Washington, D.C., United States – The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday that it has uncovered over a million additional documents potentially linked to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The discovery comes as part of ongoing efforts to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation passed last month requiring the government to make records relating to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell publicly available.

Due to the unprecedented volume of materials, the DOJ said it will take several more weeks to review, redact, and prepare the files for release.

“The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have informed the Department of Justice that they have uncovered over a million more documents potentially related to the Jeffrey Epstein case,” the DOJ said in a statement. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

Compliance and Transparency

The DOJ emphasized that its lawyers are “working around the clock” to ensure that all documents comply with legal requirements, including the redaction of victim identities. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the delay, stating that the department’s priority is to protect survivors’ privacy while fulfilling its statutory obligations.

“The reason why we are still reviewing documents and continuing our process is simply to protect victims,” Blanche told NBC’s Meet the Press.

Despite the delay, the DOJ has pledged to release documents on a rolling basis, although it has not specified when additional batches will become available.

Calls for Oversight

The slow release has prompted a dozen US senators to call on the Justice Department’s inspector general to audit the department’s compliance with the transparency act. The lawmakers emphasized that victims “deserve full disclosure” and stressed the importance of a neutral review of whether the DOJ has followed the law.

“Given the [Trump] Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicisation of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote.

Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, joined 11 Democrats in urging Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume to conduct an independent audit of the DOJ’s handling of the documents.

Similarly, Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a co-sponsor of the transparency act, criticized the DOJ for illegal redactions and missing deadlines, posting on social media that the department “did break the law.”

Background

The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed nearly unanimously in Congress, requires the Justice Department to release documents detailing the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, including flight logs, financial records, and legal filings. The law was enacted to provide victims and the public with full insight into the case and to hold accountable any individuals who may have facilitated Epstein’s crimes.

The latest discovery adds to previously released files that had already sparked public attention, including documents showing Epstein’s connections to high-profile figures, including Donald Trump.

Ongoing Release

Over the past week, the DOJ has released multiple batches of documents, but officials have not indicated when further releases might occur. The department has stated that protecting the identities of survivors remains the top priority, even as lawmakers and advocates push for full and timely transparency.

“So the same individuals complaining about the lack of documents are the same individuals who apparently don’t want us to protect victims,” Blanche said, defending the process.

The case continues to draw intense media attention as the Justice Department navigates the complex task of reviewing and publishing over a million newly discovered files.