Epstein files latest: Deadline imminent for release of bombshell documents that have shaken Trump administration
Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and Woody Allen appear in Epstein estate photo drop
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The Department of Justice is facing an end-of-day deadline to release thousands of documents related to the government’s investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender.
For months, members of the public, lawmakers and survivors of Epstein’s abuse have been urging the government to release all applicable material to promote greater transparency and hold any other individuals accountable who participated in Epstein’s crimes.
But President Donald Trump, who was once friends with Epstein, pushed back on the release. Finally, in November, he gave Republicans the go-ahead to vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the DOJ to release documents within 30 days.
Epstein, who died in federal jail in 2019 before a trial could commence, was accused of using his wealth and connections to high-profile individuals to run a decades-long sex trafficking scheme that involved young women and girls.
The government had initially investigated Epstein in 2006 but ultimately handed him a sweetheart deal. A second investigation in 2019 landed him with a sex trafficking indictment. Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of child sex trafficking in 2021.
Many of the Epstein documents are already publicly available, but new releases could lend more insight into the government’s probes.
What will be redacted?
Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Attorney General Pam Bondi is permitted to redact information that could identify victims, their medical files, or be considered an invasion of personal privacy.
Bondi can also redact anything that depicts or contains sexual abuse materials, death or physical abuse or injury of another person, as well as any information that could jeopardize an ongoing federal investigation.
The Department of Justice is also permitted to redact information in the interest of national security or foreign policy.
(Getty)
Joe Sommerlad19 December 2025 10:05
What could be released today?
It’s currently unclear what precisely we will see today, given that the government has vast discretion to redact certain information.
But it’s possible that the new information will provide more details about how investigators went after Epstein, and whether they considered other charges.
Epstein was under federal investigation twice, the first in Florida in 2006. But despite being indicted, the U.S. Attorney at the time, Alex Acosta, arranged a controversial agreement for the multimillionaire to plead guilty to two state charges, as well as a prison sentence and a requirement that he register as a sex offender, in exchange for the federal case to be dropped.
The second investigation led to a 2019 sex trafficking indictment in New York and Epstein’s arrest. However, he died in prison before he could face trial.
Judges in Florida and New York have approved the release of grand jury materials that were used to bring the two separate indictments against Epstein, as well as the one against Maxwell.
While the grand jury materials may contain some information, they represent only a fraction of the documents in the Justice Department’s possession.
However, the judge who approved the release of grand jury materials in Maxwell’s case warned that they would “learn next to nothing new” from the documents.
The judge said the materials do not identify perpetrators other than Epstein and Maxwell; do not discuss Epstein’s alleged clients; and don’t reveal any unknown methods of Epstein or Maxwell’s crimes. Nor do they reveal any other location where crimes occurred, the judge added.
(AFP/Getty)
Joe Sommerlad19 December 2025 09:45
Stephen Colbert predicts Epstein files will be ‘end of the road’ for Trump
“It’s Epstein Files Eve,” The Late Show host declared in his opening monologue last night. “Don’t forget to leave Santa some cookies. And a barf bag.”
“The DOJ specifically has to release ‘searchable and downloadable’ copies. And here’s the kicker: The law says records can’t be withheld, delayed, or redacted due to concerns about embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”
Launching into a raspy Trump impression, Colbert joked, “OK, but what if – and hear me out here – what if this is the end of the road for you and you’ve wriggled out of everything else, but for some reason this is the one they won’t let go of, no matter how many East Wings you tear down?
“You can see the end is in sight, which is crazy because you’ve always believed that nothing bad could ever happen to you because the world’s an illusion and you’re the only one that’s real.
“How about that? Do I still have to release them? Yes? OK then, how about this one: Joe Biden was Epstein the whole time. How about that? Anything?”
You can watch it for yourself below.
Joe Sommerlad19 December 2025 09:25
Why are the files being released now?
Last month, nearly every member of Congress voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act which gave the DOJ 30 days to gather, redact and release the trove of documents related to the government’s investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
While nearly unanimous, it took weeks for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to force a vote on the House floor, due to the government shutdown and initial pushback from President Donald Trump.
Despite Trump asserting on the campaign trail that he would release the Epstein files when in the White House, he and key administration officials reversed their position earlier this year and claimed there was no new or necessary information to be released.
But facing immense public pressure, including from members of his own MAGA base and survivors of Epstein’s abuse, the president gave Republicans the go-ahead to vote in favor of the bill.
Rhian Lubin and Rachel Dobkin have this explainer on how we arrived at this point.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 09:10
Joe Sommerlad19 December 2025 08:55
House Democrats released more photos from Epstein estate
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released more photos from Epstein’s estate Thursday, ahead of the release deadline for the Department of Justice’s files today.
Among the photos are pictures of a woman’s body with quotes from Vladimir Nabokov’s notorious novel Lolita, about a professor who pursues a relationship with an underage girl, written on her body.
Alex Woodward has this report.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 08:45
Department of Justice ordered to release Jeffrey Epstein files by end of Friday
The DOJ is hours away from a deadline, imposed by Congress, to release hundreds of documents related to the government’s investigation into the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
By Friday, December 19, the department must release all unclassified documents, investigation material and internal communications from probes into Epstein and his associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. That includes flight logs and references to named individuals, including potentially government officials.
The highly anticipated release is part of some lawmakers’ efforts for greater transparency about the Epstein investigation. The multimillionaire financier was accused of sexually abusing young women and girls before he died by suicide in jail while awaiting trial on trafficking charges in 2019. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes associated with Epstein’s abuse.
Thousands of documents about Epstein’s crimes have already been released through criminal and civil litigation. House Democrats have also released photos and paperwork with the latest tranche issued Thursday.
Here’s Ariana Baio on what else the public can expect ahead of the release.
Joe Sommerlad19 December 2025 08:40
Good morning
Welcome to The Independent’s live blog coverage of the Epstein files release.
The Department of Justice has until the end of the day Friday to release the thousands of documents in its possession related to the government’s investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.
One month ago, Congress imposed a 30-day deadline for the DoJ to release the materials, which include communications, unclassified documents and other investigation material.
Ariana Baio19 December 2025 08:20
