release Epstein files Justice Department Trump.

The Justice Department’s much-anticipated release of records tied to Jeffrey Epstein have done little to quell the long-simmering intrigue. That’s largely because some of the most consequential records were nowhere to be found in what came out Friday. The initial disclosures span tens of thousands of pages, but offer scant new insight into Epstein’s crimes or the decisions that allowed him to avoid serious federal prosecution for years. Missing are FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions. The Justice Department says it plans to release more records on a rolling basis, but hasn’t given any notice when more will come out

The Justice Department faces a Friday deadline to release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender known for his connections to powerful figures, including Donald Trump. The president had long opposed the files’ release but did a U-turn after political pressure from fellow Republicans. A bill Trump signed allows redactions for victims or ongoing investigations but not for embarrassment or political sensitivity. Epstein was a well-connected financier who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of abusing and trafficking underage girls. Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, who had many other prominent acquaintances in political and celebrity circles.