• Deputy AG Todd Blanche says "several hundred thousand" documents released Friday with more to follow
• Bipartisan law required full release of all unclassified records by December 19 deadline
• Democratic lawmakers say administration is "covering up" information to protect Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — The Justice Department on Friday publicly released a partial Epstein files release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, falling short of what critics say was required under a law that garnered near unanimous support from both parties in Congress.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the department would release "several hundred thousand documents" Friday, with hundreds of thousands more coming "over the next couple of weeks." Democrats immediately accused the Trump administration of violating federal law and threatened legal action.

Epstein Files Release Fails to Meet Congressional Mandate

The highly anticipated disclosure comes after months of building pressure on the White House and amid scrutiny of President Trump's past connection with the deceased financier. Trump last month reversed course and signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which gave the Justice Department 30 days to publicly post all unclassified documents in its possession related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

That 30-day clock ended Friday.

"Donald Trump and the Department of Justice are now violating federal law as they continue covering up the facts and the evidence about Jeffrey Epstein's decades-long, billion-dollar, international sex trafficking ring."

That statement came from Reps. Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrats on the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, who announced they are examining all legal options in response to the partial release.

Law Explicitly Required Full Disclosure

The text of the legislation states the attorney general shall "make publicly available in a searchable and downloadable format all unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" related to Epstein within 30 days of enactment.

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The law makes clear that "no record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary."

Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who co-sponsored the bill and led efforts to force its passage, highlighted the statutory language in a social media post Friday.

"This is a law, not a subpoena."

Massie noted in a video Thursday that lawyers for Epstein's victims have identified at least 20 names of men accused of sex crimes in the FBI's possession, suggesting the public would quickly know whether the department had complied fully.

DOJ Cites Victim Protection for Delay

Blanche attributed the staggered release to the need for careful review to protect victim identities from disclosure. The Justice Department enlisted scores of attorneys from the National Security Division in recent weeks to conduct the review.

He also pointed to a ruling from a federal judge in the Southern District of New York that required the administration to verify its review adequately protects victims.

The files include "more than 300 gigabytes of data and physical evidence" in FBI custody, according to a July memo, with some materials containing photos and videos of Epstein's accusers that will be withheld.

Political Stakes Intensify Scrutiny

The Epstein files have become a political lightning rod for the Trump administration. Donald Trump, who had been friends with Epstein for years before they had a falling out in the early 2000s, initially called demands to release the files a Democratic "hoax" and urged Republicans in Congress to oppose the legislation.

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But Trump reversed course once it became clear congressional action was inevitable. He signed the bill after it passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, insisting the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the Republican agenda.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused the administration of a cover-up to protect Trump from his "ugly past."

Attorney General Pam Bondi had previously ordered a top federal prosecutor to investigate Epstein's ties to Trump's political opponents, including former President Bill Clinton, after Trump pressed for such an inquiry.

House Democrats have released photos and documents from Epstein's estate in recent weeks, including an email suggesting Trump "knew about the girls." Trump has denied any knowledge of Epstein's crimes.

When a law passes with near-unanimous bipartisan support yet the administration still fails to comply with its clear deadline, what recourse do survivors and the public truly have?

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