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By Anna Commander, Gabe Whisnant, and Hollie Silverman
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is reviewing allegations of “missing” Jeffrey Epstein-related documents following public scrutiny of the department's recent records release.
Democratic U.S. Representative Robert Garcia of California has said this week that "serious allegations" about President Donald Trump appear to be missing from the Justice Department's cache of files associated with Epstein, a sex offender and disgraced financier.
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ via online form Wednesday for additional comment.
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Why It Matters
The dispute centers on compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act and the integrity of a public database containing millions of pages tied to investigations into Epstein and associate Ghislaine Maxwell, raising questions about victims’ access to their own interviews and whether unverified allegations involving public officials were handled consistently with the law’s redaction rules.
What To Know
Garcia said on Tuesday he had reviewed the unredacted documents—available to members of Congress—and said some files listed in an official log appeared to be missing, including those relating to a woman who alleged in 2019 that Trump forced her to perform oral sex and struck her in the head after Epstein introduced them.
A CNN review also reported that an evidence log given to Maxwell’s attorneys listed roughly 325 FBI witness interview records, but more than 90 did not appear on the DOJ’s site when checked, including three interviews related to a woman who said Epstein abused her beginning around age 13 and who separately accused Trump of sexually assaulting her decades ago.
The White House called the allegations against Trump “false and sensationalist,” pointing to the DOJ’s earlier statement that some claims about the president in the files were “unfounded and false,” CNN reports.
The DOJ's Rapid Response X account posted Wednesday, "As the Department of Justice has consistently said and has done since the January 30, 2026 publication of the Epstein files, if any member of the public, including victims, reported concerns with information in the pages, the Department would review, make any corrections, and republish online. Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing. As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the Department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production. Should any document be found to have been improperly tagged in the review process and is responsive to the Act, the Department will of course publish it, consistent with the law."
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What People Are Saying
Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, on X Tuesday: "Congress created, funds, and oversees the Department of Justice. But when will we see justice for Epstein survivors? Over two dozen people have resigned, but none in the US have been arrested. On the House floor, I named 3 men the DOJ needs to investigate and hold accountable."
Democratic Representative Ro Khanna of California, on X earlier this month: "For the survivors, this is not a game. It is simple. Reveal the predators. Protect the victims."
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, on X earlier this month: ".@RepRoKhanna: Protect the victims! Also @RepRoKhanna: Reveal the victims!"
Jennifer Freeman, lawyer for Epstein survivor Maria Farmer, to Newsweek via email on Wednesday: “If this reporting stands, it is not surprising. There has been failure after failure at every level of the government's handling of this case, from the FBI’s failure to follow up on Maria Farmer’s report in 1996, to the DOJ’s ignoring of federal victim protection requirements and exposing sensitive information and nude photographs. While powerful individuals remain shielded and free from accountability, survivors and the American people suffer the consequences of broken promises.”
What Happens Next
Additional files and inquiries into the investigations of both Maxwell and Epstein are likely to continue emerging as public interest remains heightened.
Update 2/25/26, 6:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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