassified documents, photographs and internal communications, are reportedly set to drop at 3 p.m. ET, a source told NewsNation. The time has not been officially confirmed. Congress imposed a deadline of December 19 for the department to release all documents related to the government’s investigation into Epstein, a well-connected financier who was accused of abusing and sex trafficking young women and girls. He died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial in 2019. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said not all materials will be released on the deadline because of redactions necessary to protect survivors, ongoing litigation and national security interests. 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? EPSTEIN FILES LATEST: KEY POINTS Democrats are 'examining all legal options' to punish DOJ Not all documents will be released today, deputy attorney general says Why are the files being released now? In pics: Latest photos recovered from Epstein estate Senate Democrat says DoJ is in ‘violation of the law’ Senator Ron Wyden, the ranking member on the Senate Finance Committee, scolded the Department of Justice for not preparing to release the full contents of the Epstein files Friday, accusing them of violating the law passed last month. “It is an insult to the intelligence of the American people when a lawyer for Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime wingman, claims the administration is blowing off this deadline out of concern for the privacy of Epstein’s victims,” Wyden said of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s announcement Friday morning. Wyden said the administration had “plenty of time” to make necessary redactions because they began going through the files after the inauguration in January. “The law Congress passed did not say ‘release some of the Epstein files’ or ‘release the files whenever it’s convenient for Donald Trump.’ Anything short of a full release today is a violation of the law and a continuation of this administration’s coverup on behalf of a bunch of pedophiles and sex traffickers,” Wyden added. Wyden is also in the process of trying to compel the Treasury Department to turn over documents to Senate investigators who have been digging into Epstein’s financial network for several years. Ariana Baio19 December 2025 17:30 House Oversight Democrats are 'examining all legal options' Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said Friday afternoon they are exploring legal options that would hold the Trump administration accountable for refusing to release the full volume of Epstein files in its possession at the mandated deadline. "Donald Trump and the Department of Justice are now violating federal law as they continue covering up the facts and evidence about Jeffrey Epstein's decades-long, billion-dollar, international sex trafficking ring,” ranking members Rep. Robert Garcia and Jamie Raskin wrote in a statement. Ariana Baio19 December 2025 17:23 Watch: Todd Blanche says DoJ will release some Epstein files Friday to meet Congressionally-imposed deadline Todd Blanche says DoJ will release Epstein files Friday to meet Congressionally-imposed deadline Ariana Baio19 December 2025 17:00 Rep. Ro Khanna calls on DoJ to offer 'clear timeline' for full release Rep. Ro Khanna, the sponsor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act said the Justice Department had to offer “a clear timeline for the full release “ of the files Friday. Khanna’s comment was in response to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche revealing the department would not reveal all files in its possession in one day. Ariana Baio19 December 2025 16:42 What does the Epstein Files Transparency Act say about the deadline? The Department of Justice does not plan to release all materials related to the government’s investigation into Epstein in its possession Friday, raising questions about whether it violates the Epstein Files Transparency Act mandate. The act states, “Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this act,” the attorney general must make “all unclassified records, documents, communications and investigative materials” in the DoJ’s possession “publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format. Ariana Baio19 December 2025 16:21 Understanding Trump and Epstein's relationship Epstein met Trump in the 1980s, around the time the president bought his Mar-a-Lago estate in 1985, when Epstein was also living in Palm Beach. Over at least two decades, a period that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles recently described as the men living as “young, single playboys,” the pair bonded over their sexual exploits and spoke several times a week throughout the 1990s before an apparent falling out in the 2000s. In 2002, several years before Epstein was under investigation in Florida, Trump told New York magazine that he had known Epstein for 15 years, calling him a “terrific guy.” But by the time Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell were indicted in separate federal sex trafficking cases, Trump had long distanced himself from his one-time friend. “Well, I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him,” Trump said on July 9, 2019, one day after Epstein’s arrest. “I mean, people in Palm Beach knew him. He was a fixture in Palm Beach. I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don’t think I’ve spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn’t a fan.” Trump has maintained he cut his friendship with Epstein in the early 2000s after he discovered the financier “stole” staff from Mar-a-Lago. The president has said he knew nothing of Epstein’s crimes and has denounced Epstein’s criminal activities. Opponents of Trump have used an old photograph of Trump and Epstein to ‘troll’ the president (Reuters) Alex Woodward19 December 2025 16:00 Not all documents will be released today, deputy attorney general says Blanche indicated that not all materials in the Epstein files will be produced Friday and more documents will become publicly available in the coming weeks. “I expect we’re going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks,” Blanche told Fox News Friday morning. “So today, several hundred thousand, over the next couple of weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more.” Blanche did not clarify whether the materials released Friday would be new. Earlier this year, the Justice Department released “Phase 1” of the Epstein files, which turned out to be mostly known information. Blanche said more materials will come later because the Justice Department must take the time to redact information related to survivors. Ariana Baio19 December 2025 15:35 Jeffrey Epstein’s island: What really happened there? The guests to Epstein’s islands came from across the world and from the highest ranks of society: celebrities and scientists and members of royal families, touching down in a private jet and then boarding a helicopter to the island. Its owner liked to call it “Little St Jeff”. The locals called it “Pedophile Island.” But what is the truth about Little St James, the 75-acre private paradise in the U.S. Virgin Islands that billionaire sex abuser Jeffrey Epstein once called home? Read more here: What really happened on Jeffrey Epstein’s island? Accusers say billionaire’s private paradise of Little St James in U.S. Virgin Islands was centre of international sex trafficking ring Io Dodds19 December 2025 15:25 Epstein files could be released around 3pm: report The Justice Department could release the Epstein files around 3 p.m. ET this afternoon, a person familiar with the situation told News Nation. No department official has confirmed the timeline publicly. Ariana Baio19 December 2025 15:00 Deputy attorney general confirms materials will be released today Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general in the Justice Department, confirmed Friday morning the department would release “several hundred thousand” documents related to the investigations into Epstein – meeting the Congressionally-imposed deadline. Ariana Baio19 December 2025 14:40 Newer 1 / 4 Older
