The Republican-led House Oversight Committee on Tuesday accused the Trump administration of mishandling the public release of millions of pages of records tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a 137-page report examining the government’s criminal investigations of Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, the committee said President Donald Trump and the Justice Department backed away from pledges to make the files public. Congress ultimately passed legislation requiring their release.
Even after Congress intervened, the administration missed disclosure deadlines, withheld the names of alleged co-conspirators and failed to adequately safeguard victims, the report said. That included “deficient redactions that exposed their sensitive information.”
The report was released nearly a year after Congress passed and Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law requires the Justice Department to publish records concerning the late sex offender, including documents that had previously remained confidential. Its release also followed last week’s midterm elections, in which Republicans suffered significant House losses and failed to retain their majority. During the campaign, the government’s handling of the Epstein records became a recurring political issue.
“The Trump administration has repeatedly committed to releasing Epstein-related files,” the report said. “However, multiple shortcomings related to releasing documents and failures to adequately communicate about those releases plagued the DOJ’s efforts.”
Political fallout from the Epstein files
Democrats seized on the administration’s handling of the files to accuse Republicans of protecting wealthy and influential figures. They also argued that Trump’s past association with Epstein raised questions about possible unethical conduct. The report, however, said, “Trump’s lack of involvement is confirmed by numerous lines of testimony in interviews or depositions with various individuals.”
The Justice Department released most of the so-called Epstein files in December and January. The disclosures totaled more than 3 million pages, along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. Pam Bondi’s handling of the records while serving as attorney general contributed to her dismissal in April.
The material included records involving prominent Epstein associates, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew. It also contained email exchanges between Epstein and Elon Musk, as well as communications with other high-profile contacts from across the political spectrum.
According to ad-tracking firm AdImpact, more than 350 advertisements mentioning Epstein ran after Labor Day for Republican and Democratic candidates competing in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Democratic-aligned groups claimed Republican candidates had voted against releasing the files, while candidates from both parties accused their opponents of accepting donations from associates of the convicted sex offender.
The committee also reviewed the federal investigation of Epstein nearly two decades ago, when authorities failed to bring federal charges despite reports from several underage girls who told police and the FBI that they had been paid to give Epstein sexualized massages.
Alexander Acosta, then the U.S. attorney in Miami, approved an agreement that allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution. Epstein instead pleaded guilty to a state charge of soliciting prostitution from someone under 18. He received an 18-month jail sentence but was allowed to leave the facility for as many as 12 hours a day, six days a week, under a work-release arrangement. Acosta later became Trump’s first labor secretary during his first term.
The report said a woman told the committee last year that Epstein abused her while he was on work release. It also criticized the Palm Beach County, Florida, sheriff’s office for granting him those privileges, describing the decision as an “abuse of its discretion” and “absurd leniency that enabled Epstein to commit further crimes.”
Criticism of the Trump administration’s handling of the Epstein files
Echoing concerns raised by Epstein’s accusers, the committee faulted the administration for failing to remove the names and other identifying details of women who were sexually abused by Epstein. Lawyers for some victims said thousands of redactions were missing, exposing the names of nearly 100 women. “The DOJ — presumably due to the speed with which files were being reviewed — failed to adequately redact names and personally identifiable information of numerous survivors,” the report said.
At the same time, the report said some redactions went too far, concealing the identities of Epstein’s alleged co-conspirators and other people in his circle.
As one example, the report said the Justice Department redacted the name of a person who received an email from Epstein referencing a “torture video.” Members of Congress who reviewed unredacted versions identified the recipient as Emirati businessperson Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, according to the report. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the committee’s chairman, said the federal government had failed both Epstein’s victims and Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls, including through sex trafficking. Epstein died in prison in 2019.
Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence at a minimum-security prison in Texas.
“The federal government has failed the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s horrific crimes for decades,” Comer said. “Epstein operated with impunity, shielded and enabled by powerful connections and a justice system that repeatedly failed his victims.”
