Some of the redacted text in documents released by the US Department of Justice in the Jeffrey Epstein case can be revealed using simple computer techniques, it has emerged.
The 11,034 files released on Monday following an order by lawmakers were widely met with ridicule as huge chunks of text and many images were blacked out.
But amateur sleuths soon discovered files where the redaction could be bypassed.
In some cases, strings of words or entire paragraphs which appear to be hidden by a black fill can be highlighted, copied and pasted elsewhere.
In other cases, Photoshop techniques could be used to separate the text from the black fill layered over it.
One example saw new light shed on a civil lawsuit in the Virgin Islands against Darren K. Indyke and Richard D. Kahn, two executors of Epstein’s estate.
An exhibit file used in the case against them contains redacted allegations about how Epstein facilitated the sexual abuse of children.
One newly-revealed portion of text states: ‘Between September 2015 and June 2019, Indyke signed (FAC) for over $400,000 made payable to young female models and actresses, including a former Russian model who received over $380,000 through monthly payments of $8,333 made over a period of more than three and a half years until the middle of 2019.’
Another part states: ‘Defendants also 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.
A third adds: ‘Epstein also instructed one or more Epstein Enterprise participant-witnesses to destroy evidence relevant to ongoing court proceedings involving Defendants’ criminal sex trafficking and abuse conduct.’
Virgin Islands prosecutors settled the case against the estate and the two men for $105 million (£78 million) in 2022, plus one half of the proceeds from the sale of Epstein’s private island.
The settlement did not include an admission of liability and neither of the men has been criminally indicted.
While the cause of this exploit has not been confirmed, it is likely an IT oversight by officials at the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Many techniques to black out parts of a document keep the hidden information in the file data unless additional steps are taken to render the new version as a separate new document.
The vast majority of files appear to have successfully been rendered in this way.
Under the law signed to force the DOJ to release the files, the only information that can be redacted is the identities of Epstein’s victims and any information under active criminal investigation.
Yet several survivors of Epstein’s abuse, who were previously anonymous, have discovered their names were left unredacted in some documents.
An attorney who represents has said the disclosures fall ‘far short’ of what is required by the law.
Helene Weiss’ comments came before the discovery of previously-redacted text, which in one case shows appears to show admin paperwork from a camera shop.
Indyke represented Epstein as an attorney for decades and was hired in 2022 by the Parlatore Law Group, which previously represented Donald Trump when he was prosecuted for storing classified documents at his Florida home.
The Guardian reported that attempts to seek comment from Indyke and the Parlatore Law Group have not been responded to.
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