The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has taken down thousands of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents after victims reported that their identities were compromised. Lawyers for Epstein’s survivors said flawed redactions in files released last Friday had “turned upside down” the lives of nearly 100 victims.

Victims’ Privacy Compromised

The documents released included email addresses and nude photos in which victims could be identified. Survivors called the disclosure “outrageous,” saying they should not be “named, scrutinized, and retraumatized.”

In a letter to a federal judge, the DOJ confirmed that all flagged files had been removed for further redaction. The department cited “technical or human error” as the reason for the flawed release.

Court Hearing Cancelled

A court hearing scheduled in New York for Wednesday was cancelled. Judge Richard Berman wrote that victims and the DOJ had resolved the privacy issues. Lawyers for the survivors described the discussions with the DOJ as “extensive and constructive” and expressed trust that the remaining deficiencies would be corrected quickly.

Survivors Speak Out

Several Epstein survivors publicly criticized the DOJ. Annie Farmer said the release made it difficult to focus on new information due to the damage caused by exposing survivors. Lisa Phillips noted that many survivors were “very unhappy with the outcome,” stating the DOJ violated three key requirements:

Some documents still hadn’t been disclosed.
The release date had passed.
Many survivors’ names were revealed.

Gloria Allred, a women’s rights lawyer, also noted that some victims’ names appeared in documents despite attempts at redaction. Some had never publicly shared their identities.

DOJ Response

A DOJ spokesperson emphasized that the department “takes victim protection very seriously” and has redacted thousands of names. Only 0.1% of released pages were found to contain unredacted information. The department is working “around the clock” to correct the issues.

Background on Epstein Documents

Millions of Epstein-related documents have been released by the DOJ since Congress passed a law requiring public disclosure. The most recent release last Friday included three million pages, 180,000 images, and 2,000 videos. The release occurred six weeks after the DOJ missed the statutory deadline.

Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York prison cell on August 10, 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Conclusion

The removal of Epstein documents highlights ongoing challenges in protecting victims’ privacy while ensuring transparency in high-profile cases. DOJ officials continue to revise and redact files to prevent further harm, as survivors maintain vigilance over the disclosure of sensitive information.