The U.S. Department of Justice told a federal court on Tuesday that it expects to complete its review of millions of pages of records related to Jeffrey Epstein “in the near term,” though it declined to give a specific date for when the remaining documents will be released.
In a court filing submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other senior Justice Department officials said the agency has already examined several million pages of material in response to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law requiring broad disclosure of records tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender.
Review Ongoing After Missed Deadline
The filing comes more than a month after the statutory deadline for releasing all Epstein-related files. While the Justice Department has released several thousand pages so far, officials acknowledged that the disclosed materials represent only a small portion of the department’s total records connected to Epstein.
Justice Department leaders said the delay is driven by the scale and complexity of the review process, which includes redacting information that could identify victims, as well as protecting privileged and sensitive material.
“The Department is not able to provide a specific date at this time,” the filing stated, noting that ongoing quality control checks and document management preparations may require additional work to ensure compliance with the law while safeguarding victims’ privacy.
Millions of Pages, Hundreds of Reviewers
According to the filing, hundreds of Justice Department attorneys, agents, and staff members have been involved in manually reviewing the records. The process has included consultations with victims and their legal representatives.
Officials said the files encompass a wide range of materials, including internal department communications, investigative records, and audio and video evidence gathered over multiple inquiries into Epstein’s conduct.
The department told the court that it continues to make “substantial progress” and that staff will remain focused on completing the review until it is finished.
Transparency Law and Public Scrutiny
The Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law on Nov. 19 and required the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files within 30 days. The law was intended to address long-standing public concern over how Epstein was investigated and prosecuted, as well as lingering questions about potential co-conspirators.
Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Earlier, he had served a short sentence in Florida after entering a controversial plea deal that ended a federal investigation in exchange for pleading guilty to lesser state charges involving the solicitation of a minor.
What Comes Next
While the Justice Department has not committed to a firm deadline, officials emphasized their intention to complete the process soon. The court filing signals that further releases are expected, though the pace and scope remain uncertain.
For now, scrutiny from lawmakers, victims’ advocates, and the public continues as the department works to balance transparency with privacy protections in one of the most closely watched cases in recent memory.
