READ: Jeffrey Epstein Survivors Slam DOJ for ‘Failing to Redact’ Victim IDs in Files Release

New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File

Survivors of abuse by Jeffrey Epstein accused the Department of Justice on Monday of “clear-cut violations of an unambiguous law” with its “partial” release of files on Friday by “withholding massive quantities of documents” and “by failing to redact survivor identities.”

In a blistering letter issued Monday, survivors said the Justice Department had missed a clear legal Dec. 19 deadline under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and called for congressional oversight to enforce compliance.

“It is alarming that the United States Department of Justice, the very agency tasked with upholding the law, has violated the law, both by withholding massive quantities of documents, and by failing to redact survivor identities,” the survivors said.

The statement lands amid growing bipartisan unrest in Congress, where lawmakers are openly questioning whether the department is defying the statute to shield political sensitivities. Although the DOJ has said the files are being released on a rolling basis, survivors argue the law “afforded no permission for delayed disclosure.”

Survivors continued to argue that “numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm.”

“Transparency must focus on institutional failures, enablers, financial records, and government conduct, not on further endangering survivors,” the statement said.

“This is not a partisan issue,” they added. “Survivors deserve truth. Survivors whose identities are private deserve protection. The public deserves accountability. And the law must be enforced.”

Reps Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) – co-authors of the legislation – have floated the possibility of holding Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress.

Read the letter from survivors below in full:

Survivors of abuse by Epstein and Maxwell call out Justice Department’s failure to comply with transparency law

Demand oversight and accountability from Congress
December 22, 2025

Statement from survivors:

The Epstein Files Transparency Act imposed a Dec 19, 2025 deadline for the United States Department of Justice to release its full records of the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplices and enablers, with specific, narrow exceptions such as survivor identities. This law, enacted by a nearly unanimous vote in the House and unanimously in the Senate, and signed by the President, was clear. It afforded no permission for delayed disclosure.

Instead, the public received a fraction of the files, and what we received was riddled with abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation. At the same time, numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm. No financial documents were released. Grand jury minutes, though approved by a federal judge for release, were fully blacked out – not the scattered redactions that might be expected to protect victim names, but 119 full pages blacked out. We are told that there are hundreds of thousands of pages of documents still unreleased. These are clear-cut violations of an unambiguous law.

Moreover, the partial release was done in a manner that made it difficult or impossible for survivors to find materials that would be most relevant to our search for accountability. There has been no guidance for survivors on how to locate materials pertaining to our own cases, nor have we been provided with copies of our own files despite repeated requests. There has been no communication with survivors or our representatives as to what was withheld from release, or why hundreds of thousands of documents have not been disclosed by the legal deadline, or how DOJ will ensure that no more victim names are wrongly disclosed. While clearer communication would not change the fact that a law was broken, its absence suggests an ongoing intent to keep survivors and the public in the dark as much as possible and as long as possible.

It is alarming that the United States Department of Justice, the very agency tasked with upholding the law, has violated the law, both by withholding massive quantities of documents, and by failing to redact survivor identities. As women who survived the crimes perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, we call upon DOJ to explain to the public why they have missed a legal deadline and to explain to us or our representatives how we can privately obtain copies of all documents in DOJ possession that identify us by name.

For documents that are publicly released, careful, lawful redaction is essential. Transparency must focus on institutional failures, enablers, financial records, and government conduct, not on further endangering survivors.

Moreover we call upon Congress to stand up for the rule of law. We urge immediate congressional oversight, including hearings, formal demands for compliance, and legal action, to ensure the Department of Justice fulfills its legal obligations.

This is not a partisan issue. Just as the Epstein Files Transparency Act was supported across party lines, we now ask elected officials from both parties to take decisive action to enforce the law, compel full compliance, and ensure meaningful transparency without further delay.

Survivors deserve truth. Survivors whose identities are private deserve protection. The public deserves accountability. And the law must be enforced.

Jess Michaels Rachel Benavidez
Danielle Bensky
Lara Blume McGee
Marijke Chartouni
Anouska de Georgio
Sharlene Rochard
Liz Stein
A.W
Jane Doe
Jane Doe
Maria Farmer
Annie Farmer
Teresa J. Helm
Marina Lacerda
Lisa Philips
Ashley Rubright
Amanda & Sky Roberts

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