Former Prosecutor Says DOJ Had Authority to Release All Epstein Files but Did Not
Former SDNY prosecutor Sarah Krissoff has stated that the Department of Justice (DOJ) had the power and resources to release all documents related to Jeffrey Epstein but chose not to do so.
The release of Epstein files has raised questions since they appear to be treated differently than normal redaction processes. It remains unclear who at the DOJ reviewed and approved the redactions applied to these documents.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on November 19, mandated the DOJ to make Epstein-related documents public within 30 days, allowing exceptions for protecting victims.
On December 19, the DOJ released a large set of these documents. However, lawmakers criticized the release, stating that not all materials were disclosed simultaneously.
Krissoff explained that public interest in Epstein's case extends beyond the immediate case and cautioned that overly broad or poorly targeted disclosures could affect ongoing investigations.
Typically, redactions result from negotiations between prosecutors and defense attorneys, but in this instance, the process and responsible parties at the DOJ remain unspecified.
Since many individuals linked to Epstein have not been charged, releasing certain materials could implicate others and raise concerns regarding their reputations.
The DOJ intends to continue releasing Epstein documents on a rolling basis but has not announced a schedule for future disclosures.
