DOJ Releases Epstein Files with Dozens of Unredacted Nudes and Victims' Names, Despite Promises to Protect Them.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a massive collection of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but the move has been marred by allegations that dozens of unredacted nude photos and at least 43 victims' names are visible online. The release was made without fully redacting the sensitive information as promised.
According to reports, nearly 40 unredacted images were found in the released files, including nude bodies and faces of people who were allegedly minors when they were abused by Epstein. Some of these images appeared to show Epstein's private island, while others were taken in bedrooms and other private spaces. At least seven different people are thought to be in the photos.
The release was made without fully meeting the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which aimed to protect victims' identities while still making information about Epstein's crimes available to the public. The law required that no victim-identifying information be included unredacted in the public release.
Despite these concerns, the DOJ claimed it took "all reasonable efforts" to review and redact personal information pertaining to victims and others. However, an investigation by 404 Media found that the files had been available for at least another full day after being released, until Sunday evening when they disappeared.
The Wall Street Journal reported that over two dozen names of minor victims were exposed in the release, along with personally identifying details such as home addresses. Anouska de Georgiou, an Epstein victim who testified against Ghislaine Maxwell, said she had contacted the Justice Department after learning her personal information was made public in the release.
The DOJ's webpage carries a disclaimer stating that due to the volume of information involved, it may contain non-public personally identifiable information or sensitive content. However, critics say the department is putting the onus on victims to review millions of files and submit redaction requests.
Brad Edwards, an attorney for Epstein victims, said "it's literally thousands of mistakes" and called on the government to take down the files until they can be properly corrected. Annie Farmer, another victim who testified against Epstein, said it's hard to imagine a more egregious way of not protecting victims than having full nude images of them available for download.
The DOJ has promised to make "additional redactions of personally identifiable information" and repopulate online once the corrections are made. However, many questions remain about how this will be achieved and whether the department is doing enough to protect victims' identities.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has released a massive collection of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but the move has been marred by allegations that dozens of unredacted nude photos and at least 43 victims' names are visible online. The release was made without fully redacting the sensitive information as promised.
According to reports, nearly 40 unredacted images were found in the released files, including nude bodies and faces of people who were allegedly minors when they were abused by Epstein. Some of these images appeared to show Epstein's private island, while others were taken in bedrooms and other private spaces. At least seven different people are thought to be in the photos.
The release was made without fully meeting the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which aimed to protect victims' identities while still making information about Epstein's crimes available to the public. The law required that no victim-identifying information be included unredacted in the public release.
Despite these concerns, the DOJ claimed it took "all reasonable efforts" to review and redact personal information pertaining to victims and others. However, an investigation by 404 Media found that the files had been available for at least another full day after being released, until Sunday evening when they disappeared.
The Wall Street Journal reported that over two dozen names of minor victims were exposed in the release, along with personally identifying details such as home addresses. Anouska de Georgiou, an Epstein victim who testified against Ghislaine Maxwell, said she had contacted the Justice Department after learning her personal information was made public in the release.
The DOJ's webpage carries a disclaimer stating that due to the volume of information involved, it may contain non-public personally identifiable information or sensitive content. However, critics say the department is putting the onus on victims to review millions of files and submit redaction requests.
Brad Edwards, an attorney for Epstein victims, said "it's literally thousands of mistakes" and called on the government to take down the files until they can be properly corrected. Annie Farmer, another victim who testified against Epstein, said it's hard to imagine a more egregious way of not protecting victims than having full nude images of them available for download.
The DOJ has promised to make "additional redactions of personally identifiable information" and repopulate online once the corrections are made. However, many questions remain about how this will be achieved and whether the department is doing enough to protect victims' identities.
... releasing those files was supposed to help victims of epstein but now it's just more pain for them. thousands of mistakes? that's not good enough, brad edwards said it right 
. victims shouldn't have to sift through millions of files and submit redaction requests like it's their job 
. and what's with the gov leaving those nudes out there unredacted? like, come on... we should be protecting those people not exposing them for entertainment or whatever 
. DOJ needs to get it together and do better, ASAP 
.
they released like 40 unredacted pics of minors and who knows how many other victims names are out there its just so messed up and i feel bad for all the victims who had to go through this trauma again 
meanwhile vics are supposed to be reviewing millions of files and submitting redaction requests its like way too much for them to handle
i mean come on DOJ you gotta do better than that 
... like who do they think is gonna review all these files to make sure nothing sensitive is left out? it's not like you can just put a red pen through someone's face or body 
... and what really gets me is that the gov't is basically saying 'oh, we did our part' when in reality, they didn't do squat. I mean, anouska de georgiou had to contact them personally because her info was already out there? like, what's next? 
First they're gonna release all these files without redacting the bad stuff, then they gotta take them down and start over? It's just too much. 
I mean, I get that mistakes happen, but thousands of 'em? That's like, a whole lot of stuff gone wrong. 
And what about those victims who are still out there, living their lives and dealing with this stuff? Do we really wanna add more stress to their plates? 
. I feel for those poor victims who had their identities compromised like this... it's like, they thought the government was going to protect them more than this 
. And now they're leaving it up to the victims to review millions of files and submit redaction requests? Are you kidding me? 
. But at least then, we knew what we were getting ourselves into. This whole Epstein files thing is just a mess