The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it has received a new tranche of more than one million documents that may be linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case, extending the review timeline before public release.
The agency said the files were produced by the FBI and the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
This influx of material means the Department will need additional time to assess and prepare the documents for release.
Officials emphasized that the review process is part of compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The announcement came amid ongoing scrutiny of the release schedule for the Epstein case records.
The Justice Department posted on its X account that, “The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case,” the Justice Department said on its X account Wednesday afternoon.
The agency reiterated that it had received the documents from SDNY and the FBI to review them for release.
The statement confirmed that the Department would work to redact any content that could harm victims.
Lawyers are working around the clock to make the legally required redactions.
The post added that the process may take a few more weeks due to the mass volume of material.
The Department said it was reviewing the documents in compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, existing statutes, and judicial orders.
It noted that the DOJ has lawyers dedicated to reviewing each document for necessary redactions.
The review aims to protect victims’ identities and sensitive information.
The Department promised to release the documents as soon as the redaction process was complete.
The statement highlighted that the volume of material required a careful and methodical approach.
The Department explicitly mentioned that, “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”
This statement underscores the time needed for thorough redaction and compliance checks.
The DOJ emphasized that protecting victims remains the top priority.
The review timeline is a direct result of the sheer number of new documents.
The Department will keep the public updated on progress.
Spokespeople for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to NBC News requests for comment about the contents of the documents.
The FBI declined to comment on the matter.
No official statements were released regarding why the documents were not uncovered earlier.
The lack of response added to the public’s curiosity about the delay.
Both agencies remain unresponsive as of the time of the report.
Jeffrey Epstein died in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges in the Southern District of New York.
He had been charged with federal sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking.
Epstein’s death occurred while he was still a defendant in the case.
The case has drawn significant media attention over the years.
His death left many questions about the ongoing investigations.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s accomplice, was indicted in July 2020 on federal sex trafficking charges.
She was found guilty in December 2021 in New York.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The conviction was part of the broader effort to hold those connected to Epstein accountable.
The legal proceedings against Maxwell continue to be closely followed.
The Justice Department publicly released thousands of pages of Epstein files on Friday.
This release marked the statutory deadline for releasing all of the files as outlined in the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump last month.
The release fulfilled the legal requirement for that day.
It was the first major batch of documents made available to the public.
A second tranche of documents was released on Tuesday.
The release added to the growing archive of Epstein-related records.
The Department continued to meet the statutory deadlines set by the Act.
The Tuesday release included a variety of documents such as emails, financial records, and other materials.
These documents were part of the ongoing effort to provide transparency.
After the initial batch, Justice Department officials said they needed more time to review the files they have on hand.
They emphasized the need to redact text and images related to Epstein’s victims.
The Department highlighted the importance of protecting victim privacy.
The review process is described as methodical and thorough.
Officials indicated that the additional time was necessary to meet legal standards.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in an interview with Fox News on Friday that he expected the entirety of the Epstein files to be online by Jan. 2.
Blanche underscored that the Department was working diligently to meet that deadline.
He emphasized the commitment to transparency and compliance.
Blanche’s statement was part of a broader discussion about the release schedule.
The Deputy Attorney General remained optimistic about meeting the timeline.
Blanche told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the review process was ongoing.
He said, “The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply to protect victims.”
Blanche added, “We’re going through a very methodical process with hundreds of lawyers looking at every single document and making sure that victims’ names and any of the information from victims is protected and redacted, which is exactly what the [Epstein Files] Transparency Act expects.”
His comments highlighted the legal obligations the Department faces.
Blanche reaffirmed the focus on victim protection throughout the review.
As of Wednesday, the Justice Department had released about 40,000 documents related to Epstein, according to an NBC News analysis.
These documents include a range of materials such as emails, financial records, and other documents.
The release count reflects the ongoing effort to provide transparency.
The Department has been gradually releasing the documents in batches.
The cumulative total underscores the volume of material the DOJ is handling.
The files released so far have included several documents that mentioned President Donald Trump.
One document indicated that Trump had flown on Epstein’s private jet more times than previously known.
The mention of Trump has drawn significant media attention.
The Department has not made any accusations of wrongdoing against Trump.
The documents have been scrutinized for their implications.
Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and he has denied doing anything improper.
The president has said he cut ties with Epstein at some point in the early 2000s because he was a “creep.”
Trump’s statements have been repeated in various interviews.
The lack of formal accusations has been noted by the Department.
The President’s denials are part of the broader narrative surrounding the documents.
The Justice Department said Tuesday that the documents release included “untrue and sensationalist claims” about Trump.
The statement was posted on X by the Department.
It clarified that the release did not substantiate allegations of misconduct.
The Department emphasized the need for factual accuracy.
The statement was part of the Department’s broader communication strategy.
Some members of Congress have criticized the delay in releasing all of the Epstein files.
Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who both spearheaded the bipartisan effort in Congress this year to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, have promised to hold officials accountable for the holdup.
They have floated impeachment or charges of contempt as potential actions.
Their criticism reflects the frustration over the extended release timeline.
Both representatives have remained vocal about the need for transparency.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., responded to the Justice Department’s announcement of a longer timeline for releasing the files by accusing them of a “coverup.”
He wrote on X, “A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup.”
Schumer added, “The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding-and WHY? Justice delayed is justice denied. Release the files. Follow the law,” Schumer wrote in a post on X.
This week, Schumer introduced a resolution that would direct the Senate to “initiate legal action against the DOJ” for not releasing the full Epstein files by last Friday.
Congress is scheduled to be back in session the first full week of January.
Democrats in the House of Representative released 19 images, including photos of Jeffrey Epstein with presidents Trump and Clinton, Ghislaine Maxwell, billionaire Bill Gates, film director Woody Allen and conservative firebrand Steve Bannon.
The images were reported by NBC New York’s Jonathan Dienst.
The release added visual context to the document archive.
The images were part of the Department’s broader effort to provide transparency.
The House release drew attention from media outlets.
The Justice Department’s announcement of a new tranche of over a million documents underscores the ongoing effort to provide transparency in the Epstein case.
The extended review timeline reflects the Department’s commitment to protecting victims while complying with legal mandates.
Congressional members have expressed frustration and are preparing potential actions to ensure full disclosure.
The release of additional documents, including those referencing President Trump, continues to fuel public scrutiny.
As the Department works through the redaction process, the public remains eager for the complete set of files.
