More than 3 million newly-released pages of the Epstein files show more about the life and relationships of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. They also contain unredacted names of his accusers.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
The release of millions of pages of Epstein files last Friday have raised more questions than they’ve answered. Jeffrey Epstein’s private communications continue to reveal the web of powerful figures that sought his friendship and counsel. Internal notes from the Justice Department show the extent of allegations made against Epstein, but also against others that have not faced any criminal charges for sex trafficking. Speaking on CNN’s “State Of The Union” Sunday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said new charges for anybody else is unlikely.
(SOUNDBITE OF TV SHOW, “STATE OF THE UNION”)
TODD BLANCHE: We then released over 3 1/2 million pieces of paper, which the entire world can look at now and see if we got it wrong.
DETROW: NPR’s Stephen Fowler is following the story and joins me now. Hey, Stephen.
STEPHEN FOWLER, BYLINE: Hey there.
DETROW: So the Justice Department said it released its final batch of files on Friday – three million pages, a staggering amount of information. How do you even start reviewing them?
FOWLER: Well, Scott, the way that they’ve done the release of the Epstein files has made it virtually impossible to tell a full story about anything. There’s no rhyme or reason to how these pages are ordered. There’s no context surrounding information released here or there. There are multiple copies of just about everything, and you have some cases where there’s information redacted in one version and not redacted in another, so it’s hard to know if you’re looking at the most recent or most complete or most accurate version of anything. And so when you may see things on social media about XYZ person here, or file, or thing, it’s taken a lot more time to try and connect all of these dots.
DETROW: Can you walk me through one example of that?
FOWLER: Over the weekend, online, there were many viral posts on X that sho