DOJ says it may need a ‘few more weeks’ to finish releasing Epstein files : NPR

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department said Wednesday it may need “several more weeks” to release all of its records on late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after the sudden discovery of more than a million potentially sensitive documents, further delaying a deadline set by Congress last Friday.

The Christmas Eve announcement came hours after a dozen U.S. senators called on the Justice Department watchdog to probe its failure to meet deadlines. The group, made up of 11 Democrats and a Republican, said in a letter to acting Inspector General Don Berthiam that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.

The Justice Department said in a social media post that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI have “uncovered more than a million more documents” that may be linked to the Epstein case – a stunning 11th-hour development after department officials suggested months ago that they had conducted a comprehensive review that took into account the vast body of material linked to Epstein.

In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” was presented after she ordered the FBI to “deliver Epstein's complete and complete files to my office.” She issued the directive after she said she learned from an unidentified source that the FBI in New York “is in possession of thousands of pages of documents.”

In July, the FBI and Justice Department said in an unsigned memo that they had conducted an “exhaustive review” and determined that no additional evidence should be released, an unusual facet from the Trump administration, which has for months promised maximum transparency. The memo did not mention the possibility that there was additional evidence that officials were not aware of or did not investigate.

Wednesday's statement did not say when the Justice Department was informed of the newly discovered files.

In a letter last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said federal prosecutors in Manhattan already have more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidante Ghislaine Maxwell, although many of them are copies of material already turned over to the FBI.

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

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

The announcement comes amid growing scrutiny over the Justice Department's gradual release of Epstein-related records, including from Epstein victims and members of Congress.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, one of the main sponsors of the legislation requiring the document's release, posted on X on Wednesday: “The Justice Department did break the law by making illegal corrections and missing deadlines.” The law's other sponsor, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he and Massie would “keep up the pressure” and noted that the Justice Department had released more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.

“The Christmas Eve news of 'a million more files' only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive cover-up,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after the Justice Department's announcement. “The question Americans deserve an answer to is simple: WHAT are they hiding and WHY?”

The White House on Wednesday defended the Justice Department's handling of Epstein's records.

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

After releasing the first wave of reports on Friday, the Justice Department posted new batches on its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Department has not said when new records might become available.

The released records, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already publicly available or heavily suppressed, and many lacked necessary context. The records, which were not previously available, include grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they conducted with several girls and young women who said they were paid to perform sexual acts for Epstein.

Other records released in recent days include a federal prosecutor's memo from January 2020 that said Trump flew on the financier's private jet more often than previously known, as well as emails between Maxwell and someone signed with the letter “A.” They contain other references that suggest the author was Britain's former Prince Andrew. In one of them, “A” writes: “How are things in Los Angeles? Have you found me new inappropriate friends?”

Senators' call Wednesday for an inspector general review came 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 disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the delayed and heavily redacted release a “blatant cover-up.”

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut. and Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat who led the call for an inspector general review. Other signatories to the letter included Democratic Sens. 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 historical hostility to the release of files, the politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and its failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with statutory disclosure requirements is important,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is necessary to identify members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein's crimes.”