DOJ Epstein file release exposes 31 victims through flawed redactions

The DOJ released Epstein-related documents under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, missing the December 19, 2025 statutory deadline; users quickly found that blacked-out PDF text could be read by copy-pasting — a flaw inherited from a 2021 Virgin Islands attorney general court filing. The bypass exposed identities of at least 31 child victims and surfaced an unverified 2020 FBI tip alleging Trump witnessed an infant killing in 1984, which DOJ called false. Rep. Thomas Massie accused DOJ of breaking the law; a dozen senators demanded an Inspector General audit.