The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has returned to the spotlight after the US Department of Justice released nearly 8,000 additional documents linked to the case, following accusations of withholding information and sharp criticism over delays in disclosure.
According to an analysis by AFP, the newly published files include hundreds of video clips and audio recordings, among them surveillance footage from August 2019, when the convicted sex offender was found dead in his prison cell. The Justice Department uploaded around 11,000 document links online, though several appeared to lead to missing or inaccessible files.
The disclosures come after Congress overwhelmingly passed the “Epstein Transparency Act,” which mandated the full release of all related records by last Friday. Victims’ groups have complained that only portions of the files were made public and that some were excessively redacted without explanation.
Lawmakers from both parties have escalated pressure, with Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie threatening contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for failing to comply with the law. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also introduced a resolution calling for legal action against the Trump administration over the incomplete release.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the delay was due to efforts to protect the identities of more than 1,000 Epstein victims, denying allegations of shielding former President Donald Trump, who was once associated with Epstein but faces no charges in the case. Trump, who had initially resisted the release, ultimately signed the law under congressional pressure, paving the way for the publication of the files.
