DOJ Now Seeks to Enlist 400 Attorneys to Epstein Docs

The U.S. Department of Justice is ramping up efforts to review a staggering 5.2 million pages of previously unreviewed documents tied to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, enlisting around 400 attorneys from across its divisions and key U.S. attorneys’ offices.

Sources familiar with the matter told ABC News that the DOJ is seeking volunteers from the criminal and national security divisions, as well as the U.S. attorneys’ offices in Florida and New York, to help process these files.

This comes on top of nearly 200 lawyers already assigned to the task, as Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche mentioned in an interview earlier this month with ABC News Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas.

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The intensive review is slated to run through much of January, with the next batch of documents not expected to be released publicly until the end of next month, according to those sources.

This push stems from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress in November, which required the DOJ to release all its files on Epstein—with exceptions for victim privacy and ongoing investigations—by December 19.

The department missed that deadline, citing the need for careful vetting to protect victims.

It’s unclear why the DOJ is only now highlighting the discovery of these 5.2 million pages from its Epstein investigations.

Details of the Ongoing Reports

Epstein, who faced sex trafficking charges, died by suicide in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.

Back in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi publicly criticized the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York after learning they had withheld hundreds of thousands of documents from her office.

The reallocation of prosecutors from criminal and national security roles has sparked worries among current and former DOJ officials.

Many of these resources had already been shifted toward immigration enforcement priorities, sources said.

The New York Times first reported on the expanded review effort, noting that the 5.2 million-page figure is a more precise—and potentially far larger—estimate than earlier ones.

A government document reviewed by Reuters detailed that attorneys from the Criminal Division, National Security Division, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan would collectively provide the 400 lawyers needed.

The review period is set for January 5 to 23, with incentives like telework options and compensatory time offered to volunteers.

Participants are expected to dedicate three to five hours daily, reviewing about 1,000 documents each day.

The Associated Press reported that this latest tally expands on previous estimates, as the DOJ works to comply with the transparency law amid growing pressure.

Background on the Epstein Case and Transparency Push

Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes have long captivated public attention, involving allegations of sex trafficking minors and associations with high-profile figures.

His 2019 death ruled a suicide only intensified calls for full disclosure of government-held records.

The Epstein Files Transparency Act aimed to address those demands head-on, mandating broad release while safeguarding sensitive information.

Initial releases included around 100,000 to 130,000 pages, but the discovery of over a million additional documents in late December—followed by the current 5.2 million—has dramatically scaled up the challenge.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has emphasized the “all-hands-on-deck” approach, with lawyers working through holidays to redact victim-identifying details.

In a social media post, Blanche stressed the goal of transparency balanced with victim protection.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the delays, suggesting on social media that the figures show DOJ leaders, including Bondi and Blanche, had not been fully forthcoming about the scope from the start.

Some releases have included photos from Epstein’s estate, and redactions have occasionally drawn scrutiny—for instance, when an image potentially involving President Trump was removed, though Blanche clarified it was due to victim concerns, not political protection.

Concerns Over Resource Strain and Broader DOJ Priorities

Pulling in national security and criminal prosecutors for this review isn’t without fallout.

Sources told ABC News that diverting these experts raises alarms, especially as the department has prioritized immigration cases under the current administration.

This isn’t the first time the DOJ has undertaken large-scale declassification efforts recently.

Earlier in 2025, national security lawyers were urgently assigned to review documents related to the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK, following presidential orders—a process that also drew criticism for potentially disrupting ongoing work.

The Epstein review’s scale dwarfs those efforts, highlighting the logistical hurdles in complying with congressional mandates without additional funding or staffing.

Bipartisan lawmakers, including those who sponsored the transparency act, have expressed frustration over missed deadlines and threatened oversight actions, though the law lacks explicit penalties.

As the review presses on into January, the public awaits what these millions of pages might reveal—or conceal—about one of the most notorious cases in recent history.

Independent media is under attack by industry policies, set FrankNez Media as a preferred source below to fight against media suppression.

Also Read: Bill Clinton Now Reacts to Heavily Redacted Epstein Photos Featured in Pool

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