U.S. lawyers to review millions of pages of Epstein files in January before further release, document shows

The U.S. Department of Justice revealed on December 31, 2025, that it has 5.2 million pages of Epstein-related files still needing review and requires 400 attorneys from four department offices to complete the task by late January. According to a government document reviewed by Reuters, the Criminal Division, National Security Division, FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan are each contributing lawyers to review approximately 1,000 documents per day, with each lawyer dedicating three to five hours daily. The review process is expected to delay the final release of documents beyond the December 19, 2025, deadline set by Congress under a transparency law passed in November 2025. The Trump administration has faced criticism for heavily redacted initial releases from the files tied to financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.