Epstein File Release Takes New Turn As DOJ Reportedly Scrambles To Redact Crucial Docs Amid Deadline

The DOJ has been left frustrated over the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files as the deadline looms.

According to a new report, there have been attempts to redact certain files before the release on Friday, likely due to how damaging the information contained in them could be.

This comes as the Democrats continue to release new Jeffrey Epstein photos, after initially sharing images of Donald Trump and other high-profile figures.

The DOJ Is Frustrated Over The Jeffrey Epstein Files, Source Claims

It has seemingly been a race against the clock for the Justice Department, as they allegedly make frantic efforts to redact thousands of pages of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation.

Under the transparency act, the DOJ was given until 19th of December to release the files, meaning they had just a few weeks to review, redact, and publish a massive trove of unclassified records before the deadline.

Multiple sources told CNN that quite a substantial number of redactions are needed, and the number of documents each lawyer has been processing since Thanksgiving week, when an act of Congress mandated they release the document, could number more than 1000 pages.

Also, there were worries over the sensitivity of the information that the file would contain, which was worsened by reports that the lawyers who worked on them were left in the dark as to how to make the most information available legally.

Sources Question How Transparent The Work On The Files Would Be

For months, the Trump administration has been going back and forth on the release of Epstein files, as many Americans cry for the government to be transparent about the process.

The release was expected to provide the most comprehensive look yet at the government's 2008 non-prosecution agreement and the 2019 investigation that ended with Epstein's death in federal custody.

Many believed that the revelations it contained would have a ripple effect on the political landscape of the country, as the convicted sex offenders had a working relationship with several bigwigs in Hollywood and Washington.

However, it's unlikely that its release would quell the talks on transparency, as a source told CNN that there will still be a huge amount of information that'll be redacted.

Lawyers Express Concerns That The DOJ Will 'Screw Up' The Jeffrey Epstein File Release

There are also fears of the possibility that the Epstein documents will contain mistakes because of the speed at which they had to work, especially as it relates to the disclosure of sensitive personal information.

"Either they're going to screw it up, or they're going to withhold things. It wouldn't surprise me," one lawyer told the news outlet. "Some of it may be incompetence as much as deliberate."

Meanwhile, many Epstein's victims have spoken up on how they were sidelined as to how the files were prepared.

House Oversight Committee Released Images From Epstein Estate

Ahead of its release, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released several photos from the Epstein estate, as questions continue to be raised over his links with the who's who in the country.

The images, which numbered more than 60, contain photos of multiple foreign female passports, a picture of Epstein with three women whose faces were redacted, and development plans for one of his private Caribbean islands. There were also earlier released images of Trump surrounded by women and condom packets customized with the now-president's face on them.

One redacted image contained the screenshot of a conversation where someone is discussing sending girls over.

"I don't know, try to send someone else. I have a friend scout she sent me some girls today. But she asks 1000$ per girl. I will send u girls now. Maybe someone will be good for J?" the text reads, per CNN.

The individual then added a detailed description of the supposed girl, including name, "18 y old," height, measurements, weight, a note on the Schengen area, and a "departure city," with other information redacted.

Images Of Popular Individuals Were Included In The Release

Some images also featured the late financier with Bill Gates, Woody Allen, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, philosopher Noam Chomsky, and Trump adviser Steve Bannon.

The Microsoft's founder was depicted posing with a woman, whose face was redacted, although none depicted any wrongdoing.

The situation has been a hot topic politically as the Democrats claim they're releasing the images for transparency, while the Republicans accuse them of "cherry-picking photos and making targeted redactions."

The images were released without context, meaning that appearing in the photographs doesn't imply any wrongdoing.