What Are the Epstein Files? Complete Guide to the DOJ Releases
A comprehensive overview of the 207,000+ Jeffrey Epstein investigation documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, what they contain, how they were released, and why they matter.
What Are the Epstein Files?
The Epstein Files are a collection of over 207,000 documents released by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) related to the federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. These documents represent one of the largest public disclosures of investigative materials in modern U.S. history.
The files were released in response to sustained public pressure, congressional inquiries, and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests following Epstein's arrest in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and his subsequent death in a Manhattan federal jail cell in August 2019.
How Were the Documents Released?
The DOJ released the documents in 12 data sets between 2023 and 2025, published on the official DOJ Epstein disclosures page. Each data set contains hundreds to tens of thousands of individual files, primarily in PDF format.
The phased release schedule allowed the DOJ to review materials for redactions related to:
- Ongoing investigations and prosecutions
- Privacy protections for victims and witnesses
- National security considerations
- Grand jury secrecy requirements under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e)
What Do the Files Contain?
The Epstein Files encompass a wide range of document types from multiple federal agencies:
- FBI investigation reports — Interview summaries, surveillance records, case notes, and internal memoranda documenting the bureau's investigation
- Court filings and transcripts — Civil and criminal case documents, depositions, hearing transcripts, and judicial orders
- Financial records — Bank statements, wire transfers, property records, and transaction logs that trace the flow of money through Epstein's network
- Flight logs — Detailed records of flights on Epstein's private aircraft, including the Boeing 727 known as the "Lolita Express," documenting passengers, routes, and dates. You can browse all flight logs in our archive
- Communications — Emails, letters, faxes, and other correspondence between Epstein, his associates, attorneys, and various institutions
- Photographs — Over 16,000 images seized during searches of Epstein's properties. You can view the photo collection in the archive
- Law enforcement records — Police reports, search warrant applications, evidence inventories, and inter-agency communications
- Amazon purchase records — 886 orders documenting purchases made for Epstein's properties. View Amazon orders
Who Is Named in the Documents?
The archive contains references to over 23,000 named individuals and entities. These range from victims and witnesses to attorneys, law enforcement personnel, politicians, business leaders, and other public figures. You can browse all named people or search for specific names in our database.
Important: Being named in the Epstein documents does not imply wrongdoing. Many individuals appear as witnesses, investigators, attorneys, or incidental contacts. Context matters, and we encourage readers to review the original source documents carefully.
Why Do the Epstein Files Matter?
The Epstein Files matter for several critical reasons:
- Accountability — They provide an unprecedented window into how institutions responded to credible allegations of sex trafficking over more than a decade
- Transparency — The release demonstrates the public's right to understand how federal investigations are conducted, especially when they involve powerful individuals
- Historical record — These documents form a permanent public record of one of the most significant criminal cases of the 21st century
- Systemic reform — Understanding institutional failures documented in these files can inform policy changes to better protect victims
How to Use This Archive
The Epstein Document Archive makes all 207,000+ documents searchable and accessible:
- Search the Archive — Full-text and semantic search across all documents
- Browse Documents — Filter by date, source, document type, and data set
- Explore People — View profiles of named individuals with linked documents, flights, and connections
- Flight Logs — Interactive flight records with routes, passengers, and dates
- Ask AI — Ask questions about the documents and get AI-powered answers with source citations
- Timeline — Chronological view of key events in the investigation
Data Integrity
Every document in this archive is sourced directly from the DOJ's official releases. We do not editorialize, alter, or selectively present materials. The archive includes the complete contents of all 12 data sets as published by the Department of Justice.
Our methodology page provides full details on how documents are processed, indexed, and made searchable.