Washington: The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has released a substantial collection of investigation files related to the case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Ghana News Agency, the files, made public on Friday, encompass over 3 million pages of documents, including more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. These files also contain pornographic material that Epstein acquired but did not personally record. It remains uncertain whether these documents will reveal new findings in the ongoing case, as eleven data sets are now available on the DoJ's website.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche emphasized that personal data of victims have been redacted to safeguard their privacy. Furthermore, any pornographic material featuring children and content potentially obstructive to federal investigations have been withheld. Blanche confirmed that with Friday's release, the review and verification of the documents have concluded.
Blanche assured that no individual, including former President Donald Trump, was shielded during the release of the Epstein files. He stated, "I can assure that we complied with the statute, we complied with the act. We did not protect President Trump. We didn't protect or not protect anybody."
The release was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the Department of Justice to disclose all Epstein files by December 19. In a statement, the DoJ noted that some pornographic images were redacted, treating all women in those images as victims, while notable individuals and politicians were not censored.
Epstein, a multimillionaire from New York, orchestrated an abuse ring victimizing numerous young women and minors for years. He died in prison in 2019 at the age of 66 before facing potential further conviction.
The DoJ was expected to release all the files by mid-December, barring a few exceptions allowed by law. At a press conference, Blanche explained the delay in publication, citing the need to ensure victim protection and stating that only relevant materials were made public.
Epstein's connections with high society fueled speculation about the potential involvement of prominent public figures. Former President Trump, who had known Epstein, faced criticism for resisting the release of the files after advocating for their disclosure during his presidential campaign. Amid growing pressure, Trump eventually signed a bill in November, pushed through by Congress, mandating the release of the files.