Failure to Redact Epstein Files Continuously Harms Victims

Thu Feb 05 2026 23:58:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Unredacted images in the Epstein files have caused outrage, leading to calls for immediate action to protect the identities and dignity of the victims involved.

Recent revelations show that unredacted and explicit images from Jeffrey Epstein's files have been online for multiple days despite warnings from victims' representatives of the harm caused. The Department of Justice has admitted errors in withholding sensitive information. Legal advocates assert that the public exposure of victims has caused 'irreparable harm' as the government pledges to reassess its redaction processes.

Unredacted images and videos showing nudity released in the Epstein files have been online for days despite US officials being warned about failures in redaction, which lawyers say has caused victims irreparable harm.

The files seen by BBC Verify are among thousands of documents lawyers say they have discovered that contain identifying information about dozens of Epstein's victims.

Victims groups first spoke out about the issue at the weekend when the New York Times reported nearly 40 separate images had been published as part of the Epstein files on Friday.

On Tuesday, a New York judge said the Department of Justice (DoJ) had agreed to quickly fix the issue after victims called for the website to be shut down until names and images could be properly redacted.

The DoJ removed thousands of documents from its website, stating that the files had been uploaded due to technical or human error. The department said it was continuing to examine new requests, as well as checking whether there were any other documents that might need further redaction.

BBC Verify found independently that a number of images of identifiable people were still online on Wednesday, despite the US government stating it was tackling the issue of incomplete redactions the previous day. We have approached the DoJ for comment and supplied the names of unredacted files.

The damage done is irreparable, Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing the victims, said in a statement.

Four of the images identified by BBC Verify showed partially clothed young females with their faces and bodies unredacted.

They were found during a general search of the millions of files released for evidence of Epstein's interactions with public figures.

Department of Justice (DoJ) officials were tasked with redacting all sexually explicit photos or any information which could identify victims before the latest tranche of Epstein files was due to be published over the Christmas period.

Ahead of the deadline set by Congress, deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had said the files would not be published on time, citing the extra work needed to safeguard victims' identities. We are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce making sure every victim - their name, their identity, their story, to the extent that it needs to be protected - is completely protected, he stated.

Lawyers for Epstein's victims have heavily criticised the DoJ for its failure to adequately protect hundreds of women identified in the files. We are getting constant calls from victims because their names – despite them never coming forward, being completely unknown to the public – have all just been released for public consumption, Edwards lamented.