DOJ faces Friday deadline for Epstein files release

The Justice Department is facing a deadline Friday to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex-trafficking offender who was friends with some of the world’s most powerful men before he died. Last month, Congress passed a bill mandating the documents be made public within 30 days of the law’s enactment, POLITICO reported.
President Trump signed the bill into law on Nov. 19, after reversing his prior position on its passage and recommending Republicans vote for the bill, giving his administration until Friday to release its files related to Epstein.
The DOJ has not given much information on how it will comply with the law, which says that the department must “make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials” in its possession related to Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.
The law also requires the DOJ to declassify any covered files “to the maximum extent possible.” The DOJ can redact or withhold records that “would jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution,” but prohibits omissions “on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”
Before signing the bill into law, Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to open an investigation into Epstein’s ties to prominent Democrats, which has raised concerns that the administration may withhold or redact certain records, citing the active investigation as a justification.
Bondi said last month that the DOJ would “continue to follow the law with maximum transparency while protecting victims.”
Epstein died of suicide in a New York City correctional facility in 2019 awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. He pleaded guilty in 2018 in Florida to a state charge of procuring a female minor for prostitution.
Among those with whom Epstein associated was Trump and former Prince Andrew. 
After Trump signed the bill into law, he accused Democrats of using “the Epstein issue,” which he has repeatedly referred to as a “hoax” during this term, in an effort to distract from his administration’s victories.
In July, the DOJ said that it had over 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence related to Epstein, including more than 10,000 photos and videos of pornography and illegal child sex abuse material.

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