FBI Redaction Training and Instructions
Epstein document processing, training records, video references and missing materials
Snapshot
FBI redaction training and instructions document how the Bureau prepared Epstein material for review and possible release. The available record includes slide decks, short processing guides, exemption comparison charts, revised criteria, Adobe instructions, quality review messages and references to training videos.
Evidence coverage: 64 relevant EFTA document files, including apparent copies and supporting records; 20 acquired source PDFs, including all 11 FBI review release parts; and 31 groups of referenced material not obtained.
Completeness: All 11 parts were acquired from an Internet Archive mirror and their 940 pages screened through OCR, with selected scans visually verified. Named videos, transcript contents, native attachments and some revised instructions remain unavailable. Available evidence establishes a changing training and review process, but cannot establish every instruction delivered to reviewers.
Terms: IMD means Information Management Division. RIDS means Records/Information Dissemination Section. OTD means Operational Technology Division. ODAG means Office of the Deputy Attorney General. PII means personal identifying information.
EpsteinWiki preserves document identifiers and separates released evidence, reporting, OCR leads and missing material. Victim identifying search lists are described without reproducing their contents.
Important Points and Key Takeaways
Training changed over time. The shorter guidance, March 21 deck, hybrid category keys and March 22 and 23 revision chain describe different stages. Their instructions cannot be merged into a single rule.
The videos are documented but unavailable. The released packet names three SharePoint videos and identifies a later transcript import. Links below open the supporting records, not playable videos or actual transcripts.
Native attachments remain important. PDFs may omit speaker notes, embedded recordings, revision history and other presentation objects. A related released guide does not prove that a missing attachment had identical content.
Political redaction claims require additional evidence. Withheld instructions cannot establish their own contents. The recovered record does not prove that the missing videos directed removal of any particular political figure.
The starting point: the release behind the Portside article
Jason Leopold’s November 28, 2025 Bloomberg report, republished by Portside, described training for the FBI’s Epstein Transparency Project and linked to the original 71 page FBI release packet. That original PDF was obtained for this research. The reporting supplies a starting point; the records themselves permit a more detailed inventory of what was distributed and what remains missing.
The FBI’s November 24 response letter says it reviewed 220 pages and released 61. It separately states that responsive audiovisual material was withheld in full under exemptions covering privileged material, personal privacy and law enforcement information. Portside reports more than 161 pages withheld. The article’s figure and the letter’s page accounting should remain separately attributed; neither establishes the total number of missing training products. See the original packet, pages 1 and 2.
The packet is also represented in the released corpus as EFTA00163971. Page numbers below refer to that parent document. Its EFTA page stamps help locate records inside the packet; a page stamp is not necessarily the start of a separate downloadable document.
The recovered instructions: names, photographs and Adobe processing
The most substantial recovered training product is the 25 page March 21, 2025, 11 am IMD Processing Guidance deck, found at EFTA00172329 and EFTA00172446. These are apparent copies. Their text was inspected, but byte identity and the original presentation files have not been established.
The deck instructs reviewers to handle victim names, including spelling variations and first names; inspect photographs under specified rules; redact precise personal identifying information; and distinguish FBI and DOJ personnel whose names should be removed from personnel whose names could remain. Its employee provisions include a senior executive exception and refer to a separate release list. That list’s full native content was not obtained.
Its operational instructions cover OCR, importing search terms, whole word matching, reviewing matches in context and drawing precise redaction boxes. It addresses handwritten material, classification banners, folder handling and changes between shifts. These instructions show that search matches were inputs to human review. The recovered text does not demonstrate how consistently reviewers applied them.
A shorter two page Epstein Project Processing Guidance appears under seven identifiers: EFTA00161485, EFTA00161592, EFTA00163142, EFTA00163144, EFTA01649097, EFTA01655727, EFTA01655729. It describes victim names and precise PII, manual review, separate see through and sealed copies, and instructions about exemption labels and classification banners. Its scope should not be silently expanded to include every rule in the later deck.
An eight page Adobe Pro processing manual appears at EFTA01655209. It explains prepared files, user folders, automated highlighting, manual redaction, output copies and further assignments. Some steps appear struck through in the extracted text. Those apparent deletions require original image comparison before they can be treated as revisions.
There was more than one standard
The March 16 comparison chart at EFTA00164582 distinguishes ordinary FBI FOIA processing from the discretionary Epstein transparency release. It indicates that several ordinary exemptions would be waived or narrowed for this project. The chart establishes a contemporaneous processing standard; it does not resolve the legal basis of every redaction or later FOIA withholding.
The category keys also differ. EFTA00164563 contains 25 category codes across six exemptions. The March 16 Attachment C at EFTA00164583 contains 26, including a category for other third party identifying information. A marked two page key at EFTA00164564 requires visual confirmation of apparent deletions. The March 16 tasking preserved in EFTA01649135 and EFTA01649137 describes a hybrid FBI FOIA and civil litigation standard and refers to training and accompanying memoranda.
These differences make version control central to the investigation. A policy attachment, a short operational guide, a training slide and a later instruction email can describe different stages of the operation. Treating them as one permanent rule would erase the record of changes.
The March 22 and 23 change in scope
The Leopold packet records continuing DOJ discussions and preparations for revised instructions. Page 38, stamped EFTA00164008, says additional criteria remained under discussion on March 22. Instruction messages on pages 31, 44, 47 and 56 contain withheld substantive text. The March 23 messaging update is now available in another FOIA copy, Part 06, PDF page 247. Other withheld revisions remain gaps.
The Democracy Defenders Fund supplemental release supplies another important version of the approval chain. At PDF page 121, Bates FBI(25-cv-2791)-401, a March 23 email attaches Epstein Transparency Project Processing Guidance_mgsv2_cm.docx. The filename was checked against the original scanned image. The email describes weekend FBI and DOJ coordination and a revised review and redaction plan. The attachment itself was not obtained.
The chain records DOJ approval late on March 22 and plans to launch training at 0900 the following morning, while awaiting Category 5 material. Subsequent pages describe additional categories and a relaunch of Phase 1. Much of the actual outline and category content remains redacted. The emails establish an approval and revision process; they do not establish the undisclosed definition of Category 5.
The project overview at EFTA00172473 separately describes the March 22 expansion, March 23 training and March 25 delivery. The DDF release contains another overview variant at Bates FBI(25-cv-2791)-2 through 6. Those versions need comparison by date, page content and attachments, rather than an assumption that similar titles mean identical records.
Recovered March 23 instructions and corrections
Part 06, PDF page 247 contains a March 23, 2025, 1:40 pm email from Justin Williams, Bates FBI(25-cv-4270)-760. It relays DOJ messaging from 1:15 pm with an ODAG example. The instructions require redaction of sealed page content while leaving the SEALED marker visible, and redaction of detailed descriptions of sexual acts. General narrative about a tour or room remains in the example. These are recovered written directions, rather than deductions about a withheld body.
Part 10, PDF pages 31 and 32 shows why the correction mattered. ODAG reported hearing that training told reviewers to exclude sealed material entirely and questioned whether instructions on sexual act descriptions had reached the field. Williams said he attended the training and saw the example leaving the SEALED marker visible. The chain documents conflicting understandings and a clarification; it does not establish every reviewer’s practice.
The same March 23 chain corrects a 1037 disclosure list whose names occupied two tabs with a 1205 version. A later 4:42 pm message attaches Public Release List_2025.03.23 1630.xlsx, refined to avoid conflicts with victim and witness entries. It says earlier work can be corrected during review. The messages are recovered; the full underlying lists are not.
Part 02, PDF page 18 visually confirms a separate March 22 draft, Epstein Transparency Project Processing Guidance_mgsv2.docx, attached to Michael Seidel’s 8:52 pm Draft Processing Framework email. He recommends DOJ approval before training. Its substantive policy body is withheld. This draft must remain distinct from the later mgsv2_cm.docx in the DDF release.
Training delivery, employee exceptions and later versions
Part 06, PDF page 246 records a March 21 correction: the surge team had not received FBI-DOJ employee names for Release_03.21.2025.pdf. Williams directs redistribution and SharePoint upload. The email describes 14 employee name exceptions and says the victim list remains at 1,113 entries. That entry count is not an established count of unique victims. The actual attached employee list remains unobtained.
Part 06, PDF page 228 contains March 16 planning for March 17 and 18 training, conversion of experienced processors into reviewers, a one hour virtual reviewer session and a one page reviewer reference with current updates. The planning message does not prove that every requested aid or session was delivered. Page 241 separately confirms Epstein Adobe Pro Processing Guidance_UPDATED 20250319.pdf as a March 19 attachment; its full specific contents remain a gap.
Part 10, PDF pages 4 and 5 shows April 5 transmission of Transparency Project Processing Guide (1).pdf to Lionel Kennedy following an April 4 request for the FBI’s Epstein training slides and any newer FAQs. The full exact attachment and any later FAQ versions were not obtained. Similar guide titles cannot establish identical contents.
Staff complaint about training and processing
Part 09, PDF pages 69 and 70 contains a March 24, 2025 whistleblower complaint, Bates FBI(25-cv-3200)-1612 and -1613. The writer alleges changing victim lists, repeated processing, untrained personnel, excessive shifts and risks to protected information. The complaint also alleges that reviewers were instructed to flag mentions of the current President. These are allegations in a released complaint, not independently established findings. Flagging a mention does not establish that it was redacted.
The original complaint scan contains internally inconsistent dates, including references to March 2024 and a March 29 event in an email dated March 24, 2025. Its detailed chronology therefore needs independent corroboration. The inconsistencies must not be silently corrected into a verified timeline.
Part 09, PDF pages 66 and 67 contains the March 25 OIC response, Bates FBI(25-cv-3200)-1606 and -1607. It says the office could not adequately address the matter and referred it through Assistant Director Catherine Bruno to DOJ OIG, with consent to provide the complainant’s identity. OIC considered its own matter closed. The response does not establish that OIG opened an investigation or reached findings.
The videos exist as named records; their contents remain unavailable
EFTA01655207 is a March 19, 2025 training invitation. Visual inspection of the original PDF confirms the attachment names Epstein_Project_-3.18.25_Training.pptx and Processing_Instructions_-_Special_Project.pdf, plus an unnamed item. Earlier OCR misread the PowerPoint filename. The message says the folder creation link would be sent on FBINet. Although the invitation displays Teams meeting words, the released PDF has no embedded attachments or active link annotations. It does not establish whether the missing presentation contains video.
Page 45 of the Leopold packet, stamped EFTA00164015, names three SharePoint training videos: How to use the SharePoint Site, How to redact using Adobe, and Transparency Training video. None of those videos was obtained for this research. Their titles identify subjects, not the complete instructions delivered in them.
Page 71, stamped EFTA00164041, contains an import cover for Transparency Project SharePoint Video Transcripts, serial 36 in case 62F-HQ-A4051821, dated October 14, 2025. The transcript contents are absent. A cover proves a record reference; it cannot substitute for the transcript. Page 70 similarly identifies a Public Release List imported as serial 23, without supplying the underlying list.
Native presentations also matter. A PDF can omit speaker notes, embedded recordings and other objects. A March 19 invitation at EFTA01655207 references an early training deck and a special project processing PDF. A later distribution message lists additional training and search inputs. Those references remain separate acquisition targets even when a related PDF guide has been recovered.
Internet Archive’s review collection supplied all 11 PDFs and their OCR, but its file listing contains no playable training video or native presentation. Searches of public indexes and Reddit discussion did not locate an authenticated copy of the named recordings. This search result cannot establish that no copy exists elsewhere.
Reddit discussion of the July 2026 admission links and discusses reporting about the videos; the retrieved thread does not supply the FBI training recordings. News and podcast videos about the controversy must remain distinct from the original training videos.
Allison Gill’s August 23, 2026 report says litigation identified more than an hour of training videos. That duration is attributed to her reporting because the underlying joint status report was not acquired. Her accompanying broadcast is commentary about the dispute, not a recovered FBI training recording.
The available records therefore do not establish every instruction delivered through video, or whether a withheld video directed removal of any particular political figure. Such a claim would require the actual content or independently corroborating evidence.
| Named material | Source reference | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| How to use the SharePoint Site | Supporting email, PDF page 45 | Video unavailable. The link opens the record naming the video. A playable public copy was not obtained. |
| How to redact using Adobe | Supporting email, PDF page 45 | Video unavailable. The link opens the record naming the video. A playable public copy was not obtained. |
| Transparency Training video | Supporting email, PDF page 45 | Video unavailable. The link opens the record naming the video. A playable public copy was not obtained. |
| Transparency Project SharePoint Video Transcripts | Import cover, PDF page 71; serial 36 | Transcript contents unavailable. The link opens the parent packet containing the import cover. |
The workflow continued beyond the slide deck
Photograph and media correspondence at EFTA01649100, EFTA01649104, EFTA01649108, EFTA01649154 documents requests for clearer guidance and changing instructions on March 17. Those chains address protected imagery, uncertain victim identification and other media questions. Their timestamps matter: a question or temporary instruction should not be treated as the final rule.
The March 24 packet messages report Phase 1 completion and continuing Phase 2 review. Page 69, stamped EFTA00164039, reports 75.2 percent completion of the new criteria review and plans to send see through copies to DOJ. That figure is a status report at a particular time, not proof that every underlying record was ultimately released.
The March 25 receipt at EFTA00161465 lists 16 handoff deliverables. FBI review Part 06 contains additional Adobe sealing and see through guides, recovered in the acquired Internet Archive PDF. Relevant locations are Bates FBI(25-cv-4270)-267 through 270 and -274 through 287. That mirror text was inspected and the original mirror PDF acquired, with selected scans visually verified. Native presentations remain unobtained.
Audio redaction generated its own instructions. August 1 correspondence in the DDF first tranche, PDF pages 15 through 17, requests written directions and describes names, timing and quality checks before transmission to ODAG. The related August records at EFTA01656850 and other identifiers track audio processing. They do not supply the complete underlying instruction and timing lists.
A September 25 archival inventory at EFTA00172532 says the project was scanned into the 62F case file and compared with Teams folders. It explicitly lists scoping guidance, a March 17 memorandum and Training Communications Parts 1 and 2. That is a concrete completeness lead. The actual archived records and full case index remain to be acquired.
The withheld overview named in the Portside report
The original Leopold packet, page 20, Bates FBI(25-cv-2848)-60, shows a May 2 email with the subject INITIAL DRAFT of Epstein Overview and the attachment Epstein Overview FINAL (draft 1).docx. The filename was visually verified. The email says the draft still needed IMD and possibly other headquarters contributions; it also describes uncertainty about which timeline items had reached DOJ.
The attachment was withheld in that release. Its title contains FINAL, but its filename and email describe a draft. It must remain a distinct missing item. The existence of other released overview documents does not establish that they reproduce this specific attachment.
Later DOJ instructions and the broader FBI manuals
The January 4, 2026 DOJ Attorney Review Protocol is a separate nine page set of instructions for the later EFTA review. It covers responsiveness, document tags, victim and associate identifying information, photographs, government employee information, sealed material and privilege. Its automated highlights require review and can be underinclusive or overinclusive. The protocol also distinguishes document formats, including spreadsheets and images.
Pages 7 through 9 contain detailed image, employee and privilege provisions. The protocol discusses tracking politically exposed persons and officials for reporting purposes; identifying or tagging a name is not by itself an instruction to redact it. This later DOJ protocol should be compared with the March 2025 project standards, while preserving their different dates, purposes and issuing authorities.
For baseline FBI procedures, a 111 page released FOIA SOP collection was acquired. It contains historical intake, processing, referral and classification instructions. The FBI also publishes a two part FOIA Appeals, Intake and Processing SOP collection, but its large original PDFs were not obtained here. A court opinion in Stein v. DOJ references a 369 page FDPS manual; that opinion establishes an existence lead, not acquisition of the manual. The current FDPS manual, RIDS curriculum and all Bureau wide historical redaction courses remain outside the recovered set.
What could not be obtained
The following table names all 31 outstanding material groups identified in the research. “Not obtained” means unavailable to this investigation. It does not always mean the government withheld the item: some contents are explicitly redacted, some attachments are referenced without their full contents, some native versions are missing, and some originals could not be retrieved even though text or an official listing was accessible.
All 11 FBI review PDFs are now included as Internet Archive mirror copies. Their 940 pages were screened through OCR and selected scans visually checked. Acquisition records document file URLs, byte counts and hashes checked against archive metadata. Those checks establish mirror integrity; direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. A page search is not a visual review of every page.
| Material not obtained | Record location | Availability and evidence limits |
|---|---|---|
| Epstein Overview FINAL (draft 1).docx | Leopold original PDF page 20, FBI(25-cv-2848)-60, May 2, 2025 | Attachment withheld in this packet. Email calls it an initial draft awaiting IMD and other additions. Do not assume it is identical to other released overview versions. |
| How to use the SharePoint Site | EFTA00163971 PDF page 45 | Named in released email; video not obtained. |
| How to redact using Adobe | EFTA00163971 PDF page 45 | Named in released email; video not obtained. |
| Transparency Training video | EFTA00163971 PDF page 45 | Named in released email; video not obtained. |
| Transparency Project SharePoint Video Transcripts | 62F-HQ-A4051821 serial 36; EFTA00164041, parent PDF page 71 | Only import cover obtained. Request actual transcript and all attachments; import date October 14, 2025. |
| Public Release List and March 23 revisions | Serial 23; Part 06 PDF page 247, Bates 760; Part 10 PDF pages 31 and 32, Bates 511 and 512 | Import cover acquired. Emails identify versions 1037, 1205 and 1630; 1205 corrects formatting and 1630 deconflicts victim/witness entries. Actual lists and revision history not obtained. |
| Epstein_Project_-3.18.25_Training.pptx | EFTA01655207 | Exact filename visually verified against EFTA01655207. Native attachment not embedded in the released PDF. Do not assume identical to March 21 deck. |
| Processing_Instructions_-_Special_Project.pdf | EFTA01655207 | Referenced attachment; possible relationship to Adobe manual remains unproven. |
| Epstein Transparency Project Processing Guidance_mgsv2_cm.docx | DDF combined PDF page 121, FBI(25-cv-2791)-401 | Exact filename visually verified. March 23 corrected scope chain. Full attachment and prior versions not obtained. |
| March 22 training deck, version 1 | EFTA00163971 PDF page 29, EFTA00163999 | Part of filename obscured or misread; request original message with native attachment and embedded media. |
| FBI-DOJ employee names for Release_03.21.2025.pdf | Part 06 PDF page 246, FBI(25-cv-4270)-758 | Released email confirms a 14 name exception list, missing from initial surge team delivery, and a victim list with 1,113 entries. Full attached employee list not obtained. |
| CH Tracking Template.xlsx | EFTA00163971 PDF page 29 | Referenced native spreadsheet; contents not obtained. |
| Epstein Search Terms.txt and Epstein Search Terms 2.0.txt | March 21 deck and EFTA00163971 PDF page 29 | Preserve both versions and revisions. Inventory describes purpose without exposing victim identifiers. |
| Epstein Vic Identifiers Final Combined Deduped.xlsx / .txt | March 21 deck and EFTA00163971 PDF page 29 | Native versions and revision history needed. Do not publish victim identifiers. |
| Epstein Combined Victim List 03182025 at 1727.xlsx and source exports | EFTA01649054 / EFTA02730045 | Filename normalized from OCR. Includes Sentinel, CACHTU, SDNY VNS inputs and corrections. Native content not obtained. |
| Hybrid redaction standard and overall memorandum | EFTA01649135 / EFTA01649137 | Reference to 26 category hybrid standard; request signed memo, EC and all attachments. |
| Scoping Guidance; March 17 Memo; Training Communications Parts 1 and 2 | EFTA00172532, 62F archival inventory | Explicitly listed as archived. Exact serials not established. Request full 62F index and attachments. |
| Epstein Transparency Project Processing Guidance_mgsv2.docx | Part 02 PDF page 18, FBI(25-cv-3200)-293; duplicate chain in Part 03 | Original mirror scan visually confirms March 22 draft attachment and request for DOJ approval before training. Substantive policy text withheld; native draft not obtained. Distinct from mgsv2_cm.docx. |
| Category 5 materials and DOJ approved review outline | DDF combined PDF pages 121 to 128, Bates 401 to 411 | Training was scheduled for 0900 pending delivery. Full category definition and redacted outline unavailable; no inference about whose names it covered. |
| Other withheld instruction revisions | EFTA00163971 PDF page 56, EFTA00164026; comparison Part 06 PDF page 247 | March 23 update is now recovered in Part 06, including sealed markers, sexual act descriptions and corrected list. Later updated instruction body in the Leopold packet remains withheld; native versions and remaining revisions not obtained. |
| Adobe Redaction Guide: Sealing Final Redactions.pptx | Part 06 PDF pages 9 to 12, FBI(25-cv-4270)-267 to 270 | Original mirror PDF guide acquired and OCR inspected; cover visually verified. Native presentation, notes and embedded objects not obtained. |
| Adobe Redaction Guide: Adding/Editing See Through.pptx | Part 06 PDF pages 13 to 26, FBI(25-cv-4270)-274 to 287 | Original mirror PDF guide acquired and OCR inspected. Native presentation, notes and embedded objects not obtained. |
| Book1 working spreadsheet and evidence review sheets | EFTA01660810 | Exact filename must be visually checked; native spreadsheet unavailable. |
| March 25 handoff supporting files | EFTA00161465 and EFTA00172473 | Inventory with page counts, classified summary, final counts, 31E and 50D flagged lists, sample, AG/DAG memorandum and absent items list need native version comparison. |
| OTD and ODAG written audio redaction instructions and timing lists | DDF first tranche PDF pages 15 to 17, Bates 18 to 20 | Emails request written directions and describe forthcoming names and timing; actual instruction list not obtained. |
| SharePoint and Teams pages, change history, FAQs, Q&A, tracking logs | Distribution emails and EFTA00172532 | Capture historical versions, permissions, file hashes, embedded media, speaker notes and deleted/replaced versions. |
| All video segments, including embedded PowerPoint videos | Gill reporting dated August 23, 2026 | Reporter states over one hour identified in litigation. Primary underlying status report not acquired; duration remains reporting attribution. |
| FDPS manual and current RIDS training curriculum | 369 page FDPS manual referenced in Stein v DOJ; annual FOIA reports | Historical existence supported by court record. Current manual, job aids, redaction technical instructions, updated SOPs and training materials remain uncollected. |
| Reviewer desk reference and virtual reviewer training | Part 06 PDF page 228, FBI(25-cv-4270)-709 | March 16 planning requests a one page reviewer aid with latest updates and one hour virtual training. Actual aid, course and proof of delivery not obtained. |
| Epstein Adobe Pro Processing Guidance_UPDATED 20250319.pdf | Part 06 PDF page 241, FBI(25-cv-4270)-745 | March 19 attachment name visually verified. Full specific attachment and comparison with other Adobe manuals not obtained. |
| Transparency Project Processing Guide (1).pdf and April FAQ versions | Part 10 PDF pages 4 and 5, FBI(25-cv-4270)-74 and 75 | April 5 training guide transmission and April 4 request for slides and newer FAQs recovered. Full exact attachment and any later FAQs not obtained; do not assume identical to another guide. |
Search Scope and Remaining Gaps
The search covered a community extraction containing 1,416,686 unique document identifiers and 2,915,448 pages, with checks against official FBI and DOJ publication indexes, separately released FOIA packets and the Portside source. Queries addressed project names, redaction training, processing instructions, search terms, Vaughn categories, see through copies, guidance, scope and quality review. Candidate records were screened for relevance, and repeated versions were retained with separate identifiers.
The community corpus is a secondary extraction of released text. OCR failures, missing image text, attachment omissions and material outside that release can defeat full text searching. Mirror OCR and metadata leads are marked accordingly. No hidden text reconstruction or attempted recovery of victim identities was used.
The resulting package is a documented search and acquisition inventory with open gaps. It contains the recovered public PDFs, 64 released text extracts, source links, hashes and the missing material ledger. Closing the inventory requires the 62F case index, all referenced native attachments and revisions, the three videos and their transcripts, and the withheld scope and approval material.
Evidence Appearances and Document Inventory
The following catalog preserves all 64 selected EFTA document files. Repeated versions and supporting context remain separately identifiable. Unless a row says otherwise, the released text extraction was inspected and the original PDF was not acquired. Apparent duplicates are not counted as independent training products.
Training and instructions
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA00172329 | Epstein Transparency Project IMD Processing Guidance | 25 page deck dated March 21, 2025, 11 am. Includes victim and employee name rules, photographs, precise PII, OCR, search term import, contextual review, folder handling and shift changes. Apparent duplicate copies; not proven byte identical. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00172446 | Epstein Transparency Project IMD Processing Guidance | 25 page deck dated March 21, 2025, 11 am. Includes victim and employee name rules, photographs, precise PII, OCR, search term import, contextual review, folder handling and shift changes. Apparent duplicate copies; not proven byte identical. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00161485 | Epstein Project Processing Guidance | Two page guidance limiting redactions to identified victim names and precise PII. Requires manual review, precise boxes, no exemption labels, no removal of classification banners, and separate see through and sealed copies. Preserve all seven IDs as apparent copies. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00161592 | Epstein Project Processing Guidance | Two page guidance limiting redactions to identified victim names and precise PII. Requires manual review, precise boxes, no exemption labels, no removal of classification banners, and separate see through and sealed copies. Preserve all seven IDs as apparent copies. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00163142 | Epstein Project Processing Guidance | Two page guidance limiting redactions to identified victim names and precise PII. Requires manual review, precise boxes, no exemption labels, no removal of classification banners, and separate see through and sealed copies. Preserve all seven IDs as apparent copies. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00163144 | Epstein Project Processing Guidance | Two page guidance limiting redactions to identified victim names and precise PII. Requires manual review, precise boxes, no exemption labels, no removal of classification banners, and separate see through and sealed copies. Preserve all seven IDs as apparent copies. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649097 | Epstein Project Processing Guidance | Two page guidance limiting redactions to identified victim names and precise PII. Requires manual review, precise boxes, no exemption labels, no removal of classification banners, and separate see through and sealed copies. Preserve all seven IDs as apparent copies. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01655727 | Epstein Project Processing Guidance | Two page guidance limiting redactions to identified victim names and precise PII. Requires manual review, precise boxes, no exemption labels, no removal of classification banners, and separate see through and sealed copies. Preserve all seven IDs as apparent copies. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01655729 | Epstein Project Processing Guidance | Two page guidance limiting redactions to identified victim names and precise PII. Requires manual review, precise boxes, no exemption labels, no removal of classification banners, and separate see through and sealed copies. Preserve all seven IDs as apparent copies. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01655209 | Epstein Project: Adobe Pro Processing Guidance | Eight page manual for Special Project 0318. Covers user folders, prepared PDFs, manual redaction, see through and sealed versions, hidden information removal, working copy deletion and further assignments. Some steps appear struck through; visual PDF confirmation needed before interpreting revisions. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164563 | Standard Vaughn Index Coding Explanation: Applied List re Epstein | Lists 25 category codes across six exemptions. Distinct from the 26 category version; do not collapse them. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164564 | RIDS Standard Vaughn Index Coding Explanation of Code Numbers | Two page marked version with apparent deletions. Needs image comparison to distinguish strikeouts from OCR artifacts. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164582 | Attachment B: FOIA Processing Comparison Chart | March 16, 2025 comparison of routine FBI FOIA exemptions and discretionary Epstein transparency release rules. Several exemptions are waived or narrowed. This concerns project standards, not the legal basis for every later withholding. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164583 | Attachment C: Standard Vaughn Applied List for Epstein Redactions | March 16, 2025. Lists 26 category codes across six exemptions, including a category for other third party identifying information. Compare with the 25 category list at EFTA00164563. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
Training delivery and revisions
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA01655207 | IMD Special Project training invitation | March 19, 2025 email references Epstein_Project_-3.18.25_Training.pptx and Processing_Instructions_-_Special_Project.pdf. Filename visually confirmed in the user supplied original PDF. The attachment listing also contains an unnamed item. The folder creation link was to be sent on FBINet; the rendered Teams words have no surviving PDF link annotation. The invitation does not establish that either attachment is identical to the released manuals. Inspection: User supplied original PDF inspected visually and for embedded files and links; no embedded attachments or link annotations found. |
| EFTA00162949 | Re: Epstein Project Redaction | March 19, 2025 chain about a Teams training invitation, prepared files and the auto redactor. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164318 | Re: Epstein redactions | March 11, 2025 message states redactions will be done in Winchester using the IMD tool. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164444 | Re: Epstein overnight project | March 18 and 19 messages requesting overnight staffing and Adobe Pro instructions for victim names and PII. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01655217 | Fw: Epstein | March 19, 2025 workforce message about overnight redaction work and relief staffing. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649111 | Re: Epstein Transparency Project Sync | March 16, 2025 discusses sending an instructor to New York in April to train a larger group of redactors. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649114 | Epstein: Moving Forward | March 13, 2025 proposal for one or two weeks of FDPS training in Winchester followed by remote redaction in field offices. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649041 | FW: IMD SitRep 3/14/25 | March 14, 2025 corrects the number of NYFO personnel scheduled for March 17 FOIA training from two to four. References Epstein_Project_Daily_Updates_3.14.25.docx. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649124 | RE: NYO travelers to DC/Winchester for Epstein | March 2025 staffing and travel correspondence supporting the review operation. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649135 | Epstein Transparency Project Equity Processing Tasking | March 26 forwarding chains preserve March 16 tasking. States hybrid FBI FOIA and civil litigation standards, 26 category codes within six exemptions, and IMD training for participants. References hybrid standard and overall memorandum attachments. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649137 | Epstein Transparency Project Equity Processing Tasking | March 26 forwarding chains preserve March 16 tasking. States hybrid FBI FOIA and civil litigation standards, 26 category codes within six exemptions, and IMD training for participants. References hybrid standard and overall memorandum attachments. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
Media and photo instructions
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA01649100 | Guidance NEEDED: 50D case 1B items | March 17, 2025 chains seek and revise media and photograph instructions, including CSAM and other protected imagery. These messages contain different points in a developing decision; read them in timestamp order. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649104 | Guidance NEEDED: 50D case 1B items | March 17, 2025 chains seek and revise media and photograph instructions, including CSAM and other protected imagery. These messages contain different points in a developing decision; read them in timestamp order. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649108 | Guidance NEEDED: 50D case 1B items | March 17, 2025 chains seek and revise media and photograph instructions, including CSAM and other protected imagery. These messages contain different points in a developing decision; read them in timestamp order. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01649154 | Guidance NEEDED: 50D case 1B items | March 17, 2025 chains seek and revise media and photograph instructions, including CSAM and other protected imagery. These messages contain different points in a developing decision; read them in timestamp order. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
Review workflow and quality control
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA01660790 | RE: Review/Redaction of JE evidence | March 20, 2025 access and technical support instructions for DCAP, review desktops, account permissions and evidence folders. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01660810 | FW: Review/Redaction of JE evidence | March 21 chain about reassignment to 90A evidence, use of uniform tracking sheets, and the Book1 working spreadsheet attachment. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
Lists and search inputs
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA01649054 | Re: Minor Victim List: 50D case | March 18, 2025 compilation instructions describe Sentinel, SDNY VNS and reviewer sources, age limitations, discrepancies, and further care before OCR use. The list itself is sensitive; this inventory does not reproduce victim identities. Copies appear in datasets 10 and 11. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA02730045 | Re: Minor Victim List: 50D case | March 18, 2025 compilation instructions describe Sentinel, SDNY VNS and reviewer sources, age limitations, discrepancies, and further care before OCR use. The list itself is sensitive; this inventory does not reproduce victim identities. Copies appear in datasets 10 and 11. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01684202 | Case indexes for six Epstein related cases | March 12, 2025 chains state that in the absence of a names list, all names, phone numbers, DOBs and emails in indexes were redacted except Epstein and Maxwell; attorney and organization names and sensitive techniques were also removed. This is an index instruction, not a rule proven to govern every case document. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01684203 | Case indexes for six Epstein related cases | March 12, 2025 chains state that in the absence of a names list, all names, phone numbers, DOBs and emails in indexes were redacted except Epstein and Maxwell; attorney and organization names and sensitive techniques were also removed. This is an index instruction, not a rule proven to govern every case document. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
Audio redaction correspondence
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA01656193 | Re: Connecting with OAG/OASG | August 2025 versions of correspondence on audio redactions, follow up tasks, split recordings and release questions. Preserve versions and attachments; not a recovered audio training video. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01656195 | Re: Connecting with OAG/OASG | August 2025 versions of correspondence on audio redactions, follow up tasks, split recordings and release questions. Preserve versions and attachments; not a recovered audio training video. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01656848 | Re: Connecting with OAG/OASG | August 2025 versions of correspondence on audio redactions, follow up tasks, split recordings and release questions. Preserve versions and attachments; not a recovered audio training video. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01656849 | Re: Connecting with OAG/OASG | August 2025 versions of correspondence on audio redactions, follow up tasks, split recordings and release questions. Preserve versions and attachments; not a recovered audio training video. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01656905 | Re: Connecting with OAG/OASG | August 2025 versions of correspondence on audio redactions, follow up tasks, split recordings and release questions. Preserve versions and attachments; not a recovered audio training video. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01656908 | Re: Connecting with OAG/OASG | August 2025 versions of correspondence on audio redactions, follow up tasks, split recordings and release questions. Preserve versions and attachments; not a recovered audio training video. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01656910 | Re: Connecting with OAG/OASG | August 2025 versions of correspondence on audio redactions, follow up tasks, split recordings and release questions. Preserve versions and attachments; not a recovered audio training video. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01656850 | Epstein Updates | August 5, 2025 update states OTD completed redactions of the Maxwell interview and was merging audio sessions. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
Tracking and audit records
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA01660775 | Epstein Dashboard: March 16, 2025 | Two page processing dashboard includes evidence preparation, scanning, digitization and training status. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01655726 | Epstein Dashboard: March 15, 2025 | One page processing dashboard. Supporting operational record, not a training manual. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164853 | Epstein Dashboard: March 26, 2025 | One page review and evidence tracking dashboard. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01657136 | Epstein Dashboard: March 31, 2025 | One page review and evidence tracking dashboard. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164256 | Pay Period 5: Special Case Code 475 | March 24, 2025 WebTA timekeeping instructions for New York Redaction Project. Supporting administrative record. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01657092 | Pay Period 5: Special Case Code 475 | March 24, 2025 WebTA timekeeping instructions for New York Redaction Project. Supporting administrative record. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00161465 | FD 597 receipt for property | March 25, 2025 handoff receipt lists 16 deliverables, including both Adobe guides, a sample, flagged lists, classified material summary, final page counts, AG/DAG memorandum and absent items list. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00172473 | Executive Summary and Epstein Overview: FBI Response | Eight page project history and handoff inventory. Records initial victim name processing, March 22 expansion, March 23 delivery of training, and March 25 delivery of both Adobe guides. Full PDF text also inspected through web retrieval. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00172532 | September stats and fiscal year wrap up | September 25, 2025 archival record states the Epstein project was scanned into the 62F file and cross compared with Teams folders. Lists scoping guidance, March 17 memorandum, training communications parts 1 and 2, victim lists and public release list. Important completeness lead. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01730036 | Project: classified records memorandum | March 25, 2025 email references Epstein Classified Document Memo.docx and the classified material summary. Contents and classification decisions need comparison with the handoff versions. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00175003 | Civil litigation alert: Epstein review and dissemination | August 21, 2025 preservation notice relevant to records custodians, responsive materials and retention. Not a redaction rule. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164449 | New emails from victims, witnesses and third parties | May 2, 2025 correspondence seeking written instructions for storing new correspondence and discussing the redaction project case as one option. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
FOIA release packet
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA00163971 | FBI response to Jason Leopold and released records | 71 page PDF including response and administrative pages. November 24, 2025 letter says 220 pages reviewed and 61 released; audiovisual material withheld entirely under cited FOIA exemptions. The packet contains instruction emails, attachment names, SharePoint video references and serial cover sheets. It does not contain all underlying transcripts or videos. Inspection: Released text inspected; corresponding original Leopold release packet acquired. |
Supporting context
| Evidence ID | Record | Relevance and inspection |
|---|---|---|
| EFTA00038620 | Masseuse list, black book and flight logs | February 18 and 19, 2025 correspondence discussing the provenance and earlier trial redactions of these materials. Context for release preparation, not a training deck. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00038629 | Masseuse list, black book and flight logs | February 18 and 19, 2025 correspondence discussing the provenance and earlier trial redactions of these materials. Context for release preparation, not a training deck. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164556 | RE: evidence | March 10, 2025 versions discussing Maxwell case status and an appeal question in connection with the redaction process. Statements are contemporaneous correspondence, not independently verified legal findings. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164559 | RE: evidence | March 10, 2025 versions discussing Maxwell case status and an appeal question in connection with the redaction process. Statements are contemporaneous correspondence, not independently verified legal findings. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00164561 | RE: evidence | March 10, 2025 versions discussing Maxwell case status and an appeal question in connection with the redaction process. Statements are contemporaneous correspondence, not independently verified legal findings. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00161464 | March 19 staffing correspondence | Contains staffing for Epstein redactions among other operational material. Included as supporting context; unrelated attached operations order is not a redaction manual. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA01657146 | Branch C significant travel | March 26, 2025 record notes C20 personnel returning from Winchester after the redaction project. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
| EFTA00108612 | Transparency Project victims subfile opening | June 27, 2025 subfile opening document. Administrative context, not a recovered victim list. Inspection: Released text inspected in community corpus; original PDF not acquired. |
FBI Review Release Collection
The FBI review collection lists 11 parts. The table links to the official records. Publication is confirmed; complete original acquisition and inspection remain open. Part 06 guide text was examined through separately labeled mirror OCR.
| Official release | Page count | Inspection status |
|---|---|---|
| Part 01 | 91 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 02 | 38 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 03 | 69 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 04 | 102 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 05 | 98 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 06 | 272 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 07 | 16 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 08 | 29 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 09 | 76 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 10 | 131 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
| Part 11 | 18 pages | Mirror PDF acquired from Internet Archive. SHA1 checked against archive metadata; PDF page count confirmed. All pages OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually inspected. Direct FBI server bytes were not independently hash compared. |
Key Packet Page Locations
EFTA00163971 contains the following 21 locations. These EFTA numbers are page stamps within the parent packet, not verified separate document starts. Each link opens the parent record.
| PDF page | Page stamp | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | EFTA00163981 | OGC and IMD redaction correspondence |
| 12 | EFTA00163982 | Redaction correspondence |
| 13 | EFTA00163983 | Redaction correspondence |
| 29 | EFTA00163999 | Training and five attachment distribution record |
| 31 | EFTA00164001 | Transparency Project Instruction; body partly withheld |
| 38 | EFTA00164008 | Awaiting criteria and revised training |
| 44 | EFTA00164014 | Special Project Instruction for March 23; body withheld |
| 45 | EFTA00164015 | Three SharePoint training videos listed |
| 47 | EFTA00164017 | DOJ messaging update at 1:15 pm; body withheld |
| 50 | EFTA00164020 | Updated RIDS and DOJ/OIP redaction question contacts |
| 54 | EFTA00164024 | Updated RIDS redaction question contacts |
| 56 | EFTA00164026 | Updated Transparency Project Instruction; body withheld |
| 58 | EFTA00164028 | Checked out files and reassignment instructions |
| 59 | EFTA00164029 | Assignment reset and check in instructions |
| 61 | EFTA00164031 | Quality review work assignment contacts |
| 62 | EFTA00164032 | Updated DOJ points of contact |
| 66 | EFTA00164036 | Phase 1 redactions complete; Phase 2 ongoing |
| 67 | EFTA00164037 | Quality review assignment and redaction question contacts |
| 69 | EFTA00164039 | Phase 2 review 75.2 percent complete; see through copies to DOJ |
| 70 | EFTA00164040 | Public Release List import form; serial 23 |
| 71 | EFTA00164041 | SharePoint Video Transcripts import form; serial 36 |
Supplemental FOIA Evidence
Separately released FOIA copies provide additional guidance, overview variants and approval correspondence. Bates locations preserve the distinction between original PDFs and mirror OCR.
| Record | Source location | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| DDF overview variant | FBI(25-cv-2791)-2 to 6; first tranche PDF pages 2 to 6 | Variant of project overview. Preserve separately from EFTA00172473; DDF notes substantial differences. |
| OTD audio redactions | FBI(25-cv-2791)-18 to 20; first tranche PDF pages 15 to 17 | August 1 chain requests detailed written instructions, names and timing; NYO quality check before transmission to ODAG. |
| Redactions policy correspondence | FBI(25-cv-2791)-78 to 80; first tranche PDF pages 39 to 41 | March 10 and 11 OGC/IMD communications forwarded March 18; rough Vaughn list and applicable categories discussed. |
| Corrected revised project scope | FBI(25-cv-2791)-401 to 411; combined DDF PDF pages 121 to 128 | March 22 and 23 approval chain. Revised DOCX attachment, Category 5 inputs, training timing and relaunch of Phase 1. Bodies partly withheld. Page 121 visually confirmed. |
| Revised scope follow up | FBI(25-cv-2791)-426 and 448; combined DDF PDF pages 129 to 130 | March 23 follow up among Ramer, Patel and Bongino. |
| Electric copies and branding removal | FBI(25-cv-4270)-259 to 262; FBI review part 06 | March 25 emails transmit revised PDF and native versions and describe removal of IMD branding. Mirror PDF acquired and OCR inspected. |
| Adobe guide: sealing final redactions | FBI(25-cv-4270)-267 to 270; FBI review part 06 | Instructions to apply redactions, remove hidden information and save sealed copy. Mirror PDF acquired and OCR inspected. |
| Adobe guide: adding/editing see through redactions | FBI(25-cv-4270)-274 to 287; FBI review part 06 | Search list import, whole word search, case sensitivity setting, contextual line review, precise boxes, correction and see through save. Mirror PDF acquired and OCR inspected. |
| How to redact a PDF in seven steps | FBI(25-cv-4270)-333 to 355; FBI review part 06 | Adobe vendor article circulated among project materials. Vendor authored, not FBI authored. Mirror PDF acquired and OCR inspected. |
| Classified material summary | FBI(25-cv-4270)-388; FBI review part 06 | Classification status and distinction between see through and sealed copies. Mirror PDF acquired and OCR inspected. |
| Review workforce viewing resources | FBI(25-cv-4270)-389 to 394; FBI review part 06 | April 2025 correspondence references Safe Viewing Tips General, Disturbing Materials info sheet and a 20 minute Virtual Academy course. Supporting review training rather than redaction rules. Mirror PDF acquired and OCR inspected. |
| March 23 substantive messaging instructions | FBI(25-cv-4270)-760; Part 06 PDF page 247 | Visually verified March 23, 1:40 pm email preserves SEALED marker while redacting sealed page content; redacts detailed sexual act descriptions; corrects disclosure list from 1037 to 1205. Duplicate Part 09 PDF page 55, Bates 1591. |
| Employee exception list delivery correction | FBI(25-cv-4270)-758; Part 06 PDF page 246 | Visually verified March 21 email says surge team lacked employee exception list, directs redistribution and SharePoint upload, and describes 14 exceptions and victim list with 1,113 entries. Attachment unavailable. |
| Reviewer training planning | FBI(25-cv-4270)-709; Part 06 PDF page 228 | March 16 planning for March 17 and 18 sessions, reviewer conversion, one hour virtual course and one page reviewer aid. Planning is not proof of completed delivery. |
| March 19 updated Adobe attachment | FBI(25-cv-4270)-745; Part 06 PDF page 241 | Original scan visually confirms Epstein Adobe Pro Processing Guidance_UPDATED 20250319.pdf. Full exact attachment not identified. |
| Draft processing framework approval | FBI(25-cv-3200)-293; Part 02 PDF page 18 | Original scan visually confirms March 22, 8:52 pm Seidel email and Epstein Transparency Project Processing Guidance_mgsv2.docx. Recommends DOJ approval before training; policy body withheld. |
| Training ambiguity and disclosure list revisions | FBI(25-cv-4270)-511 to 512; Part 10 PDF pages 31 and 32 | Visually verified March 23 ODAG/FBI chain discusses inconsistent understanding of sealed pages, whether sexual act instructions reached field, corrected 1205 list and updated 1630 list. |
| Whistleblower complaint about processing and training | FBI(25-cv-3200)-1612 to 1613; Part 09 PDF pages 69 and 70 | March 24 email alleges changing lists, repeated processing, untrained staff, excessive shifts, protected information risks and flagging mentions of current President. Allegations not independently established. Original contains inconsistent dates. Flagging is not proof of redaction. |
| OIC referral of staff complaint | FBI(25-cv-3200)-1606 to 1607; Part 09 PDF pages 66 and 67 | March 25 response says OIC could not adequately address matter and referred it through Assistant Director Catherine Bruno to DOJ OIG with consent to supply identity. OIC closure does not establish an OIG investigation or findings. |
| April training guide and FAQ request | FBI(25-cv-4270)-74 to 75; Part 10 PDF pages 4 and 5 | April 5 Seidel transmission to Lionel Kennedy follows April 4 request for Epstein training slides and newer FAQs. Exact guide and any new FAQ contents not obtained. |
Questions for Further Investigation
- What instructions appear in the three named SharePoint videos, and do their transcripts match the recordings?
- How did the March 23 revised DOCX change the March 21 deck and the shorter processing guide?
- What did the withheld Category 5 materials and DOJ approved outline require?
- Do the 25 and 26 category keys correspond to distinct approved stages, drafts or different record sets?
- Which native attachments, speaker notes, embedded videos and revisions survive in SharePoint, Teams and the 62F case file?
- Does the May 2 overview draft match any later released overview, and what changed before final approval?
- Do the handoff receipts, final counts and complete case index account for all responsive training and instruction material?
Sources
- IMD Special Project training invitation, original PDF. User supplied two page original PDF visually inspected. Confirms March 19 invitation and exact March 18 deck filename. No embedded files or active PDF link annotations.
- Portside article supplied by the user. November 28, 2025 Jason Leopold Bloomberg reprint. Leads to original public FBI release packet.
- FBI review collection, all 11 parts. Official publication index; source files linked individually.
- Jason Leopold FOIA packet. Original 71 page public PDF acquired from Bloomberg link in Portside. Released text inspected; page 20 visually verified for withheld overview draft filename.
- Epstein Overview: FBI Response. Eight page released PDF text inspected; PDF not acquired locally.
- FBI review part 06 mirror OCR. Initial mirror OCR lead, now supplemented by acquired Internet Archive PDF and selected image verification; Bates 259 to 262, 267 to 270, 274 to 287, 333 to 355, 388 to 394 relevant.
- DDF first FBI tranche. Original public PDF downloaded and all 63 pages OCR inspected.
- DDF September 9 supplement and both FBI tranches. Original public PDF downloaded. The first tranche and final 65 pages were OCR inspected; revised scope page 121 visually checked. Page 67 duplicates the last page of first tranche; pages 68 to 131 contain second tranche.
- DOJ Attorney Review Protocol, January 4, 2026. Original nine page PDF downloaded and text inspected.
- DOJ January 30, 2026 letter. Six page official report describing review and quality controls; linked and downloaded if available.
- DOJ February 14, 2026 report. Six page report; linked and downloaded if available.
- DOJ disclosure index. Current index identifies the protocol and letters; states how audio victim information is redacted.
- Blanche Senate responses, July 15, 2026. 404 page official PDF downloaded; relevant training answers discussed on PDF pages 222 and 223. Cover text dates the questions July 17, 2026; filename says July 15. Dates should be described with that distinction.
- FBI FOIA processing SOPs, 2014 release. 111 page released FBI record downloaded. Released April 22, 2015; includes referral, classification and processing instructions.
- FBI FOIA Appeals, Intake and Processing SOP collection. Official index confirms two parts. Part 01 is 186,791,520 bytes; Part 02 is 214,485,462 bytes. Neither full PDF acquired.
- Historical FDPS manual reference. Court opinion references a 369 page FDPS manual; this is an existence lead, not the manual itself.
- FBI training and FOIA improvement plan. Historical official plan references search, declassification, redaction and automated processing training.
- DOJ 2025 Chief FOIA Officer report. Current institutional context for FBI training, not a substitute for actual course materials.
- Gill report on training video litigation. August 23, 2026 reporter account. Underlying status report not independently acquired.
- Community searchable corpus, release v5.2. Downloaded corpus searched locally: 1,416,686 unique document identifiers and 2,915,448 pages. Includes DOJ datasets 1 to 12 and additional sources. It is a secondary text extraction and may not include all later FBI review releases.
- Reddit discussion of video admission. Retrieved discussion links reporting and requests a leak; it does not supply an authenticated FBI training recording.
- Internet Archive mirror of all eleven FBI review parts. All 11 PDFs, 940 pages, plus matching OCR text and XML acquired. Metadata SHA1 checks passed for 33 files. Whole collection OCR screened for training and instructions; selected relevant scans visually verified. No training video or native presentation in mirror listing.