The DOJ published nearly 30,000 records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but some blacked-out passages could be revealed by copying text into another document. A civil suit against Jeffrey Epstein’s estate showed an executor, Darren Indyke, allegedly signed checks totaling over $400,000 to models and an immigration lawyer accused in the filing of arranging forced marriages. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said redactions were limited to those required by law, while reports indicate redaction standards were also applied to politically exposed persons.
DOJ Epstein Files: Redactions Bypassed by Simple Copy–Paste, Revealing Alleged Payments and Ties
The Justice Department's release of nearly 30,000 documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act contained redactions that, in some cases, could be revealed by copying the text into another file. The disclosure has raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of the DOJ's redaction process and the safeguards in place to protect victims and sensitive information.
What Happened
The DOJ began posting records at the statutory deadline. While many passages were visually blacked out on the website, reporters and members of the public discovered that copying certain portions into a separate document sometimes produced readable text that had appeared redacted online.
Notable Revelations
One civil lawsuit against the executors of Jeffrey Epstein's estate, highlighted by The New York Times, contained at least two notable passages that became readable after copy-and-paste:
- An executor named Darren Indyke was shown to have signed a check from Epstein's foundation to an immigration lawyer previously described in the filing as 'involved in one or more forced marriages arranged among Epstein’s victims.' Indyke has not been criminally charged; the allegation remains part of civil litigation.
- Another passage indicated that 'Between September 2015 and June 2019, Indyke signed (FAC) for over $400,000 made payable to young female models and actresses,' including a former Russian model who allegedly received over $380,000 through monthly payments of $8,333 for more than three and a half years.
Additional Allegations and Official Responses
Other previously redacted material, when revealed, described allegations that Epstein 'threatened harm to victims and helped release damaging stories about them' and 'instructed one or more Epstein Enterprise participant-witnesses to destroy evidence relevant to ongoing court proceedings involving Defendants' criminal sex trafficking and abuse conduct.' These are allegations contained in civil filings and related documents.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department limited redactions to those required by law and withheld information to 'protect every single victim.' A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment further to The New York Times.
Fox News Digital reported that the DOJ's redaction standards were also applied to politically exposed persons and government officials, not only victim identifiers. The statute that compelled the release bars redactions made for reasons of 'embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity,' except where necessary to shield victims' identities.
Implications
This copy-and-paste vulnerability underscores the technical and procedural challenges in publishing sensitive legal documents online. The incident has prompted calls for the DOJ to review its redaction tools and processes to ensure victims remain protected while complying with transparency laws.
Source: Reporting based on documents released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and coverage from major outlets.
