The way the Trump administration is handling the Epstein files has started to resemble a modern-day version of WikiLeaks — not because of hacking, but because of the slow, calculated release of documents that keeps Washington on edge.
Instead of one complete disclosure, the Justice Department is rolling out the files in phases. Each new batch fuels fresh speculation about powerful figures — from politicians and business leaders to financiers — who were once connected to Jeffrey Epstein and his vast network of influence.
According to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the releases will continue throughout the holiday season and may extend into the new year. The DOJ says the staggered approach is necessary due to an extensive review process, which includes redactions meant to protect victims and safeguard ongoing investigations ordered by President Donald Trump.
This drawn-out timeline has become politically explosive.
Although Trump has publicly encouraged allies to stop focusing on the Epstein case, Democrats argue the slow release raises questions about transparency. Critics suggest the approach shields influential individuals, while Trump maintains that he severed ties with Epstein long before the financier’s crimes became public. To date, no evidence has shown Trump’s involvement in Epstein’s trafficking operation.
Notably, Trump only pushed for the files’ release after congressional Republicans rejected earlier efforts to keep them sealed. A law passed in November mandated full disclosure by December 19, including a searchable format and victim-protective redactions. The Justice Department insists that deadline marked the start of the release process — not its conclusion.
The administration’s strategy has revived memories of 2016, when incremental leaks of Hillary Clinton’s campaign emails dominated headlines and shaped the election narrative. Trump, then a candidate, skillfully amplified each disclosure. Critics now say history is repeating itself — just with a different set of documents and far higher stakes.
Blanche has defended the DOJ’s actions by detailing the scope of the review: nearly 200 attorneys examined the files, followed by privacy specialists and a final review by federal prosecutors in New York. Some materials, he said, remain withheld to protect legally privileged information.
Still, the controversy continues to grow. Lawmakers from both parties — including some Trump allies — have questioned why a law requiring full disclosure hasn’t yet been fully satisfied.
As each new tranche emerges, the Epstein files are becoming less about the past and more about power, accountability, and how information itself can reshape political reality in 2025.
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