Dozens of FBI interview records are missing from the Department of Justice’s public release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, raising new questions about transparency in one of the most high-profile criminal investigations of the past decade. Investigations by NPR and CNN indicate that a significant portion of witness interviews, including accounts connected to a woman who accused President Donald Trump of sexual abuse as a minor, are not publicly accessible.
In response to congressional pressure and the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the Justice Department released more than three million pages of documents tied to Epstein. The financier died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The release was intended to provide a comprehensive view of the scope of Epstein’s network and alleged crimes, yet gaps remain.
CNN reviewed an evidence log provided to lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate, and identified roughly 325 FBI witness interviews. Analysis of serial numbers and document logs indicates that more than 90 of these records do not appear on the DOJ’s public portal.
NPR conducted an independent examination of case files, discovery logs, and document metadata. Their review suggests that dozens of pages of FBI interviews and related notes, including more than 50 pages, are catalogued internally but absent from the public database.
Among the missing material are interviews with a woman who told the FBI in July 2019 that Epstein had abused her starting at age 13. Internal FBI records cited by NPR show she claimed that around 1983, Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump and that Trump forced her to perform oral sex before striking her. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Of the four FBI interviews with that accuser, only one, dated July 24, 2019, is publicly available. That report does not reference Trump. Discovery logs from the Maxwell trial suggest that further interviews took place in August and October 2019. NPR reports that approximately 53 pages of related interview material appear to be missing from public access.
A White House spokesperson told NPR that Trump “has done more for Epstein’s victims than anyone before him” and claimed he has been “totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein.” The Justice Department has maintained that any unpublished documents are duplicates, contain privileged information, or are part of ongoing investigations. After NPR’s findings, a department spokesperson emphasized that no records were withheld for reasons of embarrassment or political sensitivity.
Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said he reviewed unredacted DOJ evidence logs. “Oversight Democrats can confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews with this survivor who accused President Trump of heinous crimes,” Garcia said. Democrats on the committee have launched a parallel inquiry into the handling of the Epstein files.
Some documents removed temporarily from the DOJ website have been restored in recent weeks. NPR noted that an interview involving a second accuser, who said Epstein took her to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago, was initially removed and reposted in February. Other files, including interviews with the woman’s mother, remain offline. The department explained that temporary removals were related to additional redactions requested by victims or their lawyers.
The Justice Department has acknowledged that the sheer volume of released material increases the risk of errors in redaction. In a statement to NPR, the department said it is working “around the clock” to address concerns while protecting personal information.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution and served a prison sentence. He was arrested again in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors and died later that month. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking and is serving a 20-year prison term.
Victims and their legal representatives have criticized the department’s handling of the release. One survivor told a federal judge that failing to publish full interview records, even with names redacted, perpetuates secrecy. Lawyers for another accuser described the process as flawed, emphasizing that the DOJ has a responsibility to both protect anonymity and ensure transparency.
The absence of these records underscores broader challenges in releasing complex federal investigations to the public. Experts say gaps in documentation can undermine public trust, complicate accountability, and leave victims feeling that their experiences remain obscured. Analysts also point to systemic issues within large-scale document releases, where sheer volume and confidentiality constraints collide with the public’s demand for full disclosure.
