In a fiery social media post, US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the Department of Justice (DOJ). This comes after federal prosecutors revealed they had uncovered more than one million additional documents linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. The disclosure has reignited fierce political debate over transparency and the handling of the long-running sex trafficking investigation.
Trump's 'Witch Hunt' Accusation and Political Firestorm
On 26 December, President Trump took to his social media platform to frame the renewed scrutiny of the Epstein case as a politically motivated distraction. He accused Democratic opponents of orchestrating a 'hoax' to divert attention from Republican successes and election integrity concerns.
"Now 1,000,000 more pages on Epstein are found," Trump wrote. "DOJ is being forced to spend all of its time on this Democrat inspired Hoax... The Dems are the ones who worked with Epstein, not the Republicans." He demanded the release of all names associated with Epstein to 'embarrass' Democrats and concluded by calling the focus on Epstein "just another Witch Hunt."
His remarks arrived as the Justice Department faced mounting criticism for missing a congressionally mandated deadline to release records related to Epstein under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
A Million New Pages and a Major Delay
The controversy stems from an announcement made by the US Department of Justice on Christmas Eve, 24 December. Federal prosecutors in New York, working with the FBI, stated they had identified and handed over "a million more documents" potentially connected to the Epstein probe.
The DOJ explained that the material, transferred from the Manhattan US Attorney's Office, would need to be reviewed. This review, required by law, involves making redactions to protect victims' identities before public release. "We have lawyers working around the clock... and we will release the documents as soon as possible," the department said, adding that "due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks." This admission signalled a delay beyond the legal deadline set by Congress.
Bipartisan Backlash and Demands for Scrutiny
The Christmas Eve announcement triggered frustration from both sides of the political aisle on Capitol Hill. A bipartisan group of 12 US Senators—11 Democrats and one Republican—urged Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume to investigate why the DOJ failed to meet the deadline. They argued that victims deserve "full disclosure" and the "peace of mind" an independent audit could provide.
Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a co-author of the transparency law, was blunt in his assessment. "DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline," he stated on social media platform X. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna echoed the sentiment, vowing to maintain pressure and suggesting the threat of contempt proceedings spurred the new disclosure.
A Deep Political Divide on Transparency
The episode highlights a sharp political split. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer portrayed the discovery of extra files as proof of a cover-up. "A Christmas Eve news dump of 'a million more files' only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup," Schumer claimed. "The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding — and WHY?"
In contrast, the White House defended the DOJ's handling of the situation. Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson praised Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, stating they were "doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda."
Shifting Narrative on Epstein Evidence
This massive new discovery represents a significant shift from previous assurances. As recently as July, the FBI and Justice Department had claimed an "exhaustive review" found no further evidence warranting release. That assessment did not indicate officials were unaware of additional troves of material.
While earlier document releases contained largely public or heavily redacted information like photographs and call logs, the newly identified material is reported to include more sensitive items. These are said to encompass grand jury transcripts and internal correspondence that could shed further light on Epstein's powerful network, including references to his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and a figure believed to be Britain's Prince Andrew.
The unfolding situation ensures that the Epstein case, and the fight for transparency surrounding it, will remain a potent and divisive issue in American politics.
