One Percent Truth: How the DOJ Gutted the Epstein Transparency Law (1/8/26)

By the DOJ’s own actions, what was promised as a meaningful step toward transparency has instead turned into a masterclass in bad faith. Despite a clear legal mandate requiring the release of Epstein-related records by December 19th, the Department of Justice has released roughly 1% of what it was obligated to disclose. Not 1% of what was convenient. Not 1% of what they felt like parting with. One percent of the total universe of documents they have publicly acknowledged possessing. This is not a paperwork hiccup or a minor delay—it is an institutional refusal to comply with the spirit or the letter of the law. For decades, the DOJ has insisted that Epstein was thoroughly investigated, that the evidence was reviewed, that the case was handled—yet when transparency is finally required, the files suddenly become too numerous, too complex, and too sensitive to release on time. The contradiction is glaring: either these materials were already organized and understood, or the DOJ has been misleading the public for years about the depth and seriousness of its investigation.

For survivors, this isn’t just bureaucratic nonsense—it’s a direct insult. Many of them waited decades to be believed, to see the system acknowledge what was done to them and who enabled it. Releasing a token sliver of records while slow-walking the rest sends a clear message: institutional self-protection still outweighs accountability. To the American public, it’s an unmistakable middle finger—proof that even when Congress acts, even when the law is explicit, the DOJ believes it can stall, obfuscate, and wear people down through attrition. Transparency delayed is transparency denied, and in this case, the delay isn’t accidental. It reinforces the same power imbalance that allowed Epstein to operate in plain sight for so long, signaling that when powerful interests are implicated, justice remains optional and accountability remains negotiable.



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Justice Department has released only 1% of Epstein files, new filing says