Washington: The U.S. justice department has begun releasing documents linked to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, but the disclosure has drawn criticism after falling short of a legal deadline set under a new transparency law.
The release follows the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law last month by President Donald J. Trump, which required the justice department to make public all unclassified records related to Epstein within 30 days. Officials rushed to meet the Friday deadline, releasing a first batch of documents late on December 19.
The initial set includes a large volume of records such as investigation files, photographs, contact lists, flight logs and administrative documents. However, many pages are heavily redacted, and some material had already appeared in earlier court filings and disclosures.
Senior officials from the U.S. Department of Justice said the release should be seen as the beginning of a longer process. They stated that more documents would be reviewed and published in phases, citing the need to protect victims identities and to avoid interfering with related legal matters.
The partial disclosure has triggered criticism from victims advocates and lawmakers from both parties. Several members of Congress said the justice department had not fully met the spirit of the law, arguing that excessive redactions and delays undermine public trust and accountability.
Some of the newly released files include references to prominent political and public figures, reigniting debate over how Epstein was able to maintain influential connections for years despite earlier criminal cases. At the same time, officials stressed that the presence of names in the documents does not imply wrongdoing.
The issue has also created political tension, with critics accusing the administration of moving too slowly, while supporters argue that careful review is necessary to avoid harming victims or spreading unverified claims.
Justice department officials said additional Epstein related records will be made public in the coming weeks. Lawmakers have warned they may seek further oversight or legal action if future releases do not comply fully with the requirements of the transparency law.
For now, the Epstein files release remains a closely watched test of the government’s promise of openness in one of the most sensitive and controversial cases in recent U.S. history.