The Justice Department has completely missed its congressionally mandated deadline to release all investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein, causing immediate and intense outrage among victims’ advocates who claim the government’s cover-up is still active, as reported by The Guardian. This is a massive failure of accountability, especially considering the Epstein Files Transparency Act could not have been clearer about the required deadline.
Lisa Bloom, who represents 11 survivors, didn’t mince words when describing the situation. She said, “It has never been about the victims. It’s about powerful men covering up for each other, and that cover-up continues.” She added that it is a shame that officials are obstructing victims from getting the full release of all the files they deserve.
While the law required the release of all files by December 19, the Justice Department only uploaded 12,285 documents, totaling about 125,575 pages, to its website. That sounds like a lot until you realize what they admitted to holding back. Justice Department attorneys stated in a January 5 court filing that their staff had found “more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the act that are in various phases of review.”
That’s a difference of two million documents!
Jennifer Plotkin, who represents nearly three dozen survivors, voiced similar frustration, stating, “The government continues to avoid accountability and disregards the victims.” She finds it shocking that the government defends its inaction and its past relations with Epstein while still trying to claim transparency.
The deadline for full disclosure was set for December 19, stemming from a provision in the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act mandating the files be released within 30 days of its passage. President Trump signed this act into law after months of bipartisan pressure following a massive public uproar over how his administration had handled the files previously.
The issue of the files was particularly important to many of the president’s supporters, who believed Epstein was able to operate for years because he was protected by high-profile associates, including Bill Clinton and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former duke of York. President Trump, who was also associated with Epstein but denies any wrongdoing, finally signed the Act, stating, “We have nothing to hide,” and dismissing the controversy as a “Democrat Hoax perpetrated by Radical Left Lunatics.”
Gloria Allred, who represents more than 20 survivors, pointed out that the Act mandated the deadline and confirmed the Justice Department has clearly violated the law by holding back millions of files. “As lawyers we often say, ‘Justice delayed is justice denied,’” Allred continued. “There have been three decades of denial of justice for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and the pattern of denial of justice continues in 2026 with no end in sight.”
With demands for an explanation growing, victims’ advocates are pushing for an external overseer. Jennifer Freeman, who represents victim Maria Farmer, called the Justice Department’s failure a “direct, flat violation of the statutory requirement” and a “breach of the public trust.” Freeman argued that a special master or an inspector general should be appointed to oversee compliance with the deadline and ensure the completeness and timeliness of the production.
This oversight is crucial, especially because the Justice Department has already opposed the request by the Act’s co-sponsors, Rep. Ro Khanna and Rep. Thomas Massie, to appoint a special master. If the government won’t comply with the law on its own, then someone needs to step in to restore public trust.
Published: Jan 20, 2026 01:30 pm