Within hours, reporters noticed something strange. At least fifteen of the newly posted files disappeared from the DOJ website. The department said they were being reviewed again, but the sudden removal only fueled suspicion.
In Congress, frustration turned into action. Lawmakers had already passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and now they accused the DOJ of failing to follow it. Senators warned that they were prepared to take legal steps if the department did not comply. Staff began drafting the paperwork needed to pursue contempt charges against the Attorney General for missing the deadline and releasing heavily redacted material.
Meanwhile, the DOJ confirmed that hundreds of thousands of documents were still waiting to be released. Media outlets stepped in to fill the gap by building public databases so people could search the files themselves.
The fallout spread beyond Washington. Public scrutiny intensified, and individuals connected to Epstein once again found themselves under renewed attention as the story resurfaced.
The actions taken so far have not resolved the case. Instead, they have set the stage for a long, tense process that is still unfolding.