Millions of new Epstein files released by US justice department

The U.S. Department of Justice has publicly released an unprecedented trove of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, marking the largest disclosure since the enactment of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The release comprises approximately 3 million pages, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos, providing extensive insight into Epstein’s network and operations.

This disclosure follows a six-week delay past the legal deadline established by the legislation signed into law during the Trump administration. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the release as the culmination of an exhaustive document review process designed to ensure governmental transparency and legal compliance.

The newly public records include psychological evaluations of Epstein during his incarceration, detailed communications involving his associate Ghislaine Maxwell—currently imprisoned for trafficking minors—and correspondence with prominent figures. Among these documents is an email exchange with Lord Peter Mandelson, former UK ambassador to the United States, discussing accommodations at Epstein’s properties. Mandelson has previously characterized his association with Epstein as a ‘terrible mistake’ in BBC interviews.

Particular attention has focused on messages referencing ‘The Duke’—understood to be Prince Andrew—including discussions about private dinners at Buckingham Palace and Epstein’s offer to introduce him to a 26-year-old Russian woman. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any knowledge or involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities.

Hundreds of Justice Department personnel dedicated approximately 75 days to manually reviewing the documents, working extended hours to meet legal requirements. The department implemented redactions to protect victim identities, exclude child sexual abuse imagery, and preserve active investigations. All women appearing in visual materials except Maxwell were anonymized.

Despite these measures, the release has drawn criticism from lawmakers including Democratic Congressman Roh Khanna, who co-sponsored the transparency legislation. Khanna has questioned why only 3.5 million of the 6 million identified pages were ultimately released, promising continued scrutiny of the disclosure process.

The documents released to date have revealed Epstein’s connections to powerful figures across politics, business, and royalty, though officials maintain they contain no evidence implicating previously unknown individuals in abuse crimes.