The release of thousands of pages of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's abuse by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has left some who were anxiously awaiting the files disappointed.
By law, the DOJ had to make all materials public by the end of Friday. But only some have been released, many with numerous redactions.
Lawmakers who pushed for these documents to see the light of day have described the DOJ's efforts as insincere, and some legal experts say that the redactions may only fuel ongoing conspiracy theories.
We just want all of the evidence of these crimes out there, Epstein survivor Liz Stein told the BBC.
Ms Stein expressed that the justice department was really brazenly going against the Epstein Files Transparency Act and voiced worries about a slow roll-out of incomplete information.
Marina Lacerda, who was a victim of Epstein at age 14, further echoed these concerns sharing her skepticism about the completeness of the forthcoming information.
Among the released information were notable photographs and documents, including incidences where Epstein reportedly introduced minor girls to high-profile figures. However, many documents were heavily redacted, raising additional suspicions among survivors and legal experts.
Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche stated the DOJ identified more than 1,200 Epstein victims and insisted upon redaction to protect their identities as well as national security interests. Yet, many still require clarity on the redactions.
Overall, survivors and activists are adamant about the need for full transparency with these documents to honor the victims and ensure accountability from the justice department.
