The U.S. Department of Justice informed Congress that it released extensive records related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, withheld only privileged materials, redacted victim-sensitive content, and provided a comprehensive list of government officials and politically exposed persons named in the files. Assistance from Claude AI.
Key Takeaways:
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The DOJ released extensive Epstein-related records across nine defined categories.
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Only privileged materials were withheld, and no redactions were made for political or reputational reasons.
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Victim privacy, child sexual abuse material, and ongoing investigations were primary grounds for redactions.
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A broad list of government officials and politically exposed persons named in the files was included.
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Inclusion on the list does not imply criminal conduct.
Article Summary
In a February 14, 2026 letter to the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted its Section 3 report under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, detailing how it complied with the law’s disclosure requirements. The letter, signed by Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, outlines the categories of records released, the limited materials withheld, the legal basis for redactions, and a list of government officials and politically exposed persons referenced in the files.
According to the report, the Department released all records, documents, communications, and investigative materials in its possession related to nine categories. These included materials concerning Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell; flight logs and travel records for aircraft or vessels used by Epstein or related entities; individuals named in connection with Epstein’s criminal activities or legal proceedings; corporate, nonprofit, academic, or governmental entities tied to his financial or trafficking networks; immunity and non-prosecution agreements; internal DOJ communications about charging decisions; communications related to the preservation or destruction of evidence; and documentation regarding Epstein’s detention and death, including incident reports, witness interviews, and autopsy records.
The only materials withheld were those protected under Section 2(c) of the Act and traditional legal privileges — specifically deliberative-process privilege, work-product privilege, and attorney-client privilege. The Department emphasized that no records were withheld or redacted due to embarrassment, reputational harm, political sensitivity, or the status of any government official or public figure.
Redactions were made in consultation with victims and their counsel. The Department removed personally identifiable information of victims, personal and medical data, child sexual abuse material as defined under federal law, information that could jeopardize ongoing investigations or prosecutions, and graphic images of death or physical injury. The letter states that none of the redactions were based on national defense or foreign policy classification authorities. Unredacted materials remain available for congressional inspection, and some members of Congress have reviewed them.
The report also includes a multi-page list of government officials and politically exposed persons whose names appear at least once in the released materials. The Department clarifies that inclusion on the list reflects only that a name appears in the files and does not indicate wrongdoing. Names span a wide political and public spectrum — including current and former presidents, members of Congress, governors, foreign leaders, business executives, media figures, entertainers, academics, and others. The Department notes that omissions may be unintentional due to the volume and speed of review, and that individuals whose names were redacted for law-enforcement-sensitive reasons are not included.
The letter concludes by affirming the Department’s ongoing commitment to victim protection and transparency consistent with the Act.
“Epstein Files Transparency Act — Section 3 Report to Congress.” U.S. Department of Justice, 14 Feb. 2026.
Link to document here.