Lawyers for victims say they have been ‘repeatedly denied justice’ while deputy attorney general says more files will be released
Lawyers for victims say they have been ‘repeatedly denied justice’ while deputy attorney general says more files will be released
Representatives for victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein condemned the US Department of Justice on Friday for only partially releasing investigative documents while at least one survivor said she felt “redeemed” by the documents.
The documents were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated the disclosures by 19 December. The law allows for records to be withheld if they threaten current investigations, disrupt national security or identify Epstein’s victims.
The initial disclosure, however, did not appear to be in keeping with this law. Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, said the justice department would not release all its files on Friday, despite the deadline and the files published on Friday afternoon did not appear to be comprehensive. “I expect that we’re going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks,” Blanche said in an Fox News interview.
Top lawmakers responded by threatening legal action “in the face of this violation of federal law”.
Spencer Kuvin, an attorney representing Epstein survivors, said in a statement after the release that it was “no great surprise” the justice department was failing to meet the deadline.
“Unfortunately, the Department of Justice has dragged its feet regarding these documents for the last 18 years so the victims don’t expect much by way of openness or honesty,” Kuvin said. “These young women have been lied to and repeatedly denied justice by system that was meant to protect them. The public need to demand more and continue to require accountability.”
Gloria Allred, a lawyer who has represented more than 20 Epstein survivors, told CNN after the disclosures that the justice department had repeatedly failed victims.
“There was resistance by this administration to releasing the Epstein files,” she said.
