DOJ says it removed over 9,500 Epstein files

The Justice Department told judges in the Southern District of New York that it has temporarily removed roughly 9,500 documents from its public Epstein file release because the records included information that identified victims. The letter, filed in the criminal cases against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, was signed by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and US Attorney Jay Clayton.

Victims' lawyers had asked judges to ensure the department would protect their clients' privacy. DOJ officials said the takedowns are temporary while the documents are reviewed for additional redactions. In recent days, victims and their counsel identified names and other identifiers for redaction that were not caught before publication, and many flagged documents were not obviously identifying on their face but still warranted further review.

United States, Southern District of New York