The Department of Justice's latest release of nearly three million Epstein-related records included at least 40 explicit images and the names of 47 alleged victims despite redaction efforts. Survivors' lawyers and lawmakers say the disclosures exposed minors and identifiable details, prompting some files to be pulled for further redaction. The tranche also briefly contained uncorroborated claims about public figures; the DoJ says those allegations are unverified.
DoJ Release Exposes Dozens Of Nude Photos And 47 Victim Names In Epstein Files — Survivors, Lawyers Alarmed
Jeffrey Epstein is pictured in the latest batch of files released by the FBI after pressure from American politicians
The US Department of Justice's recent release of nearly three million documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein included at least 40 explicit images and the names of 47 alleged victims, despite court-ordered redaction requirements. The disclosure has drawn sharp criticism from survivors, attorneys and lawmakers who say the department failed to adequately protect victims' identities and intimate material.
Several images appear to have been taken on Epstein's private island, with others shot in bedrooms and private residences. While some subjects in the photos look young, it is not always possible to determine their age from the images alone; some survivors previously have said they were minors when abused.
Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted paedophile who died by suicide in 2019 while in prison
Redaction Failures and Reactions
Officials say some files were temporarily removed from the DoJ website for additional redactions and later republished. The department said it would rectify errors when victims or their counsel notify officials. Todd Blanche, deputy attorney general, said the department responds quickly to reports that names were not properly redacted.
Ro Khanna, Democratic representative and advocate for disclosure, said the DoJ had released "at best half the documents" and called the material deeply troubling.
Attorneys for survivors, including Brad Edwards and Brittany Henderson, said they were alarmed the DoJ did not run comprehensive keyword searches for victim names before release. The Wall Street Journal reported that roughly two dozen names of minors were among the exposed records, and some documents included identifying details such as addresses.
The age of the women in the unredacted photographs is unknown but some of Epstein’s victims were underage
Annie Farmer, who has testified she was abused by Epstein as a teenager, described publication of the images as "extremely disturbing," saying that making full nude photos available online is an egregious failure to protect victims.
Uncorroborated Allegations About Public Figures
The tranche briefly included documents containing uncorroborated allegations about public figures, including assertions about former President Donald Trump. The DoJ warned that some claims are untrue and sensationalist, noting they were submitted to the FBI shortly before the 2020 election and remain unverified. The White House denies the allegations.
Annie Farmer was abused by Esptein when she was a teenager - Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg
Separately, Mr. Trump said he planned to pursue legal action after a comedian suggested he had visited Epstein's island; Mr. Trump has denied ever going there.
Ongoing Concerns
Legal advocates warn that not all sensitive material may have been identified or redacted and that the disclosures risk causing further harm to survivors whose identities or intimate images were exposed. Lawmakers and victim advocates are pressing the DoJ for a fuller accounting and stronger safeguards to prevent future disclosures.
What the DoJ Says: Officials maintain they spent weeks redacting records and will continue to correct mistakes reported by victims and counsel, while acknowledging the scale and sensitivity of the task.
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