EPSTEIN FILES REVIEW BOARD — FIRST REPORT TO CONGRESS
Authority:
Epstein Files Transparency Act (November 2025)
Report Date: February 2026
REVIEW BOARD ESTABLISHMENT:
The Epstein Files Transparency Act established an independent Review Board tasked with:
- Examining classification claims by federal agencies
- Recommending declassification where public interest outweighs secrecy
- Monitoring agency compliance with disclosure timelines
- Reporting to Congress on the progress of document releases
FIRST REPORT FINDINGS:
SCOPE OF RECORDS IDENTIFIED:
Federal agencies have identified approximately
3.5 million pages of potentially responsive records:
-
FBI: approximately 1.2 million pages
-
DOJ (various components): approximately 800,000 pages
- Department of State: approximately 200,000 pages
- Intelligence community: approximately 150,000 pages (classified)
-
Bureau of Prisons: approximately 100,000 pages
- Other agencies: approximately 1.05 million pages combined
CLASSIFICATION CHALLENGES:
The Review Board identified several areas where classification claims require scrutiny:
- Intelligence agency records citing sources and methods protections
- State Department diplomatic communications
- Inter-agency referrals requiring multi-agency review
- Records touching on foreign government relationships
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Review Board recommended:
1. Expedited review of records where classification appears outdated
2. Declassification of records where the passage of time has reduced sensitivity
3. Additional resources for agencies struggling with review timelines
4. Public reporting on the volume and nature of records being withheld
COMPLIANCE STATUS:
As of February 2026:
- FBI: 60% of identified records released
- DOJ: 45% of identified records released
- Other agencies: 20-50% release rates
- Intelligence community: Under 10% released (most heavily redacted)
Source: Epstein Files Review Board
Available at: https://www.justice.gov/epstein