The U.S. Department of Justice has told a federal court that it is still searching and reviewing records related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and may release them, according to a joint status report filed on 7 July with watchdog group Judicial Watch. The filing, part of Judicial Watch’s Freedom of Information Act lawsuit lodged in April after the government failed to answer three February requests, says the FBI has completed initial searches but is evaluating additional material before deciding what can be made public. The records include investigative files and documents that could identify Epstein’s associates. The court disclosure stands in stark contrast to an unsigned internal DOJ-FBI memo that leaked a day earlier indicating no further Epstein documents would be released, deepening questions about the department’s transparency. Under the latest schedule, the DOJ and FBI must continue processing the request and update the court on their progress later this year, while Judicial Watch says it will press ahead until all responsive material is produced.