A Jeffrey Epstein survivor, identified only as “Jane Doe,” has expressed horror after discovering her name was left unredacted multiple times in Department of Justice files released this week, leading to accusations that the DOJ violated legal obligations and failed to protect victims’ identities. The files were mandated for release under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, but survivors and their lawyers say the disclosure has been marred by excessive redactions, missing documents, and the exposure of identities, undermining trust in the justice system.
On Monday, a group of 19 women, including two Jane Does, issued a statement condemning the DOJ’s handling of the file release. They pointed to “abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation” and noted that “numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm.” The survivors emphasized that no financial documents were released and that grand jury minutes were fully blacked out, contrary to expectations, with hundreds of thousands of pages still unreleased. This, they argued, represents clear-cut violations of the law passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in November.
Jane Doe, who reported her abuse to the FBI in 2009, told CNN in an exclusive interview that she has been trying for years to obtain her FBI file. She said that since the files were posted on Friday, she has received unsolicited phone calls, and her attempts to alert the DOJ about the unredacted inclusion of her name have been met with slow response. As of Monday afternoon, her name remained viewable in multiple places within the documents, leaving her mortified and fearful for future victims who might report abuse.
The DOJ released thousands of files on Friday but acknowledged that it would not meet the full deadline, with additional materials to be produced in the coming weeks. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that the department is continuing to review documents to protect victims, but survivors argue that the lack of communication and transparency suggests an intent to keep them in the dark. Many survivors, including those represented by attorneys, said they have not been contacted by the DOJ about potential redactions prior to the release.
Attorneys representing Epstein survivors, such as Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards, reported that since the release, they have been contacted by clients whose names or identifying information were left unredacted. They worked with federal officials over the weekend to temporarily remove about 15 documents from the DOJ site for review. The DOJ confirmed in a statement that it has received requests from individuals alleging to be victims and is removing material out of an abundance of caution, with plans to re-release files with appropriate redactions.
The survivors’ statement called for immediate congressional oversight to ensure the DOJ fulfills its legal obligations. Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who co-authored the transparency act, criticized the DOJ for protecting “rich & powerful men” and called for the release of more information, including FBI witness interviews and Epstein’s emails. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between government transparency and victim protection in high-profile cases, with survivors expressing dwindling confidence in the agency’s ability to safeguard those reporting abuse.
As the DOJ continues its review, survivors like Jane Doe and Jess Michaels, another survivor involved in the statement, are urging for accountability and better coordination. Michaels described the DOJ’s actions as “the opposite of transparency,” emphasizing that the department broke the law by not fully complying with the release deadline. The ongoing fallout underscores the challenges in balancing public interest with privacy rights, with implications for how future cases of sexual abuse and government misconduct are handled.
