The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has disclosed that there are still 5.2 million pages of files related to Epstein awaiting review. To aid in the review process, the DOJ is enlisting the help of 400 lawyers from four different department offices until late January, as per a government document examined by Reuters on Tuesday. This development indicates a delay in the final release of the documents beyond the initial timeline set by Congress for December 19.
The White House and the Justice Department have not yet responded to requests for comments from Reuters. The Trump administration mandated the Justice Department to release the files associated with criminal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier and convicted sex offender who had ties to U.S. President Donald Trump in the 1990s. This directive was in compliance with a transparency law recently passed by Congress.
The review process for the files will involve a total of 400 attorneys from the Criminal Division, the National Security Division, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan, a more specific and potentially larger number than previously estimated. The examination is scheduled to take place in January, with department leaders offering telework options and time off rewards to incentivize volunteers. Participating lawyers are expected to dedicate three to five hours daily to review approximately 1,000 documents.
Recent reports from the DOJ indicate the discovery of over a million additional documents potentially linked to Epstein. Despite the disclosures, the released information has been heavily redacted, leading to criticism from some Republicans and contributing to ongoing concerns as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
The legislation, backed by Congress with broad bipartisan support, mandates the public disclosure of all Epstein-related files, overriding Trump’s attempts to keep them sealed. The statute stipulated that all documents be made public by December 19, with redactions implemented to safeguard victims.
Former President Trump acknowledged having a social relationship with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s, asserting that their association ceased in the mid-2000s and that he was unaware of the financier’s illicit activities. Epstein was convicted in Florida in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution, while the Justice Department filed sex trafficking charges against him in 2019. Epstein’s death in a New York jail in 2019 was ruled a suicide.
In a recent communication, the Justice Department stated, “We have attorneys working tirelessly to review and redact the necessary information to protect victims, and we will release the documents promptly. However, due to the extensive volume of material, this process may require a few additional weeks.”