The US Department of Justice has significantly widened its review of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, now encompassing a staggering 5.2 million files. This massive undertaking, which also involves the case of his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, has pushed the process more than a week past a congressionally mandated deadline, according to a source familiar with the matter.
An "All-Hands-On-Deck" Legal Effort
To handle the enormous volume, the Justice Department has assigned more than 400 attorneys to the task. Officials now anticipate releasing the next batch of documents no earlier than January 20 or 21. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the scale of the operation, describing it as an "all-hands-on-deck approach." He stated that lawyers from the main Justice Department, the FBI, and federal prosecutors' offices in Florida and New York are working "around the clock."
Despite the intense effort, the department is facing criticism for missing the December 19 legal deadline for disclosure. This delay has placed Attorney General Pam Bondi under pressure from Congress. Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a key figure in passing the law that mandated the release, even raised the question on social media about whether Bondi should be impeached.
Political Repercussions and Mounting Pressure
The expanding scope of the investigation ensures the Epstein case will remain a potent political issue as the United States moves toward the midterm elections. Democrats have seized on the delays, accusing the Justice Department of dishonesty. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer claimed the latest figures show officials "have been lying to the American people about the Epstein files since day one."
Some lawmakers, however, are showing patience. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, who also championed the disclosure law, told The Associated Press that the expanded review indicates the law is working. He expressed willingness to grant a few extra weeks, provided the DOJ releases critical information, including survivors' statements to the FBI naming other powerful abusers and prosecution memos on dropped charges. "When all the information comes out, this will shock the conscience of the nation," Khanna asserted.
What Comes Next and the Shadow Over Elections
The expected late-January release would put the DOJ over a month behind schedule. The contents of the files are anticipated to provide continued ammunition for Democrats. They argue the administration's handling of the case shows it prioritizes protecting the wealthy and powerful over working-class voters.
Republicans, meanwhile, have focused on connections to former President Bill Clinton revealed in earlier document dumps. The House Oversight Committee is seeking depositions from both Bill and Hillary Clinton. A pre-Christmas document release confirmed that Donald Trump flew on Epstein's plane in the 1990s, though it added little new about their relationship, which later soured.
Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the oversight panel, emphasized accountability, stating, "Unlike the President, we don’t care who’s in the files. Anyone that’s involved in the abuse of women and girls should be held accountable." As the review continues to grow, the political and legal fallout from the Epstein files is far from over.
