Handling of Epstein files is ‘outrageous’, say attorneys of his sex trafficking survivors

Tranche of government-held files filled with ‘ham-fisted redactions’ and expose survivors’ identities, say attorneys

Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation have reacted to the voluminous – and possibly last – tranche of government-held investigative documents with calls for further accountability for the scheme’s alleged clients.

“It is without question that a significant piece of Epstein and [his convicted associate Ghislaine] Maxwell’s vast sex trafficking operation was to provide young women and girls to other wealthy and powerful individuals,” said Sigrid McCawley, a partner with Boies Schiller Flexner, a firm representing survivors of the scheme.

That practice, McCawley said, gave Epstein and Maxwell “control and power over individuals who were implicated in the sex trafficking”.

McCawley added: “Those who find themselves entangled in the mire of newly released information, no doubt, will play the deny and distance card, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is exactly how the sex trafficking operation worked.”

The comments came after the Trump administration’s justice department on Friday released about 3m files related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. Some files that were immediately appraised included references to and correspondence with prominent individuals, including multibillionaire businessperson Elon Muskand commerce secretary Howard Lutnick – who were at times associated with Epstein but have not been accused of wrongdoing.

Deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said several categories of pages were withheld from release, including personally identifying information of the victims, victims’ medical files, images depicting child sexual abuse and pages related to ongoing cases.

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