Public confidence in the federal government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files has collapsed, according to new polling that shows satisfaction with the disclosures languishing in the single digits. The findings suggest deep skepticism across party lines that Americans are being told the full truth about the late convicted sex offender and his network.
Just 6 percent of Americans say they are satisfied with the amount of Epstein-related material released so far, according to a new CNN survey. Even among Republicans, satisfaction barely reached double digits, with 12 percent saying they approve of the disclosures to date. Democrats and independents registered even lower confidence, with only 3 percent in each group saying they are satisfied.
The poll underscores a widespread belief that the federal government is deliberately holding back information. Roughly two-thirds of respondents said they believe officials are intentionally withholding Epstein-related records that should be made public. By contrast, only 16 percent said they think the government is doing its best to release all available information.
The numbers come roughly one month after the Justice Department’s mid-December deadline to release all unclassified records connected to Jeffrey Epstein. That deadline followed legislation signed by Donald Trump aimed at accelerating the release of the files, with redactions permitted to protect victims.
Shortly after the deadline passed, Trump voiced frustration with the process on Truth Social, responding to the Justice Department’s announcement that additional material would still be forthcoming. Trump said that another one million pages tied to Epstein had been “found” and criticized the Department of Justice for devoting its time to what he called a “Democrat inspired Hoax,” while arguing that other priorities were being neglected.
Despite the December deadline, the Justice Department has acknowledged that only a tiny fraction of the material has actually been made public. Earlier this month, the DOJ signaled that it had released less than 1 percent of its Epstein-related files, according to CNN reporting. That revelation appears to have further fueled public distrust and reinforced perceptions that the full scope of the case remains hidden.
Trump himself has been referenced in some of the documents, a fact that has kept the issue politically charged even as the administration moved to compel disclosure. The legislation he signed was designed to force transparency while still shielding victims’ identities, but the slow pace of releases has left many Americans unconvinced that meaningful progress is being made.
The CNN poll was conducted online by SSRS from Jan. 9 through Jan. 12 and surveyed 1,209 adults nationwide. The results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Taken together, the findings paint a bleak picture for public trust. Across ideological lines, Americans appear united in one conclusion: whatever the government has released so far is nowhere near enough. With satisfaction levels stuck in the single digits and a strong majority convinced information is being withheld, pressure is likely to continue mounting on the Justice Department to explain why so little has been disclosed and when, if ever, the public will see the full record.
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