The Trump administration has published what appears to be the first tranche of the Epstein files; but the release of hundreds of thousands of documents looks to have been delayed.
The files have been published on a Department of Justice website, on the day of a legal deadline set by the US Congress.
It is not yet clear how many of the files have been held back.
But before their release, US Deputy Attorney-General Todd Blanche said the Justice Department was still working to redact information to protect victims.
He said “several hundred thousand” documents were being released today, and “several hundred thousand more” would come out “over the next couple of weeks”.
Last month, Congress almost unanimously backed a bill to force the release of files relating to the investigation and prosecution of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell.
It followed a years-long campaign by victims and others who believe powerful associates of Epstein have avoided exposure for their involvement in an alleged sex-trafficking ring.
The legislation to force the release of the files allows for the redaction of victims’ personal and medical details, as well as information that could jeopardise ongoing investigations or national security.
Material depicting abuse can also be withheld. But documents cannot be censored to prevent “embarrassment” or “reputational harm” to public figures.
“We are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce,” Mr Blanche told Fox News before the files were released.Â
“Making sure that every victim — their name, their identity, their story, to the extent it needs to be protected, is completely protected.”
Democrats reacted angrily and threatened legal action if the deadline was not met.
Mr Trump recently called on the Justice Department to investigate Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats. The department agreed to this request, prompting concerns among campaigners the fresh investigation could be used as justification to withhold files.
The legislation to release the files was opposed by Mr Trump for months, who said its supporters were pushing a “hoax”. But he changed his position before Congress voted on the bill, and it passed both houses almost unanimously.
Jeffrey Epstein was accused of running a vast sex-trafficking network, and some of his accusers say other offenders have dodged exposure. (AP: New York State Sex Offender Registry)
Mr Trump held a press briefing about drug prices ahead of the files’ release but, unusually, refused to take questions.Â
The US president was friends with Epstein for about 20 years. Flight logs show the president travelled on Epstein’s jet at least seven times in the 1990s.
In 2019, Mr Trump said he had a “falling out a long time ago with him” and added that he did not think he had spoken to Epstein in 15 years.
At that time, he would not say why. But in July, Mr Trump said they fell out because Epstein “stole” young women who were working at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
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