US justice department has released less than 1% of Epstein files, filing reveals

"The Department of Justice has released less than 1% of the so-called Epstein files, a court filing has revealed, as Democrats step up criticism of the Trump administration's lawlessness for keeping records under seal. The department conceded that only 12,285 documents, totalling 125,575 pages, relating to the disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein have been published to date, despite a federal law requiring the vast majority to be released by 19 December."

"Pam Bondi, the attorney general, wrote a five-page update to Paul Engelmayer, the federal New York judge overseeing the case, on Monday, asserting that efforts to protect the identities of Epstein's victims were a priority, and had slowed the process. There are more than two million documents potentially responsive to the Act that are in various phases of review, she wrote in the letter co-signed by Todd Blanche, her deputy, and Jay Clayton, US attorney for the southern district of New York."

"What are they trying to hide? Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, said in a post to X on Monday accusing the justice department of failing to submit a required unredacted list to Congress of all government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the files. It's been 17 DAYS since the Trump DOJ first broke the law and failed to release all the Epstein files."

Less than 1% of Epstein-related records have been published, with 12,285 documents (125,575 pages) released despite a federal deadline of 19 December. Attorney General Pam Bondi said protecting victims’ identities slowed releases and reported over two million potentially responsive documents in review. Bondi's letter said roughly 400 DOJ lawyers and 100 FBI document analysts are working on the reviews. Democrats have intensified pressure, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer accusing the department of failing to provide an unredacted list of government officials and politically exposed persons named in the files and alleging unlawful delay and obfuscation in meeting release obligations.

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