The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is facing mounting legal and political scrutiny over its continued failure to fully release documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, despite a statutory deadline requiring disclosure by December 19, 2026.
As of late January 2026, the DOJ has not released any new Epstein-related files this year, prompting accusations from lawmakers, legal advocates, and survivors’ representatives that the department is in violation of federal law. Critics argue that the DOJ has neither complied with the disclosure mandate nor adequately informed Congress about the scope and justification of redactions applied to previously released materials.
According to a January 6 court filing, first reported by The Guardian, the DOJ conceded that it has released fewer than 1% of the Epstein files subject to the disclosure law. The department acknowledged that only 12,285 documents—amounting to roughly 125,575 pages—have been made public, despite estimates that more than two million documents may be responsive to the statute.
In a five-page letter to Judge Paul Engelmayer of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Attorney General Pam Bondi cited the need to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims as a primary reason for the delay. The letter, co-signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton, stated that approximately 400 DOJ attorneys and 100 FBI document analysts are currently involved in reviewing sensitive materials.
“This work has required and will continue to require substantial department resources,” Bondi wrote, adding that the scale and complexity of the review process had slowed compliance.
However, Democratic lawmakers have sharply disputed the department’s justification. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the DOJ of “lawlessness,” arguing that it has failed to provide Congress with a required unredacted list of government officials and politically exposed persons named or referenced in the files.
“What are they trying to hide?” Schumer wrote in a post on X, noting that the documents released so far were heavily redacted and contained “no new information” about Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators.
Bipartisan frustration is also growing on Capitol Hill. Representatives Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, have indicated they are considering filing an inherent contempt lawsuit against Attorney General Bondi to compel faster compliance.
Public pressure has intensified amid criticism that major US media outlets have largely shifted focus to other global crises, including developments in Venezuela and the Middle East, leaving the Epstein disclosures largely absent from daily headlines. Advocacy groups argue that the lack of sustained coverage undermines accountability and delays justice for survivors.
Survivors have continued to call for transparency. Marina Lacerda, who said she met Epstein when she was 14, told The Guardian that she wants Epstein’s alleged associates, including high-profile figures, to face accountability. Some released documents have referenced alleged conduct involving Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year federal sentence for child sex trafficking, and her association with British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has denied all allegations of illegal behavior.
While DOJ officials insist that additional releases are forthcoming and that victim protection remains paramount, legal experts warn that prolonged noncompliance could expose the department to court sanctions or congressional enforcement actions.
For survivors and their advocates, the issue remains urgent. As one activist stated outside DOJ headquarters, “The survivors deserve justice, accountability, and transparency—and they deserve it now.”
