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BumRushDaShow

(165,913 posts) Sat Dec 20, 2025, 07:51 PM Dec 20

Over 500 pages in Epstein files were entirely blacked out, CBS News finds

Source: CBS News

Updated on: December 20, 2025 / 10:21 AM EST

The Justice Department released thousands of new records on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, but at least 550 pages in the documents are fully redacted, CBS News has found.

The newly released files included photos of several prominent people in Epstein's orbit, images from his homes and investigative records that detail disturbing allegations against the late sex offender. But the heavy redactions in many of the records have drawn criticism from Democrats and some Republicans, as the department defends its handling of the files.

One series of three consecutive documents — totaling 255 pages — is entirely redacted, with each page covered by a black box. A fourth 119-page document labeled "Grand Jury-NY" is also entirely redacted. It's unclear what proceedings it stemmed from, but the document listed immediately before it is a transcript in which a prosecutor asks a grand jury in 2020 to consider evidence for a superseding indictment of Epstein's convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell.

At least 180 blacked-out pages appear in files that are mostly but not entirely redacted. In some cases, a cover page, a photo of a folder or something else that isn't fully redacted precedes several pages that are entirely obscured by a black box. In other cases, the redactions were more sparing. For example, a 96-page police report on a Florida investigation into Epstein in the mid-2000s redacts the names of victims and other details, but leaves many other details in.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/epstein-files-redaction-over-500-pages-entirely-blacked-out/

15 replies

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Over 500 pages in Epstein files were entirely blacked out, CBS News finds (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Dec 20 OP

A major headache for the redaction team. Aussie105 Dec 20 #1

I'm not sure if the victims want to be protected BOSSHOG Dec 20 #3

It's been all done electronically for a long time now in the federal government for eFOIA BumRushDaShow Dec 20 #5

Am I wrong to think the Democrats could have released Buddyzbuddy Dec 20 #2

No, they could not. It was an active investigation then. blm Dec 20 #4

Thank you. Buddyzbuddy Dec 21 #9

"Am I wrong to think the Democrats could have released these files when they had control." BumRushDaShow Dec 20 #7

Thank you BumRush. Buddyzbuddy Dec 21 #8

Maxwell was on trial toward the end of 2021. Her defense team would have screamed Bengus81 Dec 22 #15

The law demanding photo release was a failure Anxy Dec 20 #6

Must have used 1000's of Black markers. riversedge Dec 21 #10

Redaction software (or plug-ins for word processors like M$ Word or for Adobe) BumRushDaShow Dec 21 #11

K&R Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 22 #12

Not a surprise at all. We knew well before the Friday deadline Trump didn't want his name to be the headline grabber. ificandream Dec 22 #13

Yeah bet Clinton was all over them eh Trump? Bengus81 Dec 22 #14

Aussie105

(7,654 posts)

1. A major headache for the redaction team.

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:03 PM

Dec 20

I'd love to hear from one of them what the guidelines were for using up so much printer toner.

The excuse of 'protecting the victims' doesn't wash with me.

The amount of redaction speaks volumes in itself.
Corruption all over the place!

BOSSHOG

(44,738 posts)

3. I'm not sure if the victims want to be protected

Reply to Aussie105 (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:23 PM

Dec 20

If the alternative is to burn the perverted garbage responsible.

Republicans do not protect victims they protect themselves. Republicans are bottom feeding low life scum. But they do have Republican scruples. Rape and felonies are okay but gotta black out the sexual abuse of children. It will offend those who go to church and love trump for no rational reason they can come up with.

BumRushDaShow

(165,913 posts)

5. It's been all done electronically for a long time now in the federal government for eFOIA

Reply to Aussie105 (Reply #1)

Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:33 PM

Dec 20

(there is software that will do it plus modules available to do redactions in the popular word processor programs and probably for Adobe Acrobat too). I don't think they even print anything out anymore either - will just send/upload pdfs (or maybe some image file).

Buddyzbuddy

(2,144 posts)

2. Am I wrong to think the Democrats could have released

Reply to BumRushDaShow (Original post)

Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:21 PM

Dec 20

these files when they had control. As much as I try to verbally defend our Federal Law Enforcement, this is a real blemish. When we get power back, there is a real genuine house cleaning that needs to occur. The Republican lawmakers are actively protecting lawlessness while past Democrats didn't do their jobs. We need accountability wherever the chips may land.

blm

(114,431 posts)

4. No, they could not. It was an active investigation then.

Reply to Buddyzbuddy (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:27 PM

Dec 20

Buddyzbuddy

(2,144 posts)

9. Thank you.

Reply to blm (Reply #4)

Sun Dec 21, 2025, 01:10 AM

Dec 21

BumRushDaShow

(165,913 posts)

7. "Am I wrong to think the Democrats could have released these files when they had control."

Reply to Buddyzbuddy (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 20, 2025, 08:39 PM

Dec 20

Remember that when we "got control", there was -

1.) A pandemic that eventually killed 1 million Americans
2.) An economic collapse due to that pandemic and shady economic practices triggered by 45
3.) A literal insurrection that happened just before Biden's inauguration that needed to be investigated

So Epstein would be at the bottom of the list at that point, especially since he had died in jail (however that really happened) and that was still under review.