The Justice Department is expected to release a tranche of records related to Jeffrey Epstein on Friday. (New York State Sex Offender Registry via AP, File)
The DOJ's behemoth effort has involved collecting records from multiple entities, including the FBI and the Southern District of New York, and then reviewing them for responsiveness to the transparency law and making redactions.
The National Security Division was tasked with reviewing the material and was still receiving new files as of this week, the sources said, meaning more files could be made public after Friday's deadline.
Bondi is facing intense pressure to adhere to the bill's deadline from victim advocates and Congress members, who have been warning nearly daily that the attorney general will face legal and political consequences if she does not deliver.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell were both indicted on federal sex trafficking charges stemming from Epstein's years of abuse of underage girls. (Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
He suggested Bondi could face legal repercussions, including possible prosecution from a future, hostile administration if the transparency law were not followed.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Friday's expected release marks the culmination of a matter that has roiled the administration all year, beginning with Bondi enraging Trump's base by hyping up a rollout of the case files and then failing to produce anything new.
Other DOJ leaders, including FBI Director Kash Patel, had accused the government of hiding a damaging list of sexual predators affiliated with Epstein prior to joining the administration, but those claims have not panned out.
The issue has been one of the most divisive within the Republican Party, as President Donald Trump, who was formerly among Epstein's many wealthy friends, also downplayed the files' significance, upsetting a faction of his supporters.
The president for months resisted signing the transparency bill, which had bipartisan support, but he relented as its passage became inevitable.
Alex Miller contributed to this report.
Ashley Oliver is a reporter for Fox News Digital and FOX Business, covering the Justice Department and legal affairs. Email story tips to ashley.oliver@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/justice-department-prepares-drop-trove-epstein-files-deadline-looms