The Department of Justice (DOJ) is facing mounting backlash after releasing heavily redacted Jeffrey Epstein files that left large portions of the long-awaited document dump completely blacked out.
The files, released Friday under a congressional mandate, included thousands of pages tied to the late sex trafficker.
Many of those pages contained sweeping redactions that stunned the public and lawmakers alike.
In some cases, the redactions bordered on absurd.
One image showed Epstein photographed on a beach, but the DOJ blacked out his own body, including what appeared to be his bare backside.
Another file consisted of 100 pages that were entirely redacted, leaving nothing but black rectangles from top to bottom.
In a particularly confounding move, the DOJ released a photo previously published by the New York Post showing Epstein with former President Bill Clinton at the 2002 wedding of Morocco’s King Mohammed VI.
In the DOJ version, Clinton’s face was clearly visible while Epstein’s face was completely blacked out.
The redactions sparked immediate outrage across social media, with critics accusing the Justice Department of mocking the idea of transparency.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche attempted to calm the firestorm by releasing a six-page letter defending the redactions and praising what he described as unprecedented openness.
“Never in American history has a President or the Department of Justice been this transparent with the American people about such a sensitive law enforcement matter,” Blanche wrote.
Blanche insisted that President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel are committed to full transparency while remaining within the bounds of the law, as the New York Post reported.
He explained that the Epstein Files Transparency Act allows redactions for specific reasons, including protecting victims’ identities, preventing the release of child sexual abuse material, safeguarding active investigations, and withholding classified national security information.
According to Blanche, every page of every document had to be individually reviewed, which he said explains why some materials remain under review.
What the DOJ did not explain is why Epstein’s own face and body parts were censored, as none of the listed exemptions appear to apply.
The law mandating the release of the files explicitly states that information cannot be withheld simply because it is embarrassing to public figures or government officials.
Members of Congress from both parties say the DOJ failed to comply with that law.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) said the release did not meet the requirements set out by Congress.
“The DOJ’s document dump of hundreds of thousands of pages failed to comply with the law,” Khanna said.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) echoed those concerns, arguing that the department withheld far more than what the statute allows.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires Bondi to submit a detailed report to congressional judiciary committees within 15 days, outlining what categories of records were released, what was withheld, and the legal basis for each redaction.
That report is not due until January, meaning lawmakers may not get clear answers for weeks.
The released files included photos of Epstein with high-profile figures such as Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, and Michael Jackson, though officials stressed that appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing.
Still, critics argue that the scope of redactions undermines public trust and raises new questions about who is being protected.
As outrage continues to grow, the DOJ insists its approach has been lawful and historic.
For many Americans, the blacked-out pages have only reinforced suspicions that the full truth surrounding Epstein and his powerful connections remains buried.
