The US Department of Justice (DoJ) dropped another bombshell on Thursday, December 25, by announcing the discovery of an additional million documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. While the administration began releasing documents from the case a week ago, this new deluge of information promises weeks of analysis and places President Donald Trump in an increasingly precarious position.

A denial put to the test

The White House's embarrassment stems from the president's past statements. In January 2024, at the launch of his campaign, Donald Trump vehemently asserted on Truth Social that he had "never set foot" on the plane or on the island of the sex offender.

However, the initial revelations seem to undermine this line of defense:

1. Blatant contradictions: The documents already analyzed indicate that Donald Trump travelled at least eight times on Epstein's private plane.
2. An obstruction strategy: The president has long described the investigation as a "Democratic manipulation" to justify his opposition to the release of the archives.

An opaque crisis management

Despite the legal obligation of transparency—stemming from a bipartisan law setting the publication deadline at December 19—the executive branch seems to be flying blind. The Justice Department is issuing numerous statements denouncing the presence of "false information" in the files, while the Trump camp remains silent.

The critical point: Although Donald Trump is not the subject of any direct criminal charges in this case, his determination to block the release of the documents sows doubt, including within his own electoral base.

The challenges ahead

The examination of the million new documents could take several weeks. In an already tense political climate in Washington, this continuous stream of revelations fuels suspicions of a cover-up. For Donald Trump, the stakes go beyond the legal arena: it's about salvaging his credibility in the face of documentary evidence that seems, day after day, to contradict his version of events.