By MICHAEL R. SISAK and SEUNG MIN KIM, Related Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Division stated Wednesday that it could want a “few more weeks” to launch all of its data on the late intercourse offender Jeffrey Epstein after out of the blue discovering greater than one million probably related paperwork, additional delaying compliance with final Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline.
The Christmas Eve announcement got here hours after a dozen U.S. senators known as on the Justice Division’s watchdog to look at its failure to satisfy the deadline. The group, 11 Democrats and a Republican, informed Appearing Inspector Basic Don Berthiaume in a letter that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an unbiased audit.
The Justice Division stated in a social media put up that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that might be associated to the Epstein case — a surprising eleventh hour improvement after division officers advised months in the past that that they had undertaken a complete evaluate that accounted for the huge universe of Epstein-related supplies.
The put up didn’t say when the Justice Division was knowledgeable of the newly uncovered information. In a letter final week, Deputy Legal professional Basic Todd Blanche stated Manhattan federal prosecutors already had greater than 3.6 million data from intercourse trafficking investigations into Epstein and Maxwell, although many have been copies of fabric already turned over by the FBI.
The Justice Division stated its legal professionals are “working around the clock” to evaluate the paperwork and take away victims names and different figuring out data as required by the Epstein Information Transparency Act, the regulation enacted final month that requires the federal government to open its information on Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell.
“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the division stated. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”
The announcement got here amid i ncreasing scrutiny on the Justice Division’s staggered launch of Epstein-related data, together with from Epstein victims and members of Congress. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, a co-sponsor of the transparency act, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.”
After releasing an preliminary wave of data on Friday, extra batches have been posted over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Division has not given any discover when extra data may arrive.
Data which have been launched, together with images, interview transcripts, name logs, court docket data and different paperwork, have been both already public or closely blacked out, and plenty of lacked vital context. Data that hadn’t been seen earlier than embody transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI brokers who described interviews that they had with a number of ladies and younger girls who described being paid to carry out intercourse acts for Epstein.
The senators’ name Wednesday for an inspector common audit comes days after Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., launched a decision that, if handed, would direct the Senate to file or be a part of lawsuits aimed toward forcing the Justice Division to adjust to the disclosure and deadline necessities. In a press release, he known as the staggered, closely redacted launch “a blatant cover-up.”
Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in main the decision for an inspector common audit. Others signing the letter have been Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota., Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, each of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.
“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they stated, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”
Sisak reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
