Takeaways from the millions of newly released Epstein files

Millions of new files relating to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the US Department of Justice, the largest number of documents shared by the government since a law mandated their release last year.

Three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos were posted publicly on Friday.

The release came six weeks after the department missed a legal deadline signed into law by President Donald Trump that mandated all Epstein-related documents be shared with the public.

"Today's release marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process to ensure transparency to the American people and compliance," Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

The new files include new emails psychological reports into Jeffrey Epstein while he was in prison and many new details about Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate who was convicted of helping him traffic underaged girls.

They also include emails between Epstein and high-profile figures.

One email shows Lord Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK's ambassador to the US last year over his links to Epstein, discussing staying at Epstein's property. Another shows a conversation with Epstein and an account titled "The Duke".

Asked for a response, Lord Mandelson said he had been "very clear" about his relationship with Epstein in interviews with the BBC.

"I have nothing more to add," said the Labour peer. He has previously told the BBC that his relationship with Epstein had been a "terrible mistake".

They discuss having dinner at Buckingham Palace, where there is "lots of privacy". Another message from Epstein includes an offer to introduce "The Duke" to a 26-year-old Russian woman.

The BBC has contacted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for a response.

Mountbatten-Windsor has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein. He has repeatedly denied all wrongdoing, and said he did not "see, witness or suspect any behaviour of the sort that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction".

Blanche said hundreds of DoJ employees manually combed through the millions of documents, a feat that had them working long hours. He said it took them about 75 days to complete the review.

The department had been under heavy scrutiny after missing the 19 December deadline to release all files as mandated in the Epstein Files Transparency Act which, passed Congress and was signed into law in November.

Thousands of pages had already been made public in prior releases last month. Those have included photographs with high-profile political figures and celebrities, along with text messages and emails that shed light on Epstein's relationships with the rich and powerful.

The deputy attorney general said that after Friday, a total of 3.5m pages will have been released in compliance with the law.

Many of the documents released on Friday included redactions. The law, though, mandates that redactions could only be made to protect victims or information currently under investigation. It also mandates a summary of the redactions made and the legal basis for them.

Blanche said the DoJ redacted every woman that appears in an image or videos other than Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's associate who was convicted of helping him traffic underaged girls.

Anything identifying victims, depicting child sexual abuse or death, or jeopardising an active investigation has also been removed, he said.

The deputy attorney general also said that the files do not contain the names of specific men who abused women and that if the department had those names, the men would be prosecuted.

"I don't think that the public or you all are going to uncover men within the Epstein files that abused women, unfortunately," he said.

Some Democratic lawmakers were still not satisfied by Friday's document release, saying the department had already missed the deadline.

Democratic Congressman Roh Khanna, who spearheaded the Epstein Files Transparency Act alongside Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, said he's wary.

"The DOJ said it identified over 6 million potentially responsive pages but is releasing only about 3.5 million after review and redactions," Khanna said in a statement. "This raises questions as to why the rest are being withheld. I will be reviewing closely to see if they release what I've been pushing for."