US authorities have discovered more than a million more documents potentially related to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein that they plan to release in the coming days and weeks, officials say.
The FBI and federal prosecutors in New York informed the Department of Justice (DoJ) of the discovery.
We have lawyers working around the clock to review and make the legally required redactions to protect victims, and we will release the documents as soon as possible, the DoJ said on Wednesday.
The department said it could take a few more weeks before all the files are released. The DoJ has been under scrutiny after not releasing all Epstein files by 19 December, the deadline mandated under a new law.
The agency said it would continue to fully comply with federal law and President Trump's direction to release the files.
The statement did not specify how the FBI and the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York came across the additional material. Epstein had been facing charges of sex trafficking minors in the state when he died awaiting trial in a New York prison.
The news comes after the justice department released thousands of documents - some heavily redacted - related to their investigations into Epstein.
The department has been releasing the documents in batches, with hundreds of thousands still awaiting release.
The files were released after Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act - signed into law by US President Donald Trump - that ordered the agency to share all documents with the public while protecting victims' identities.
Many of the released documents, which include videos, photos, emails and investigative documents, have heavy redactions, including names of people the FBI appears to cite as possible co-conspirators in the Epstein case.
The justice department has faced criticism from lawmakers on both sides over the amount of redactions, which the law permits only to protect victims' identities and active criminal investigations.
In a post on X after the discovery of the additional documents was announced, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee accused the White House of illegally withholding the files.
“Every day we see lies, incompetence, missed deadlines, and illegal redactions,” Representative Robert Garcia said in a statement.
The law passed by Congress and signed last month states that names and information that might be embarrassing or cause reputational harm are not allowed to be redacted. It specifically asks the DoJ for internal communications and memos detailing investigations and decisions made regarding Epstein or his associates.
Included in the documents are emails exchanged between FBI personnel in 2019 that mention 10 possible co-conspirators of Epstein.
These emails revealed that six of the group had been served with subpoenas, with locations spread across Florida, Boston, New York City, and Connecticut.
Possible co-conspirators are of major interest to Epstein's victims and lawmakers demanding more transparency from the justice department.
Recent releases of Epstein documents have revealed impactful details, including accounts that sparked international scrutiny.
In the latest release, a 2001 email sent from Balmoral to Epstein's associate Ghislaine Maxwell asks: Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?
This email has drawn significant attention in light of Maxwell's later conviction for sex trafficking of minors.
The BBC has contacted involved parties for responses, but they continue to deny wrongdoing amidst ongoing investigations.
