Lawyers for victims of Jeffrey Epstein have asked federal judges in New York to order the removal of millions of Epstein-related records released online.
The request follows what the attorneys describe as widespread failures to remove victims’ names and personal details.
In a letter dated Sunday, attorneys Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards urged immediate court action.
They warned that the Justice Department’s release has caused serious harm to survivors and exposed sensitive information.
The letter was sent to Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer, who oversee the Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases.
Lawyers Cite Thousands of Redaction Errors
According to the letter, the attorneys identified thousands of redaction failures within a 48-hour period.
The errors affected nearly 100 individual survivors, including victims identified anonymously as “Jane Doe.”
The attorneys argue that the scale of the problem cannot be explained by technical mistakes or oversight.
They stress that the court had issued clear instructions requiring all known victim names to be removed before publication.
The letter states that the Justice Department had access to victim lists and search tools that could have prevented the exposure.
Victims Report Harassment and Safety Risks
The filing includes statements from several anonymous victims describing the personal impact of the release.
Victims reported:
- Harassment from journalists and online users
- Threats and abusive messages
- Fear for their personal safety and the safety of their children
One victim described the release as retraumatizing and warned that it created potential physical danger.
The attorneys argue that continued access to the records increases the risk of further harm.
Court Orders Cited in Filing
The lawyers referenced prior court directives that required strict redaction of victim-identifying information.
According to the letter:
- The task was limited to removing known names
- The department had time to review the records
- Simple searches could have identified unredacted information
The attorneys argue that following these steps might have prevented the exposure.
Justice Department Removes Flagged Documents
In response, the Justice Department filed a notice Monday in both cases.
The filing reports that officials removed all documents identified by victims or their attorneys for further redaction.
The department also stated that:
- Additional reviews are ongoing
- New requests continue to be processed
- Internal searches are underway to find other issues
Officials reported that about 500 reviewers examined the files.
The department said roughly 0.1% of released pages later showed unredacted victim information.
Judges Have Not Yet Ruled
Despite the response, the victims’ attorneys continue to seek court supervision.
They are asking judges to pause public access to the records until proper safeguards are in place.
So far, the judges have not ruled on the request.
The dispute adds new scrutiny to the handling of Epstein-related records and raises broader questions about victim protection in high-profile federal cases.
Victims’ lawyers say failures to redact Epstein files exposed survivors to harm and are urging judges to step in to prevent further damage.
