Attorneys representing survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation have sharply criticized the U.S. Justice Department’s handling of a massive new release of investigative files, calling it deeply flawed, harmful to victims, and protective of powerful individuals linked to the case.
The Trump administration’s Justice Department released roughly three million documents related to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, framing the move as a step toward transparency. However, survivors’ advocates argue the document dump has done the opposite—exposing victims while obscuring accountability for alleged perpetrators.
Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for Epstein survivors, said the newly released materials reinforce long-standing claims that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked young women and girls to wealthy and influential individuals as a means of gaining leverage and protection. According to McCawley, this system of exploitation created power dynamics that shielded those involved while leaving victims vulnerable.
Several attorneys raised alarm over what they described as careless redactions. Brad Edwards, another victims’ attorney, said survivors who had never spoken publicly discovered their names and identifying details were included in the release. Jennifer Freeman went further, calling the Justice Department’s actions “a mess from the start,” accusing it of hiding perpetrators’ identities while retraumatizing survivors.
A group of 20 Epstein survivors issued a joint statement condemning the release, arguing that it falsely presented itself as transparency while once again placing the burden on those who were abused. They said survivors should not be named or scrutinized while alleged enablers remain protected behind redactions.
The controversy has also spilled into politics. Lawmakers from both parties, including Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, demanded access to unredacted files, saying Congress cannot fulfill its oversight role without seeing the full record. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the Justice Department of failing to comply with the law requiring full disclosure, while Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the public has only seen a fraction of what the government is legally obligated to release.
The Justice Department responded by saying it coordinated with victims’ lawyers and pledged to correct redaction errors, providing a dedicated email for survivors to report concerns. Still, critics argue that the damage has already been done and that the release underscores one of the largest failures of accountability in U.S. law enforcement history.
Epstein died in federal custody in 2019, and Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence. Yet survivors and their advocates insist that without full transparency and accountability for all involved, justice remains incomplete.
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