The US Department of Justice (DOJ) released the long awaited Jeffery Epstein files. However, the initial release made public on Friday is widely expected to fall short of the full disclosure required under a recently enacted federal law. The Files Can Be Accessed Here.
Earlier on Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged that not all materials would be released immediately, citing the need to protect the privacy of Epstein’s victims. Speaking to Fox News, Blanche said the department planned a phased release.
“I expect that we’re going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks,” he said, adding that several hundred thousand pages were being released now, with additional documents to follow in the coming weeks.
Bill Clinton and Michael Jackson together, from the Epstein files. https://t.co/QxUBZWgR4n pic.twitter.com/NVYHRSsG91
— Resist Times (@ResistTimes_US) December 19, 2025
Those comments quickly drew criticism, as Congress set a strict 30-day deadline for full disclosure when it passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 19. The law mandates that the Justice Department publish all unclassified records in its possession related to Epstein in a searchable and downloadable format.
The legislation applies not only to Justice Department records but also to files held by the FBI, including investigative materials, internal communications, and documents related to charging decisions involving Epstein. It also covers records connected to his longtime associate and co-defendant, Ghislaine Maxwell, as well as entities with known or alleged ties to Epstein.
While the law allows certain exemptions — including redactions to protect victims’ identities, sensitive explicit material, or information tied to ongoing investigations — lawmakers made clear that broad withholding of documents was not permitted.
PHOTO: Newly released Epstein files include an image showing Bill Clinton swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell and an unidentified woman. https://t.co/RN38S091pA pic.twitter.com/j8EhfXbrjq
— Resist Times (@ResistTimes_US) December 19, 2025
On Friday, the Justice Department launched a webpage featuring what it described as the “full Epstein library,” complete with a search function. However, users on social media quickly reported technical issues, including long queues to access the site and search results that failed to return basic, well-known terms related to the case.
Others noted that many of the released documents were heavily redacted, with entire pages blacked out, raising doubts about how much new information was actually disclosed.
The partial release has already triggered sharp reactions on Capitol Hill. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California, one of the bill’s sponsors, warned that failure to comply with the law could have serious consequences.
NEW: Massive painting of Bill Clinton in a blue dress, from the Epstein files. pic.twitter.com/xiYc9eur75
— Resist Times (@ResistTimes_US) December 19, 2025
“Any person who attempts to conceal or scrub the files will be subject to prosecution under the law,” Khanna wrote on social media.
“All files were required by law to be released today,” the post said.
Frustration was not limited to Democrats. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene also called for full transparency, writing: “Release all the files. It’s literally the law.”
Another Republican, Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, posted a detailed video ahead of the release, urging the public to closely scrutinize what the Justice Department made available. Massie said lawyers representing Epstein’s victims had told him the FBI possessed documents naming at least 20 men accused of sexual crimes.
“If we get a large production and it does not contain a single name of any male accused of sex crimes,” Massie said, “then we know they haven’t produced all the documents.”
The Justice Department has not responded directly to those concerns, and officials say additional releases are forthcoming. The situation remains fluid, with further disclosures and political fallout expected in the days ahead.
