Todd Blanche Says Review of Jeffrey Epstein Sex-Trafficking Case “Is Over”

A major announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice has stirred fresh controversy in the long-running saga of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On February 1, 2026, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche — who has overseen the release of millions of pages of documents in the case — declared that the review of Epstein’s sex-trafficking files is “over” and that prosecutors will not be pursuing additional charges based on the material that has been collected so far. �
The Guardian +1
Blanche’s remarks came amid a flurry of newly released records and fierce criticism from survivors’ advocates and lawmakers who argue that the department has failed to fully comply with transparency requirements and has missed opportunities to hold powerful individuals accountable. �
The Guardian
What Blanche Actually Said
In televised interviews and public statements this weekend, Todd Blanche made clear that the internal Justice Department review of Epstein-related material — including emails, photographs, videos, and case files — has concluded, and that federal prosecutors do not see a legal basis for new criminal charges arising from the released records. �
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Blanche said that while the files contain “a lot of correspondence,” “emails,” and even “horrible photographs,” the existence of disturbing material alone does not establish grounds for prosecution without solid evidence that could stand in court. “Victims want to be made whole,” he said, “but that doesn’t mean we can just create evidence or come up with a case that isn’t there.” �
Las Vegas Review-Journal
He also stressed that the Justice Department has reviewed millions of documents — over six million pages, tens of thousands of images, and thousands of videos — and determined that nothing in those materials justified new indictments against additional individuals. �
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What This Means for Epstein and Maxwell’s Case
Epstein himself died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. His close associate Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 and is serving a lengthy prison sentence for her role in the sex-trafficking scheme. �
AP News
The newly completed review was conducted under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed by Congress that requires the federal government to release a vast collection of investigative records related to Epstein and Maxwell. Tens of thousands of pages, images, and videos have been released in recent weeks, with more material published under the law’s deadlines. �
Al Jazeera
Blanche and other DOJ officials have maintained that the department is fulfilling its legal obligations and releasing as much material as possible, while withholding only items that contain victim identifiers, privileged legal material, or content that could jeopardize ongoing investigations. �
AP News
Public and Political Reaction
Blanche’s announcement that the internal review is finished and that no new charges are pending has drawn sharp rebukes from survivors’ advocates, lawmakers, and legal observers.
Survivors and attorneys have argued that the released files still contain uncensored details of alleged abuse and connections with influential people, while the men who may have enabled or benefited from Epstein’s network remain unnamed or uncharged. Some survivors described the document release as “reckless” because it unintentionally exposed victim identities and fell short of full transparency. �
The Guardian
On Capitol Hill, Democratic lawmakers have openly expressed frustration with the pace and scope of the disclosure. Representative Ro Khanna, a co-sponsor of the transparency law, said in interviews that the department has only released “at best half” of the documents and that survivors remain unhappy with the handling of sensitive information. �
The Guardian
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and other congressional critics have echoed the sentiment that the DOJ’s work is not truly complete and that further disclosures or legal action may be necessary before accountability is achieved. �
The Guardian
Why Some Lawyers and Advocates Are Angry
Many survivors’ attorneys argue that a thorough, independent review should continue because:
Redaction errors have exposed some victims’ names despite DOJ promises to protect their identities. �
The Wall Street Journal
Released material has included problematic references to powerful figures, raising questions about accountability. �
News24
Survivors feel that even millions of pages of documents may only scratch the surface of what actually exists. �
The Guardian
In response to incomplete redactions, the DOJ has taken some files offline and said it will correct errors, but advocates say the damage has already been done. �
The Wall Street Journal
Does “This Review Is Over” Mean the Investigation Is Truly Finished?
Not necessarily. While Blanche says the DOJ’s internal legal review is complete and prosecutors won’t pursue new charges based on the currently available files, he also noted that a small number of documents remain pending judicial approval for release and that the department continues to work through procedural requirements. �
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In a separate comment, Blanche suggested that if new credible evidence emerges — whether from public scrutiny or future disclosures — the Justice Department remains technically open to pursuing legal action. �
New York Post
But for now, the department’s official stance is that its review is finished and that additional prosecutions are not supported by the material at hand. Critics counter that this effectively closes the book on the case without delivering the broader accountability many survivors expected.
What Comes Next? Transparency or Continued Dispute
The Epstein files release is ongoing, with millions of pages already public and more expected over coming months. Congress and courts may also play a role if lawmakers press for unredacted disclosures or judicial oversight of the remaining documents.
Some legal experts believe future developments could arise through:
Civil litigation by survivors or victims’ families.
Special master or court supervision of remaining redactions.
Congressional inquiries into unresolved questions about the scope of the files.
Meanwhile, the political debate over what the documents reveal — and what remains hidden — is likely to continue long after Blanche’s declaration that “the review is over.” Critics argue that without broader accountability, the public may never fully understand the extent of Epstein’s network or the role of those connected to him. �
News24