Post by : Meena Ariff

The U.S. Justice Department has revealed it still has 5.2 million pages of files related to Jeffrey Epstein to review. To handle this enormous task, the department needs 400 lawyers from four different offices, working through late January. This extensive review is expected to delay the release of the documents well beyond the December 19 deadline set by Congress.

The files are connected to criminal investigations of Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender who was known to have social ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump during the 1990s. The review involves attorneys from the Criminal Division, National Security Division, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan.

The review period is scheduled between January 5 and 23. Lawyers assisting in this effort are expected to dedicate three to five hours daily, reviewing about 1,000 documents per day. To encourage participation, the department is offering telework options and time off awards.

Last week, the Justice Department reported finding over one million additional documents potentially linked to Epstein, increasing the volume of material that needs careful examination and redaction to protect victims.

Despite the law passed by Congress requiring the release of all Epstein-related files, the ongoing delays and heavy redactions have frustrated many and continue to stir controversy. The law was created with bipartisan support to promote transparency, setting the original deadline of December 19 for the document release.

Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution and faced sex trafficking charges before his death in 2019, which was ruled a suicide. President Trump has stated that his acquaintance with Epstein ended in the mid-2000s and that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities.

The Justice Department is working around the clock to complete the review and release the files as soon as possible, but the sheer volume means the process will take additional weeks.

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