On January 30, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released more than 3 million pages of documents, along with over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, from its investigative files on the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. This major disclosure, announced by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, marks one of the largest releases in the ongoing effort to make public what the government knew about Epstein’s crimes.
The release comes under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law signed by President Donald Trump on November 19, 2025. The act required the Justice Department to publish nearly all unclassified records related to Epstein’s investigations by December 19, 2025. Although the department missed that deadline—citing the huge volume of materials and the need to carefully redact victims’ personal information—this latest batch is described as fulfilling most or all of the law’s requirements, bringing the total released pages to nearly 3.5 million when combined with earlier disclosures.
Epstein, a wealthy financier, was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. He died by suicide in a New York jail the following month while awaiting trial. His associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was later convicted and is serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in recruiting victims.
The newly released files include emails, text messages, investigative reports, and other materials that shed light on Epstein’s connections to powerful figures in business, politics, and entertainment. Previous releases had already highlighted Epstein’s social ties to people like former President Bill Clinton and President Trump, though neither has faced official accusations of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
This latest dump reveals more details about Epstein’s communications in the years leading up to his death. For example:
- Epstein exchanged hundreds of friendly texts with Steve Bannon, a former top adviser to President Trump. The messages discussed politics, travel, and even a possible documentary to improve Epstein’s public image. In one 2019 message, Epstein reportedly referenced Trump in a context that remains unclear due to redactions.
- There are emails from 2012 and 2013 between Epstein and Elon Musk about a potential visit to Epstein’s private island. Musk has previously stated publicly that he refused such invitations and cut ties with Epstein.
- Other records show Epstein inviting Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and his family to the island in 2012, as well as earlier social interactions.
The documents also include internal notes about Epstein’s death, such as observations that his final communication did not resemble a typical suicide note. Additionally, they describe how jail staff used a decoy setup with boxes and sheets to mislead media outside the facility while Epstein’s body was removed in a separate vehicle.
Many parts of the files remain heavily redacted to protect the identities of Epstein’s more than 1,000 victims, as well as to remove sensitive material like child sexual abuse content. Officials emphasized that images of women were redacted except those related to Ghislaine Maxwell. Despite these measures, some critics—including Democrats and victims’ lawyers—have questioned whether the redactions are sufficient or if key information is still being withheld, fueling ongoing skepticism and conspiracy theories about a possible cover-up.
The Justice Department has stated that this release represents the end of its major obligations under the law, following a thorough review process. Journalists and researchers are now combing through the massive collection, which is available online through the department’s website.
This development adds to years of public interest in Epstein’s case, which has exposed how his wealth and connections allowed him to operate for decades before facing justice. While the files provide new insights into his network, they have not yet produced major new criminal charges against high-profile associates beyond Maxwell. The full impact of this historic release will likely unfold over time as more details emerge.