Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

demmiblue

(39,666 posts)
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 04:53 PM Dec 2025

Exclusive: Frustration mounts at Justice Department as it races to redact some Epstein files, sources say

Source: CNN

Frustration is mounting inside the Justice Department as it races to redact thousands of pages of files related to Jeffrey Epstein before they must be released Friday, multiple sources familiar with the process told CNN.

A substantial number of redactions are needed, one of the sources said, and the documents each attorney is processing since Thanksgiving week can number more than 1,000 — a time-consuming task that likely will come down to the wire. The sensitivities of executive and legal privacy, victims’ protections and other concerns all could play in to the choices the lawyers must make when it comes to potential redactions.

Lawyers working on the Epstein files at the DOJ’s National Security Division also believe they aren’t getting clear or comprehensive direction on how to make the most information available under the law, several sources said.

Counterintelligence specialists were asked to drop nearly all of their other work to process the Epstein documents, two people said, but some lawyers declined to participate.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/18/politics/epstein-documents-redaction-process

43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Exclusive: Frustration mounts at Justice Department as it races to redact some Epstein files, sources say (Original Post) demmiblue Dec 2025 OP
Shredders running 24/7, but there are other copies SheltieLover Dec 2025 #1
Funny how they seemed to have found the personnel and time to go through those same files and Marie Marie Dec 2025 #2
Protecting pedophiles and rapists under the guise of justice might be a tad frustrating. RedWhiteBlueIsRacist Dec 2025 #3
This should have been started years ago. Blasphemer Dec 2025 #4
The released documents will be so sanitised that they will be meaningless. Aussie105 Dec 2025 #5
Guaranteed leaks if these files are at all different johnnyfins Dec 2025 #8
What papers are produced popsdenver Dec 2025 #14
And Bondi, like Barr, should be expected to get out front of it and put a heavy spin on it... Mister Ed Dec 2025 #28
I'm thinking some of those lawyers that refused to be a part of this slightlv Dec 2025 #16
Executive and legal privacy? johnnyfins Dec 2025 #6
Wonder if Congress will see any of the unredacted text? Bayard Dec 2025 #7
Too bad. So sad. Each redaction has to be listed out on a separate page with its own reason for the redaction. in2herbs Dec 2025 #9
Yes, that's what the law says, but Stardust Mirror Dec 2025 #12
F45 is not the primary figure that will be punished for non-compliance. It will be his administration and they in2herbs Dec 2025 #22
Thanks for the encouraging reply Stardust Mirror Dec 2025 #23
I can only imagine popsdenver Dec 2025 #15
I SO want that coffin exhumed... and a proper burial and funeral done for this woman. slightlv Dec 2025 #17
I wondered why popsdenver Dec 2025 #29
Nail on the head, Pops! slightlv Dec 2025 #38
Buried under new ballroom..lots of balls being juggled..maybe jiggled,too? BattleRow Dec 2025 #18
And what can we do if trumpie's name is nowhere to be found? KS Toronado Dec 2025 #10
Well, we KNOW theres an excel file as an index of every page his name was on, Volaris Dec 2025 #30
I gotta ask, How is anybody gonna know if DOJ does NOT release everything? bluestarone Dec 2025 #11
Didn't the Epstein Estate release thousands of unredacted pages slightlv Dec 2025 #39
Didn't Bill Barr do all that redacting work for you guys ... like ... 5 years ago? FakeNoose Dec 2025 #13
Other than for redacting victim names/information, they should be charged with crimes for any Wonder Why Dec 2025 #19
The dumbest thing the Biden administration did (failed to do) The Mouth Dec 2025 #20
I think there were active cases, including an appeal by Maxwell karynnj Dec 2025 #21
They told us they were doing this months ago. travelingthrulife Dec 2025 #26
I'm just saying The Mouth Dec 2025 #43
Face it... trump cowed EVERYONE slightlv Dec 2025 #40
I have pulled all-nighters to write term papers that were due the next day. JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2025 #24
Scrub. Scrub. Scrub. travelingthrulife Dec 2025 #25
They'll have a hard time redacting this... sop Dec 2025 #27
Executive privacy? quakerboy Dec 2025 #31
So how much will be whitewashed? sakabatou Dec 2025 #32
The only thing left are 4 "ands", 3 "ors", 37 "thes" and 12,734 "youngs". Wonder Why Dec 2025 #33
VIOLATION! Jimvanhise Dec 2025 #34
Cheeto's middle name peppertree Dec 2025 #37
Our tax dollars at play peppertree Dec 2025 #35
more than redact -- azureblue Dec 2025 #36
Fuck redacting *ANYTHING* except the names and faces of minors The Mouth Dec 2025 #41
If there was anything on Trump The Mouth Dec 2025 #42

Marie Marie

(11,241 posts)
2. Funny how they seemed to have found the personnel and time to go through those same files and
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 05:08 PM
Dec 2025

flag all the references to Trump months ago. The only thing that should be redacted now is the names of the victims.

RedWhiteBlueIsRacist

(2,009 posts)
3. Protecting pedophiles and rapists under the guise of justice might be a tad frustrating.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 05:11 PM
Dec 2025

Maybe releasing the unredacted files might not be so frustrating! Duh.

Blasphemer

(3,622 posts)
4. This should have been started years ago.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 05:14 PM
Dec 2025

I’ve done this work and it’s not fun. No doubt Trump’s stooges will screw it up.

Aussie105

(7,892 posts)
5. The released documents will be so sanitised that they will be meaningless.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 05:21 PM
Dec 2025

Trump will say . . . nothing to see here, I told you so!

Needs an inside leaker to get unredacted stuff.

johnnyfins

(3,746 posts)
8. Guaranteed leaks if these files are at all different
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 05:32 PM
Dec 2025

from what victims attorneys and a lot of others have seen.

popsdenver

(2,228 posts)
14. What papers are produced
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 07:52 PM
Dec 2025

will look like the Mueller report.........90% blacked out............

Mister Ed

(6,920 posts)
28. And Bondi, like Barr, should be expected to get out front of it and put a heavy spin on it...
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 11:26 AM
Dec 2025

...while Trump claims "total exoneration!".

slightlv

(7,781 posts)
16. I'm thinking some of those lawyers that refused to be a part of this
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 08:09 PM
Dec 2025

might be where some leaks could come from. This is what... the 2nd or 3rd go-around for sanitizing these files? And yet, victim's names will STILL be listed. Only the criminals will be redacted.

johnnyfins

(3,746 posts)
6. Executive and legal privacy?
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 05:30 PM
Dec 2025

What the fuck is that? I though only protection of victims was at play?

in2herbs

(4,380 posts)
9. Too bad. So sad. Each redaction has to be listed out on a separate page with its own reason for the redaction.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 05:55 PM
Dec 2025

According to the Epstein Bill, they're not allowed to simply claim "national security". The DOJ must define/describe what part of national security specifically is applicable.

I don't see how they are going to be done by tomorrow. But I think the House should demand a copy of what they do have. This will at least give an indication of how much effort they have put into the release and whether they're complying with what they agreed to. Bondi will be the first to go.




Stardust Mirror

(685 posts)
12. Yes, that's what the law says, but
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 07:08 PM
Dec 2025

Trump has ignored laws so long that if he actually did follow a law that would be a surprise

in2herbs

(4,380 posts)
22. F45 is not the primary figure that will be punished for non-compliance. It will be his administration and they
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 05:23 AM
Dec 2025

don't have immunity.

There is very little, if anything, in the Epstein law that allows the USSC to exercise jurisdiction primarily because the law was approved by all but one member of congress and approved by the president, meaning there is no question for the USSC to address.

popsdenver

(2,228 posts)
15. I can only imagine
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 07:54 PM
Dec 2025

given the time the Republicans, DOJ, FBI have had, that any really juicy stuff will have been "disappeared", so to speak.
Or, at least stuffed in his ex-wife's coffin buried on Trump's golf course.........

slightlv

(7,781 posts)
17. I SO want that coffin exhumed... and a proper burial and funeral done for this woman.
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 08:11 PM
Dec 2025

She deserves so much better than what trump gave her. And I just KNOW there's tons of stuff hidden in that coffin that should see the light of day again. No CT... just personal opinion.

popsdenver

(2,228 posts)
29. I wondered why
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 12:38 PM
Dec 2025

Trump would choose one of HIS golf courses?????????? Then there were reports that the coffin needed more pallbearers than a normal casket due to its weight.
Then I thought that an order to exhume would be much more difficult to pull off??? since it was private property and not a cemetery?????
Also, he could tunnel underground to that coffin, and get anything he stashed there before it was all destroyed by the bacterial breakdown of his ex's body, if that coffin even contained his ex, which is probably questionable knowing the chief MAGAot.

Wasn't even her "death" questionable, with little or no investigation????????

slightlv

(7,781 posts)
38. Nail on the head, Pops!
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 10:33 PM
Dec 2025

And no, I don't think her body is in there. I've already thought about the tunnel angle, especially as he seems to be getting such a good education rooting out the drug dealers, eh? I don't know if it'd be any harder to get an exhumation order since it's on private property. He gets tax cuts because he claims it as a cemetary. Don't know if that would even make it "private" any longer... at least, that one parcel of ground.

And what WAS up with the weight of that coffin? Even dead weight (pardon the pun), she wouldn't have been that heavy. But binders and binders of heavy manila folders and top rated copy paper could weigh it down. If so, man... that was a LOT of crap he wanted to sneak away with. It can't all be for burying... as in exonerating him on something. I think he had it all planned out... the murder, the burial, the tax breaks, the talk about the stupidity and callousness of the tax breaks and the way she was buried; in addition to the disrespect he shows her every single day by not keeping up the gravesite.

I SO want each and every little thing -- no matter how evil or how very petty -- to finally come out on trump once and for all. I want it ALL out in the open so people can actually SEE just who they supported as president and why they'd do something that immoral. Mainly, I want to oooh and aaah... and pick my chin up off the floor in one big fell swoop... and then never have to hear his name again.

Volaris

(11,669 posts)
30. Well, we KNOW theres an excel file as an index of every page his name was on,
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 12:54 PM
Dec 2025

If THATS not released, I think Pam will be in a whole world of legal trouble.

bluestarone

(22,096 posts)
11. I gotta ask, How is anybody gonna know if DOJ does NOT release everything?
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 06:33 PM
Dec 2025

The judge ordered all released, so how the he;ll; will we (and the judge) know if they do?

slightlv

(7,781 posts)
39. Didn't the Epstein Estate release thousands of unredacted pages
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 10:35 PM
Dec 2025

and aren't they doing that still? If so, that should be an easy (tho not quick) task of compare and contrast.

Eventually, we're going to have someone get fed up and release anything and everything they can lay their hands on... the more salacious, the better. He's making lots of enemies as he works to leave what he calls a legacy. Whistleblowers WILL happen. He's becoming way too weak in the public's eyes.

FakeNoose

(41,467 posts)
13. Didn't Bill Barr do all that redacting work for you guys ... like ... 5 years ago?
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 07:20 PM
Dec 2025

Too late assholes! You knew the release date, and your time is up.


Wonder Why

(6,928 posts)
19. Other than for redacting victim names/information, they should be charged with crimes for any
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 09:33 PM
Dec 2025

other redacting that involved information on the accused.

The Mouth

(3,414 posts)
20. The dumbest thing the Biden administration did (failed to do)
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 10:02 PM
Dec 2025

Not releasing *EVERYTHING* except the names of the minors involved.

If they can be destroyed by the files, they NEED to be destroyed by the files; let the chips fall where they may, Democrat or Republican.

If Trumps was implicated in any of them verifiable, President Boden's people were not just fools but absolutely idiotic not to 'leak' it; bringing a dozen donuts to a machine-gun fight idiotic.

karynnj

(60,946 posts)
21. I think there were active cases, including an appeal by Maxwell
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 10:32 PM
Dec 2025

At most they could have started preparing to release everything and sorted it between things involved with Maxwell and not involved so they could have released that part

Also a lot of this is stuff from the Epstein estate.

The Mouth

(3,414 posts)
43. I'm just saying
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 10:36 PM
Dec 2025

If you want a perfect example of where 'going high' screwed up everything, this is it.

The Biden administration could have redacted what any reasonable person would consider enough- that is enough to protect the identities of the girls, before arranging for a 'disgruntled DOJ' worker to leak everything to Wikileaks and the NYT, and done so in days.

Don't bring a knife to a gunfight.

I've got to say, one of the most compelling arguments MAGAts had was "If there was any hard evidence of Trump doing anything, the Biden administration would have released it". True or not, it was an impactful argument to many.

slightlv

(7,781 posts)
40. Face it... trump cowed EVERYONE
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 10:37 PM
Dec 2025

but the few of us individuals out here who've fought the good fight for over 50-60 years. Doesn't make any difference what a person's political party, who s/he was, what they did, etc... by sheer dint of PR and mega maga press, they made trump out to be a behemoth than no one dared approach. And everyone fell for it, hook line and sinker.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,675 posts)
24. I have pulled all-nighters to write term papers that were due the next day.
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 09:57 AM
Dec 2025

Yes, I had a whole quarter, or semester, to write them, but I thought we wouldn't actually have to turn them in. I mean, don't they even know who the f I am? I shouldn't have to write term papers just because some damn prof says I do.

What have these justice dept people been doing for the past year? Why is it such a rush now?

travelingthrulife

(5,136 posts)
25. Scrub. Scrub. Scrub.
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 10:49 AM
Dec 2025

What goes through the minds of monsters like Bondi that causes them to protect these men and women? She was Florida's AG from 2011-2019. She has been scrubbing since then already.

quakerboy

(14,856 posts)
31. Executive privacy?
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 02:21 PM
Dec 2025

interesting.

So Boiling it down.. its a lot of work to try and scrub all the incriminating evidence on Trump and his donors/

azureblue

(2,724 posts)
36. more than redact --
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 08:04 PM
Dec 2025

Bondi's plan was to release anything incriminating Trump at the very last, to order the papers so that everybody else appears first, and trickle out the files.. And the first release confirms this. Nothing that actually proves sexual contact with young girls, just photos of people in groups, in a pool, celeb shots, etc. Bondi's plan is that people will get outraged at thesephotos, that will give teh GOP some foundation to build lies on, and then minimize Trump's rapes and pedophilia..

Note that there is very little attention being paid to the personal and courts testimonies by the victims - some really sick stuff that confirms Trump not one rapes but abuses young girls...

THIS is what we should spread, to thwart Trump's little cover up game

The Mouth

(3,414 posts)
41. Fuck redacting *ANYTHING* except the names and faces of minors
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 01:47 AM
Dec 2025

Let the chips fall where they may.

The Mouth

(3,414 posts)
42. If there was anything on Trump
Sat Dec 20, 2025, 01:49 AM
Dec 2025

The Biden administration was incompetent to the point of suicide in not 'leaking' it.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Exclusive: Frustration mo...