The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has removed thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein from its website after victims claimed their identities had been compromised. Lawyers for Epstein's victims stated that flawed redactions in the released files had turned upside down the lives of nearly 100 survivors.
Email addresses and nude photos were included amongst the published files, revealing the names and faces of potential victims. Survivors condemned the disclosure as outrageous,” emphasizing they should not be named, scrutinized and retraumatized.”
The DOJ promptly took down all flagged files and explained that the mistakes were due to technical or human error.” In a letter to a federal judge, the DOJ affirmed that it had removed all documents requested by victims or counsel for further redaction by the previous evening.
The release of the documents, mandated by Congress as part of a law to enhance transparency, included around three million more files, raising concerns about the agency’s capability to protect victim privacy. Survivors accused the DOJ of failing to adequately redact personal information and demanded urgent judicial intervention.
As the DOJ continues to review new requests and potential privacy concerns, victims remain distressed over the breach and the mishandling of their privacy, with some expressing feelings of danger following the release.
