DOJ Uncovers Million-File Epstein Cache on Christmas Eve, Full Disclosure Delayed

Christmas Eve Bombshell: DOJ Finds Over One Million Epstein Files, Full Disclosure Delayed.

In a major late-year development, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Wednesday that federal investigators have uncovered more than one million additional documents potentially linked to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The announcement, made via social media platform X, came from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI.

The discovery has delayed the timeline for full public disclosure, with the DOJ stating that processing the files may now take a “few more weeks.”

Background: Epstein Files Transparency Act

The revelation comes amid heightened political scrutiny. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in November 2025, set a hard deadline of December 19 for the release of all unclassified records. While the DOJ had begun a staggered rollout last Friday, the department faced bipartisan criticism for missing the full disclosure deadline and applying extensive redactions to the initial documents.

The addition of over a million documents on Christmas Eve has intensified political backlash. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the delay a “blatant cover-up”, while Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie have threatened to pursue contempt hearings against Attorney General Pam Bondi.

DOJ Response

The Justice Department defended the delay, citing the legal and ethical need to protect survivors. Around 200 analysts are working “around the clock” to review the new documents, which include decades of FBI surveillance and federal prosecution records. Many files contain victim names and sensitive grand jury testimony, requiring meticulous manual redaction.

What Has Been Released So Far

Before this latest discovery, the DOJ had already released several thousand files, including never-before-seen grand jury transcripts and photographs from Epstein’s properties. However, many sections were heavily redacted, especially references to politically exposed individuals.

With the total number of records now exceeding 4.6 million, some of which may be duplicates, the department faces immense pressure to demonstrate transparency. For survivors and the public, it remains to be seen whether the new “million-document” trove will reveal Epstein’s high-profile associates or merely serve as another administrative barrier.