WASHINGTON: The US Department of Justice (DOJ) said Monday it is continuing an extensive and methodical review of more than two million documents potentially related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accuracy, and victim protection.
The department began releasing documents from the decades-long investigation into the late financier last month as part of the requirements under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. While the process has extended beyond the December 19 deadline set by the law, officials emphasized that the scale and sensitivity of the material require careful handling.
In a letter submitted Monday to a federal judge, DOJ officials said more than two million documents remain “in various phases of review.” The department noted that approximately 12,285 documents, totaling more than 125,000 pages, have already been publicly released. While this represents less than one percent of the documents currently under review, officials described the releases as an important initial step in a much broader disclosure effort, according to AFP.
The DOJ also disclosed that on December 24 it identified more than one million additional files that had not been included in its initial review. Some of these records appear to be duplicates, but they still require proper processing and deduplication to ensure accuracy and completeness before any potential release.
“Substantial work remains to be done,” the letter stated. The correspondence was signed by Attorney General Pam Bondi along with other senior officials involved in overseeing the review process.
To meet the demands of the task, more than 400 DOJ attorneys have been assigned to review the documents over the coming weeks. In addition, at least 100 FBI employees with specialized training in handling sensitive victim-related information will assist in the effort.
The ongoing review has drawn political attention, with President Donald Trump facing criticism from Democrats over the pace of the file releases. The Trump administration has defended its approach, emphasizing that the careful review process is necessary to protect victims and prevent the disclosure of identifying or harmful information.
In Monday’s letter, DOJ officials reiterated that all documents must be manually reviewed for victim-identifying details, underscoring the department’s focus on balancing transparency with responsibility as the review continues.
