Poll Reveals Overwhelming Public Dissatisfaction with Epstein Document Release
A mere 6% of Americans express satisfaction with the number of documents the federal government has made public concerning the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, according to a newly released poll conducted by CNN in partnership with the non-partisan research firm SSRS.
Partisan Breakdown Shows Limited Support Across Political Spectrum
When examining the data through a partisan lens, the figures reveal a consistent pattern of disapproval. Only 12% of Republicans surveyed indicated approval of the disclosure process. This number drops dramatically to just 3% among Democrats, with an equal share of independents expressing satisfaction. This cross-party consensus highlights a rare moment of agreement in an otherwise politically divided climate, centered on a perceived lack of government transparency.
Widespread Belief in Intentional Withholding of Information
The poll findings extend beyond simple dissatisfaction. A significant two-thirds of respondents stated they believe the Department of Justice is "intentionally" holding back crucial information related to the case. In stark contrast, a mere 16% of those polled felt the government was "making an effort to release all information possible." The remaining portion of respondents claimed they had not heard enough details about the ongoing case to form a definitive opinion.
Timing and Legal Context of the Poll
This survey was conducted between January 9 and January 12, coming just weeks after a critical congressional deadline. Congress had set December 19 as the date by which the DOJ was required to release all records pertaining to the Epstein investigation under the bipartisan Epstein Files Transparency Act.
In a related court filing dated January 5, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche provided context for the delays. They stated that the documents released to the public thus far represent only about 1% of an estimated 2 million pages still under active review. The filing emphasized that "substantial work remains to be done" to achieve full compliance with the congressional mandate.
Scale of the Document Review Process
To manage this enormous task, the Department of Justice has mobilized significant resources. According to official statements, the effort involves over 400 lawyers and more than 100 specially trained document analysts. This large team is tasked with the meticulous process of reviewing and redacting sensitive material from the voluminous files before they can be lawfully disclosed to the public. The scale of this operation underscores the complexity and sensitivity of the Epstein case records.
