The Justice Department is urgently seeking volunteers among federal prosecutors to help redact documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, as revealed in an internal email sent just before Christmas, highlighting the ongoing pressure to release the files under a congressional mandate.
On Tuesday, December 23, 2025, the Justice Department’s leadership sent an email to career prosecutors in the Southern District of Florida, asking them to volunteer over the upcoming holidays for remote document review and redactions of the Epstein files. This emergency request came from the Deputy Attorney General’s office, indicating a scramble to meet transparency obligations. The request underscores the department’s struggle to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required all relevant documents to be released by last Friday. Despite the deadline, the DOJ has continued to release files in batches, with many containing extensive redactions that have drawn criticism for lacking transparency.
According to the email reviewed by CNN, prosecutors were asked to assist with redactions to protect victims’ identities and other sensitive information. The email acknowledged the poor timing, noting that for some, holidays were beginning, while for others, they were ending, and offered compensatory time off in exchange for the volunteer work. Concurrently, the Justice Department released a new batch of nearly 30,000 pages of Epstein-related documents on Tuesday. As reported by NPR, these files include hundreds of references to President Donald Trump, detailing his past flights on Epstein’s private jet in the 1990s, although Trump has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein’s crimes.
The files reveal that Trump was listed as a passenger on at least eight flights between 1993 and 1996, with some trips including Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. A prosecutor’s email from 2020 highlighted this, adding context to Trump’s relationship with the disgraced financier, which has been a point of public interest. Among the released documents was a fake letter purportedly from Epstein to convicted sex offender Larry Nassar, which the DOJ later discredited. The letter contained inflammatory claims and was stamped as returned to sender, with the FBI concluding it was fabricated, reminding the public that not all released materials are factual.
The volunteer call and continued document releases reflect the political and legal complexities surrounding the Epstein case. The Trump administration faces backlash for the handling of the files, with some seeing the redactions as obstructive, while the department insists on balancing transparency with legal protections. Moving forward, the Justice Department is expected to release more files in the coming days, including over the holidays. This ongoing process keeps the spotlight on Epstein’s network and the government’s efforts to provide accountability, amidst scrutiny from Congress and the public.
