WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The number of unreleased government records tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein has grown to an astonishing 5.2 million documents, according to a new report by The New York Times. The sharp increase has raised fresh questions about transparency, accountability, and delays inside the Justice Department.
The Department of Justice said Wednesday it needs several more weeks to complete its review of the Epstein files. Officials said they recently discovered more than 1 million additional records. That figure has since climbed dramatically, far exceeding earlier estimates. The documents must be released under a law passed by Congress earlier this year. The deadline for full disclosure was Dec. 19. The Justice Department has already missed that date.
The Justice Department now plans to deploy about 400 lawyers to review the files, according to the Times. Each document must undergo legal screening before public release. The review process could last until at least Jan. 20. The Times cited anonymous officials familiar with the matter. Lawyers can redact limited information under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. These redactions apply only to material that could threaten national security, violate victim privacy, or harm future prosecutions.
Officials say the scale of the documents explains the delay. Still, critics argue the department failed to track its own records properly. Lawmakers from both parties have demanded faster action.
The growing backlog has created political trouble for the Trump administration. Officials had promised full transparency regarding the Epstein case. In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” had arrived at her office. She said she ordered the Justice Department to deliver the complete Epstein files after learning that the FBI’s New York office held thousands of pages.
Bondi said an unnamed source alerted her to the existence of the records. Her comments fueled expectations that the files would soon become public. Those expectations collapsed months later.
In July, the FBI and Justice Department issued an unsigned memo. The memo claimed officials had completed an “exhaustive review” of Epstein-related materials. It concluded that no additional evidence warranted release.
The statement stunned lawmakers and transparency advocates. It directly contradicted months of public assurances. The memo also failed to acknowledge the possibility of undiscovered or unreviewed records. The newly revealed 5.2 million documents now undermine that claim. Critics say the memo damaged public trust and raised doubts about internal oversight.
The review effort has already cost taxpayers heavily. According to Bloomberg, FBI agents have earned more than $851,344 in overtime pay for work tied to the Epstein files. Security around the records has also increased. FBI police officers now guard the Central Records Complex in Winchester, Virginia. Officials believe the files exist mostly in electronic form.
Bloomberg reported that online chatter prompted the security move. Authorities feared individuals might attempt to break into the facility. The FBI has not confirmed any specific threats.
Jeffrey Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. His death, ruled a suicide, ignited global outrage and conspiracy theories. Victims and advocates continue to press for full disclosure. They say the files could expose powerful figures and institutional failures. Many argue that delays only deepen public suspicion.
The Justice Department insists it will comply with the law. Officials say they aim to release as much material as possible once the review ends. For now, the ballooning size of the Epstein files has added a new chapter to a case that refuses to fade. As millions of documents remain sealed, pressure on federal officials continues to grow.
