The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has removed thousands of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein from its website after victims reported that their identities had been compromised.
Lawyers for Epstein's victims said that flawed redactions in the files released recently had 'turned upside down' the lives of nearly 100 survivors. The documents included sensitive email addresses and photographs that could easily identify potential victims.
Survivors described the disclosure as 'outrageous,' asserting that they should not be 'named, scrutinized, and retraumatized.' The DOJ stated that it had taken down the flagged files, blaming the mistakes on 'technical or human error.'
In correspondence to federal authorities, the DOJ assured that all documents requested for removal had been taken down for further redaction. They noted an ongoing review of the materials to ensure no other potentially harmful information remained accessible.
The release of these documents followed Congressional mandates requiring the DOJ to publish all materials related to Epstein, including reports, images, and videos. However, many victims believe the agency did not adequately protect their privacy during this process.
Victim advocates have criticized the DOJ for its handling of the case, claiming that numerous names were disclosed and that existing redaction protocols were not properly followed, potentially risking the safety and anonymity of many survivors.
As the situation unfolds, lawyers representing the victims have called for immediate judicial intervention to address the breaches of privacy they deem unprecedented in U.S. history.
