Overview
- The Justice Department missed the Dec. 19 deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and is posting records on a rolling basis after releasing hundreds of thousands of pages.
- More than a dozen files briefly disappeared, including a photo containing President Trump that DOJ says was flagged by SDNY for victim-protection review and later reposted without changes after finding no victims were depicted.
- Survivors denounced heavy blackouts and missing materials, saying some identities were not properly shielded and that key items like FBI interviews and internal charging memos were absent.
- Bipartisan pressure escalated, with Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie preparing an inherent-contempt effort that could fine Attorney General Pam Bondi, as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a resolution to authorize legal action to compel compliance.
- Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the review as necessary to protect more than 1,200 identified victims or relatives and said a 119‑page grand jury document initially released fully redacted was reissued with minimal redactions.