when were the epstein files unsealed

The Epstein files were first unsealed in January 2024, when over 4,500 pages of documents from a defamation lawsuit involving Jeffrey Epstein were released by a federal judge after a court order. This initial release included names of more than 150 individuals connected to Epstein's legal proceedings. Further notable releases and developments around the Epstein files occurred between 2024 and 2025, including partial public releases in early 2024 and additional document disclosures labeled as "declassified" by Attorney General Pamela Bondi in February 2025. The Justice Department started delivering more files to Congress in August 2025, with some planned for public release.