DOJ Removes Epstein Documents After Victims' Privacy Compromised

Wed Feb 04 2026 03:09:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Following backlash from victims of Jeffrey Epstein, the Department of Justice has pulled thousands of documents from its website that exposed their identities. The removal comes after significant concerns over flawed redactions that allowed for potential victim identification.

The U.S. Department of Justice has retracted thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein after victims reported that their identities were compromised due to poor redactions. The DOJ acknowledged the problematic uploads, which included email addresses and identifiable images of survivors. Lawyers for the victims described the fallout as a major violation of privacy, while the DOJ committed to correcting the situation.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has removed thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein from its website after victims said their identities had been compromised.

Lawyers for Epstein's victims said flawed redactions in the files released on Friday had turned upside down the lives of nearly 100 survivors.

Email addresses and nude photos in which the names and faces of potential victims could be identified were included in the release.

Survivors issued a statement calling the disclosure outrageous and said they should not be named, scrutinized and retraumatized.

The DOJ said it had taken down all the flagged files and that mistakes were due to technical or human error.

In a letter submitted to a federal judge on Monday, the DOJ stated: All documents requested by victims or counsel to be removed by yesterday evening have been removed for further redaction.

The department is continuing to examine new requests and checking for any other documents that may need redaction. A substantial number of documents independently identified have also been removed.

Under the terms of the release, mandated after both chambers of Congress approved a measure compelling the DOJ to publish documents, the federal government was required to redact details that could identify victims.

On Friday, two lawyers representing victims asked a federal judge in New York to order the DOJ to take down the website hosting the files, calling the release the single most egregious violation of victim privacy in one day in United States history.

Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards argued there was an unfolding emergency that requires immediate judicial intervention due to the DOJ's failing to redact victims' names and other personally identifying information in thousands of instances.

Several of Epstein's victims expressed their outrage, with one stating the release was life-threatening and another reporting death threats following the exposure of her private banking details.

Gloria Allred, a women's rights lawyer representing many of Epstein's victims, stated many victim names had been disclosed in the release, threatening their safety.

The Justice Department has asserted that it takes victim protection seriously and is working diligently to address issues relating to privacy breaches.

Following intense public and legal scrutiny, the DOJ remains committed to ensuring the security and confidentiality of victims involved in this high-profile case.