The long-promised disclosure of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein has hit an unexpected pause. U.S. Justice Department officials say they have uncovered more than a million additional documents that may be connected to investigations of the disgraced financier, forcing a delay as authorities comb through the material and black out sensitive details.
The discovery emerged as the federal government had already begun rolling out records tied to Epstein’s criminal history, part of an effort to comply with a recently enacted law mandating broad disclosure. That law, approved by Congress despite resistance from the White House, set a firm deadline for releasing all related documents, while permitting redactions to safeguard victims.
Instead of wrapping up the process, officials now find themselves facing a mountain of newly identified paperwork. According to the Justice Department, the documents were located by the FBI alongside federal prosecutors in Manhattan. No explanation was offered on how or when the material surfaced, only that it dramatically expanded the scope of the review.
So far, the records made public have been heavily censored, with large portions blacked out. The limited transparency has drawn sharp criticism, particularly from lawmakers who argue that the redactions undercut the purpose of disclosure and have failed to quell political fallout surrounding the case.
In a statement shared online, the Justice Department said legal teams are working “around the clock” to sift through the newly discovered trove. Officials stressed that the priority remains protecting victims, even if that means pushing the release timeline back by several weeks.
For now, the Epstein file — already one of the most scrutinized in recent memory — appears far from closed.
