The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed that only a very small fraction of its records related to Jeffrey Epstein have been released so far. In a recent court filing, the department revealed that fewer than one percent of the total Epstein-related files have been made public, while more than two million documents are still being reviewed.
The update was submitted to a federal court in New York and outlines the scale of the records, the effort required to process them, and the challenges involved in releasing sensitive material. The disclosure has drawn attention because Congress had earlier passed a law requiring these files to be made public by a fixed deadline.
What the Justice Department Has Released So Far
According to the court filing, the Department of Justice has released 12,285 documents connected to Epstein. These documents contain roughly 125,575 pages of information. Despite the large page count, officials noted that this represents less than one percent of the total files linked to the Epstein case.
The filing was submitted by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche to U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York. The document explained that the released files come from long-running federal investigations related to Epstein that took place in Florida and New York over several decades.
Most of the materials are stored in the FBI’s main electronic case management system. These include written records, emails, photographs, videos, and audio files. Some of the evidence was originally physical and later converted into digital form for storage and review.
The Justice Department stated that every document must be carefully examined before release. This includes checking for sensitive personal information and ensuring that legally protected details are removed. Officials said this careful review is required by law and is one of the main reasons the Epstein document release process has taken significant time.
Why More Than Two Million Documents Are Still Under Review
The Justice Department told the court that more than two million documents are still in different stages of review. These files are considered potentially responsive, meaning they may fall under the law passed by Congress that requires their release.
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An FBI memo from July 2025 said investigators had already uncovered more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence linked to Epstein. In late December, the department disclosed that more than one million additional documents had been newly identified, adding significantly to the volume of material under review.
Officials said the review is being handled by hundreds of lawyers across the Justice Department, with more than 400 attorneys currently working on examining and redacting files. The department said the process is resource-intensive and focused on removing names and identifying details to protect victims before any documents are released.
Congressional Deadline and Court Oversight
Congress passed a law in November with near-unanimous support directing the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files by a deadline of December 19, 2025. In a letter sent to Congress on the deadline date, Todd Blanche said the department was working diligently to comply, but explained that the large volume of material required documents to be released in stages rather than all at once.
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The Justice Department has continued to update the court on its progress. In its latest filing, the department said substantial work remains and confirmed that the review and release process is being carried out in phases. Officials said this approach allows careful examination of each file while continuing to make records public.
The department also said it is acting in good faith and dedicating significant resources to meet the legal requirements. Court oversight remains in place, with judges receiving regular updates on how many documents have been reviewed, released, and flagged for further examination.
