The U.S. Department of Justice released a tranche of previously unpublicized FBI files on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, adding new detail to the long‑standing investigation of convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein. Among the documents is a cover sheet and 13 pages of handwritten investigative notes—file number EFTA00004179—from an interview conducted on May 2, 2019. While the interviewee and portions of the text remain redacted, the notes describe how Epstein’s operatives recruited under‑age girls, the preferences he expressed for specific ages and ethnicities, and the locations where victims were allegedly taken.
Background of the Epstein investigation
Epstein, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to procuring a minor for prostitution, was indicted in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. He died by suicide in a Manhattan federal jail on Aug. 10, 2019 while awaiting trial. The case has remained a focal point for prosecutors, lawmakers and the media, spurring multiple congressional inquiries and the passage of the “Epstein Files Transparency Act” in November 2025, which required the Justice Department to disclose all unclassified records related to Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
Newly released FBI notes reveal recruitment details
The newly disclosed notebook, filed by the FBI, records a conversation in which a witness—identified only as “the procurer” in the redacted version—describes a “desperate time” and a shortage of girls who met Epstein’s narrow criteria. The witness mentions a “big Brazilian group” and a “dark‑skinned Dominican” who was presented, only for the witness to note, “JE didn’t want Spanish or dark girl.” The abbreviation “JE” is understood by investigators to stand for Jeffrey Epstein.
According to the notes, the procurer reported that Epstein sometimes paid the under‑age girls directly, while the source of payment for the “service” was unclear. The document also references a bathroom scene where Epstein allegedly told the witness, “can’t just bring girls he doesn’t like,” and instructed the witness to continue seeking suitable victims.
One entry states that Epstein asked to see identification for a girl to confirm she was under 18, indicating a concern that “older girls” had been mistakenly presented. The witness described the encounters as “rough,” with Epstein making “crazy noises” and touching the girls in a manner that appeared aggressive.
Photographs attached to the file depict girls aged 14 to 17 on beaches and at a high‑school prom, with locations named as the “41st St Apartment” in Manhattan, sites in Rochester and Brighton Beach, New York.
Legal and political fallout
Lawmakers have already accused the Justice Department of violating the Transparency Act by releasing only a portion of the files and heavily redacting key material. House Oversight Committee chair Robert Garcia said the administration’s “selective” disclosure undermines congressional oversight and the victims’ right to full accountability.Reuters
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters that the department expects to release “several hundred thousand” additional pages over the coming weeks, but pledged that no material that could jeopardize ongoing investigations or identify victims would be made public.
International connections and related arrests
The notes’ reference to a “big Brazilian group” aligns with earlier testimony from Marina Lacerda, a Brazilian immigrant who identified herself as “Minor‑Victim 1” in the 2019 federal indictment. Lacerda testified in September 2025 that she was recruited at age 14 and that she had seen Donald Trump with Epstein on multiple occasions, a claim the former president continues to deny.
French authorities arrested modeling mogul Jean‑Luc Brunel in 2022 on suspicion of trafficking and raping under‑age girls linked to Epstein’s network. Brunel, who died by suicide in a Parisian prison in February 2022, was known to have visited a Brazilian modeling agency in April 2019 to source new talent, a detail corroborated by multiple investigative reports.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime confidante, was also reportedly present on the Brazilian Riviera shortly after Epstein’s death, according to sources cited by the Guardian. Maxwell remains incarcerated in the United States, serving a 20‑year sentence for her role in the trafficking scheme.
What comes next
Legal experts warn that the redacted nature of the released documents may limit their utility in pending civil suits. “Victims need full access to the records to assess the scope of the wrongdoing and to pursue appropriate compensation,” said BBC legal analyst Sarah Albright.
The Justice Department has committed to a phased release schedule, with the next batch expected within two weeks. Advocacy groups have urged the department to expedite the process and to provide a clear timeline, noting that the statute of limitations for some related offenses could expire if delays persist.
For a comprehensive overview of the case’s development, see our Epstein case timeline on Globally Pulse.
