Thousands of Epstein documents taken down after victims identified

February 4, 2026

The US Department of Justice removed thousands of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents from its website after improper redactions exposed the identities of nearly 100 sexual abuse survivors. The flawed Friday release included unredacted names, email addresses, nude photographs, and banking information that allowed victims to be identified, prompting lawyers to call it the worst single-day violation of victim privacy in US history. The DOJ attributed the errors to technical and human mistakes and has been working to properly redact the materials before re-posting them.

Who is affected

Nearly 100 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse whose identities were compromised
Specific named survivors including Annie Farmer and Lisa Phillips who spoke publicly about the impact
Survivors who had never been publicly identified previously
Victims' lawyers including Brittany Henderson, Brad Edwards, and Gloria Allred who represent the affected individuals
Federal Judge Richard Berman who oversees the case

What action is being taken

The DOJ has removed all flagged files from its website for further redaction
The department is continuing to examine new removal requests from victims
The DOJ is checking whether other documents need additional redaction
The DOJ is working "around the clock to fix the issue"
Victims' lawyers are having "extensive and constructive discussions" with the DOJ

Why it matters

This represents a catastrophic failure in victim protection during a high-profile government document release that was meant to provide transparency about Epstein's crimes. The exposure of survivors' identities, personal photos, and financial information has retraumatized victims who have already suffered immense harm, with some receiving death threats as a result. The incident undermines trust in the justice system's ability to protect vulnerable individuals while pursuing accountability, and demonstrates how procedural failures can inflict additional harm on survivors seeking justice. The case highlights the tension between public transparency demands and the fundamental duty to protect crime victims from further victimization.

What's next

The DOJ will complete proper redactions of the removed documents before potentially re-posting them
The department will continue examining and responding to new removal requests from victims and their counsel
Corrected versions of the documents are expected to be released "expeditiously" in a manner that protects victims from further harm

Read full article from source: BBC