Rabat – The US Department of Justice released today a massive batch of documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including surveillance footage from the month he died in his jail cell.
The disclosure marks a significant step in the long-delayed public release of records related to Epstein’s case.
The new uploads comprise at least 8,000 documents, ranging from court filings to hundreds of audio and video recordings.
Notably, the files include footage from August 2019, when Epstein was found dead in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The DOJ has faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers and victims’ advocates over the slow pace and extensive redactions of previously released records.
The department posted around 11,000 new links, yet some of them reportedly lead to blank or inaccessible pages, fueling frustration over the transparency of the release.
This move follows the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), a near-unanimous congressional effort mandating the full publication of Epstein-related records.
An incomplete, heavily redacted release
The lawyers of Epstein’s victims have criticized the release as incomplete, describing the files as heavily redacted without sufficient explanation.
EFTA co-sponsors, Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie, warned that Attorney General Pam Bondi could face legal consequences for noncompliance.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also called for possible legal action against the administration for failing to fully release the documents.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche cited the need to protect the identities of Epstein’s more than 1,000 victims as the reason for the delayed and redacted release, while denying any efforts to shield former President Donald Trump, who had been acquainted with Epstein.
Trump initially attempted to block disclosure but eventually signed the law requiring publication under mounting congressional pressure.
While the files’ release provides new insight into Epstein’s activities and the federal investigation, questions remain about how much information is truly accessible to the public.