The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that there are still 5.2 million pages of Epstein files awaiting review. To expedite the process, the DOJ is enlisting the help of 400 attorneys from four different department offices until late January, as per a government document disclosed to Reuters. This development indicates a probable delay in the final release of the documents, surpassing the initial deadline set by Congress on December 19.
The White House and the Justice Department have not yet responded to requests for comment from Reuters. Following a directive from the Trump administration, the Justice Department is mandated to disclose files related to criminal investigations of Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender who had past ties with U.S. President Donald Trump. This action aligns with a transparency law recently passed by Congress.
The document revealed that the Criminal Division, National Security Division, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan will supply the 400 attorneys required for the review process. The review is scheduled for January, with Department leaders offering telework options and time off incentives to encourage volunteer participation. Attorneys involved are expected to dedicate three to five hours daily to review around 1,000 documents.
Last week, the DOJ disclosed the discovery of over a million additional documents potentially connected to Epstein. The released documents thus far have been significantly redacted, leading to frustrations among some Republicans and adding to the ongoing scandal that poses a threat to the party’s image ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Despite efforts by Trump to keep the documents sealed, a bipartisan law enacted by Congress mandates the public disclosure of all Epstein-related files. The documents were required to be made public by December 19, with redactions aimed at safeguarding the victims.
It is known that Trump and Epstein were acquainted socially in the 1990s and early 2000s, with Trump stating that their association ended in the mid-2000s and claiming no awareness of Epstein’s illicit activities. Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and was charged with sex trafficking by the Justice Department in 2019. His death in a New York jail in 2019 was ruled a suicide.
The Justice Department acknowledged in a recent statement that lawyers are diligently working to review and redact the documents in compliance with legal requirements to protect victims. The release of the documents is expected to occur in the coming weeks due to the extensive volume of material being reviewed.