The US Department of Justice on Wednesday announced that the full public release of all documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case will be delayed, saying the process could take “a few more weeks” beyond the December 19 deadline mandated by Congress.
According to the department, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have uncovered more than a million additional documents potentially tied to the case. However, officials did not clarify when the DOJ was first notified about the existence of these newly identified files.
In its statement, the Justice Department emphasized that teams of government lawyers are “working around the clock” to carefully review the material and apply legally required redactions in accordance with the new law overwhelmingly passed by Congress last month.
“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the DOJ said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”
The delay has fueled continued public and political pressure surrounding transparency in the high-profile case, as the nation awaits the full unsealing of documents tied to Epstein’s crimes and associates. Despite the setback, the DOJ reiterated its commitment to completing the process responsibly while complying with legal obligations.