A technical glitch in redacted Epstein files has exposed previously hidden allegations that Jeffrey Epstein’s lawyers funneled over $400,000 to young female models and actresses, with the error originating from a 2020 civil racketeering lawsuit filed by the U.S. Virgin Islands. The botched redaction, which allowed users to uncover blacked-out text by copying and pasting, went viral on social media and has intensified scrutiny over the Justice Department’s handling of Epstein-related documents.
The redaction snafu can be traced back to an amended complaint filed by the Virgin Islands attorney general in February 2021. In that document, government attorneys accused Epstein’s long-time lawyer, Darren Indyke, of signing checks from Epstein’s tax-exempt charitable foundation to pay “young female models and actresses,” including a former Russian model who received over $380,000 in monthly installments over several years. Another redacted paragraph claimed Indyke paid a lawyer involved in “forced marriages” among Epstein’s victims.
Indyke’s legal team has denied the allegations, stating that he did not socialize with Epstein and was unaware of his actions. Regarding the forced marriages, his lawyer argued that consensual marriages between women are not evidence of coercion. The Virgin Islands settled with Epstein’s estate for over $105 million in 2022, but the faulty redaction persisted when the document was included in the DOJ’s recent release.
The Justice Department’s latest Epstein file release, which occurred on December 23, 2025, includes over 11,000 documents totaling nearly 30,000 pages. Among them are emails revealing that prosecutors during the Trump administration were in plea negotiations with an “Epstein co-conspirator” and had drafted memos on potential charges. The files also contain mentions of former President Trump, including an email about flight logs showing he flew on Epstein’s jet “many more times” than previously known.
Social media users on platforms like Reddit and TikTok first noticed the redaction error, leading to its verification by CNN. The glitch affects only a small number of documents but has raised questions about the thoroughness of the redaction process. The error was not committed by the DOJ but by the Virgin Islands’ attorney general’s office when it initially posted the filing in 2021.
In response to the partial document releases, lawmakers have expressed frustration. Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the legislation requiring the files’ disclosure, are considering inherent contempt charges against Attorney General Pam Bondi for obstruction of justice. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has urged the DOJ to provide more information on the co-conspirators referenced in the emails.
The ongoing revelations keep the Epstein scandal alive, with survivors and the public demanding full transparency. The redaction mishap highlights the technical and ethical challenges in releasing sensitive documents, while the broader file drops continue to uncover connections that fuel further investigation and debate.
