U.S. authorities have discovered more than a million documents potentially linked to late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and plan to release them in the coming days and weeks, officials said.
The FBI and New York federal prosecutors notified the Department of Justice (DoJ).
“We are working around the clock to review and make legally required redactions to protect victims and will release the documents as soon as possible,” the Justice Department said Wednesday.
The department said it “could take several more weeks” before all files were released. The DoJ came under scrutiny after failing to release all Epstein files by the December 19 deadline set under new law.
The FBI said it “will continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trump’s directives regarding the release of files.”
The statement did not specify how the FBI and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York came across the additional material. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking of minors when he died awaiting trial in a New York state prison.
The news comes after the Justice Department released thousands of documents, some heavily redacted, related to its investigation into Epstein.
The department has been releasing documents in batches, and senior officials have said hundreds of thousands of documents are still to be released.
The files were released after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by U.S. President Donald Trump. The law mandates that agencies share all documents with the public while protecting the victims’ identities.
Many of the released documents, including videos, photos, emails and investigative documents, were heavily redacted, including the names of people the FBI appears to have cited as co-conspirators in the Epstein case.
The Justice Department has been criticized by lawmakers from both parties over the amount of redactions the law allows to protect victims’ identities and conduct active criminal investigations.
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“Every day we see lies, incompetence, missed deadlines and illegal editing,” Rep. Robert Garcia said in a statement.
The law, passed by Congress and signed by President Trump last month, states that names and information that are embarrassing or “may be reputationally damaging” cannot be redacted.
Specifically, internal communications and memos detailing those under investigation, and a request to the DoJ for a decision on “whether to indict, not to indict, investigate, or decline to indict Epstein or his associates.”
The documents include emails that appear to have been exchanged between FBI employees in 2019, mentioning 10 of Epstein’s “co-conspirators.”
The email said six of them had received subpoenas. These included three in Florida, one in Boston, one in New York City, and one in Connecticut.
Possible co-conspirators in Epstein’s crimes are a major concern for his victims and several lawmakers who have called for more transparency from the Justice Department.
Previous releases of the Epstein documents included revelations that reverberated across the Atlantic.
Peter Mandelson, who was dismissed after details of his friendship with a convicted pedophile came to light, told Epstein in June 2008, the day before he was to be sentenced for soliciting a minor for prostitution, “I think the world is yours.”
In a letter to staff, Lord Mandelson said he “deeply regrets” the circumstances under which he left the British embassy in Washington DC. He said being an ambassador was “the privilege of my life” and that he “continues to feel horrified by my relationship with Epstein 20 years ago and the plight of his victims.”
In October, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lost his princely title and was asked to leave Royal Lodge, his Windsor home, following a lengthy investigation into his links to Epstein.
The latest files, released Tuesday, include a 2001 email sent by a person identified as “A” from “Balmoral” to Epstein’s co-conspirator and close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. He was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison for prostitution of a minor and other crimes. “Have you found me a new inappropriate friend?”
The BBC has contacted Andrew’s team for a response. He continued to deny any wrongdoing and said he “did not see, witness or suspect any conduct that led to his (Epstein’s) arrest and conviction.”
