WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Justice has expanded its review of documents related to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to 5.2 million as it also increases the number of attorneys trying to comply with a law mandating release of the files, according to a person briefed on a letter sent to U.S. Attorneys.
The figure is the latest estimate in the expanding review of case files on Epstein and his longtime girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell that has run more than a week past a deadline set in law by Congress.
The Justice Department has more than 400 attorneys working on the review, but does not expect to release more documents until Jan. 20 or 21, according to the person briefed on the letter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss it.
The White House did not dispute the figures laid out in the email, and pointed to a statement from Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, who said the administration’s review was an “all-hands-on-deck approach.”
Blanche stated that lawyers from various branches within the department are working continuously to assess the files. The New York Times was the first to report the increase in documents and legal personnel related to the case.
“We’re asking as many lawyers as possible to commit their time to review the documents that remain,” Blanche said. “Required redactions to protect victims take time, but they will not stop these materials from being released.”
Nonetheless, Attorney General Pam Bondi is facing mounting pressure from Congress as the Justice Department’s information rollout has lagged behind the Dec. 19 deadline to release the information. Congressman Thomas Massie has publicly questioned whether Attorney General Bondi should face impeachment.
As the Democrats explore legal options, the issue continues to create fissures within the Republican Party, complicating the political landscape for President Trump’s administration. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has criticized Bondi and DOJ officials, asserting they have misled the public regarding the Epstein files.
This development keeps the Epstein case and the scrutiny surrounding it at the forefront of political discussions as the release of documents promises to hold significant implications.
