Social media users show how to reveal redacted material in the Epstein files

Social media posts are revealing the redacted text in the Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Department of Justice, and some media users are demonstrating how to circumvent the censorship.

One posted video shows that copying and pasting the blacked-out text from a civil case against Darren K. Indyke and Richard D. Kahn, two executors of Epstein’s estate, can reveal redacted material.

A redacted line states that the defendants “attempted to conceal their criminal sex trafficking and abuse conduct by paying large sums of money to participant-witnesses, including by paying for their attorneys’ fees and case costs in litigation related to this conduct.”

The Justice Department, which has come under fire for the redactions, explained how the revelations are possible.

“Redactions were applied to those documents when they were filed in the respective court cases back in the day,” the department posted online. “We reproduced the documents as we had them in our possession.”

It’s unclear how many redactions can be reversed.

Since last week, the Justice Department has released thousands of documents about investigations of sex trafficker Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019, as required by a law enacted last month. The department has been criticized for delays in releasing and redacting the files, prompting accusations of political cover-up.

The Justice Department has said that many of the redactions were necessary to safeguard victims’ identities.

But speculation and suspicion have swirled due to Epstein’s associations with wealthy and powerful individuals such as former President Bill Clinton and President Trump and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former British prince.

The Justice Department has said there is no political motive behind the redactions.

“The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law — full stop. Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim,” the department posted online, quoting Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

What’s more, the department has said that some of the released materials are fake, adding to internet hypotheticals and speculation.

In the DOJ’s most recent release, a 12-second video appears to have been recorded at 4:29 a.m. the day of Epstein’s suicide in his prison cell, astounding social media users. The video’s time stamp was 2 hours before Epstein’s body was found in his cell.

But a related document reveals its fraudulent nature.

The video appears to match one that popped up on YouTube in 2019, and independent journalist Younes Ali Kabbaj emailed the video to federal investigators in 2021. The Washington Times has reached out to Mr. Kabbaj.

Another document shows a letter apparently from Epstein to fellow sex offender Larry Nassar in which he claimed the president “shares our love of young, nubile girls.” 

The letter also seemingly alludes to Epstein’s suicidal intentions, stating, “As you know by now, I have taken the ‘short route’ home.”

The Justice Department deemed the letter fabricated, saying the FBI flagged the letter and determined that it was fake.

Mr. Blanche took to social media to dismiss the “sensationalism and even outright lies” about the department’s Epstein-related document releases.

“But let’s separate fact from fiction. Document production is just that. We produce documents, and sometimes this can result in releasing fake or false documents because they simply are in our possession because the law requires this,” he posted.

The department has removed several Epstein files from its website for additional review and redaction.

Mr. Blanche noted the fake video of Epstein in his cell and his letter to Nassar, saying it contained someone else’s handwriting, an incorrect return address and was postmarked three days after Epstein died.