In a dramatic reversal on December 24, 2025—Christmas Eve—the Department of Justice announced the discovery of more than one million additional documents potentially related to Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking investigations. This revelation came days after the DOJ missed the December 19 congressional deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump in November.
The act required full public release of all unclassified Epstein records, including investigative materials, flight logs, and communications involving Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Initial releases beginning December 19 included thousands of pages—photos, emails, and reports mentioning figures like Bill Clinton and Trump (no new wrongdoing alleged)—but were criticized for heavy redactions and incompleteness.
The DOJ stated that the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York “uncovered” this massive trove, necessitating “a few more weeks” for victim-protective redactions. Officials emphasized compliance with the law and President Trump’s directive, with lawyers “working around the clock.”
Bipartisan lawmakers erupted in skepticism. Co-sponsors Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) suggested the timing followed their contempt threats, with Khanna noting: “After we said we are bringing contempt, the DOJ is now finding millions more documents.” A group of senators demanded an independent audit, questioning prior assurances of exhaustive reviews.
Critics, including victims’ advocates, accuse the DOJ of delays to shield elites. No “client list” has emerged, but the episode fuels doubts about transparency in Epstein’s network implicating powerful individuals.
As releases extend into 2026, this eleventh-hour find raises profound questions: oversight failure or deliberate obfuscation?
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