Ministry of Justice Thousands of new records released CBS News found that at least 550 pages of documents regarding convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were completely redacted on Friday.
The newly released files included photos of several prominent people in Epstein’s orbit, photos from his homes and investigative records detailing disturbing allegations against the late sex offender. But significant redactions in many records drew criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, as the department defended its handling of the files.
One series of three sequential Documents -Total 255 pages -Fully revised, with each page covered by a black box. fourth A 119-page document The “Grand Jury-NY” title has also been completely revised. It is unclear what actions resulted, however document Immediately before that is inserted a transcript in which the prosecutor asks a 2020 grand jury to consider evidence for a superseding indictment of convicted Epstein co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.
At least 180 blacked-out pages appear in the files, most of which have been redacted but not completely redacted. In some cases, cover page, a Image of the folder or Another thing that hasn’t been fully refined It is preceded by several pages completely obscured by a black box.
In other cases, the revisions were more moderate. For example, A Police report 96 pages In a Florida investigation into Epstein in the mid-2000s, the victims’ names and other details were redacted, but he left out many others.
Some of the thousands of images included in Friday’s release were partially retouched, with some people’s faces obscured by boxes. Pictures included Former President Bill Clintonpop star Michael Jackson and other prominent figures have made partial redactions (although Clinton and Jackson themselves are fully visible).
Why was the Justice Department allowed to redact the Epstein files?
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress last month, requires the Justice Department to release files in its possession related to Epstein and Maxwell.
Redactions are permitted for several reasons, including protecting survivors’ personal information and excluding violent images and child sexual abuse material. Documents can also be withheld in a “narrowly tailored and temporary” manner if their release “would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution.”
Some of the redactions made Friday appear to redact the names of survivors, but it is not clear in each case why the information was withheld. The government must submit to Congress a list of revisions within 15 days.
The law explicitly prohibits the government from withholding records because of the risk of “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.” The Department of Justice in X said so No names of politicians Files have been redacted.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a letter to Congress earlier Friday that a team of more than 200 lawyers from the Justice Department combed through the documents looking for names of survivors and other things that needed to be redacted. He said the administration was still studying the files and would release more of them on a rolling basis, even though the law required them to be released by Friday.
Blanche’s letter also said that “additional review attorneys” are necessary when reviewing grand jury transcripts. Judges in New York and Florida gave the government permission to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein and Maxwell cases, but the judge overseeing the Maxwell case Appointed top federal prosecutor in Manhattan To “certify personally” that none of the documents contain personal information of the victims.
Democrats criticize redactions in Epstein files
Some lawmakers criticized the Justice Department for the redactions and its admission that some documents would be released later.
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who helped lead efforts to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, argued that Friday’s release of the document was not consistent with their law.
They betrayed us Shoot it “Incomplete release with a lot of redactions” in a video posted on X. He said he is “exploring all options,” including impeachment or referrals for prosecution. Massey Version said “A gross failure to comply with the spirit and letter of the law.”
“Just publishing a mountain of redacted pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York. “For example, all 119 pages in one document were completely redacted. We need answers as to why.”
CBS News has reached out to the Department of Justice for comment on the criticism.
The Ministry of Justice defended its handling of the files. Blanche said Fox News Digital: “The only redactions applied to documents are those required by law – period.”
“Democratic administrations in the past have refused to provide the full details of the Jeffrey Epstein saga,” Blanche said in his letter to lawmakers. “But President Trump, Attorney General Bondy and FBI Director Patel are committed to providing full transparency consistent with the law.”