„We Have Delivered“ – An Exclusive Conversation After the Release of the Epstein Files

The Kaizen Blog had the exclusive opportunity to speak with an investigator who was closely involved from the very beginning in both the investigation and the now published version of the Epstein files. He was at the table when decisions were made about what would remain visible and what would disappear. The documents now in the public domain bear his handwriting – not in name, but in outcome. This conversation took place after the release.

Question: The files are now public. Many pages, many numbers, many black bars. How do you assess the result?

Reply: As complete. We have achieved the goal that the files are recognized worldwide without being read anywhere. That is a milestone. In the next phase, we are considering leaving out the text entirely and publishing only the redactions. That saves time and prevents misunderstandings.

Question: It is noticeable that most of the content is not readable.

Reply: Readability was never the goal. Publication was. Those are two different things that are often confused. We delivered what was promised: files. No one promised that they could be read.

Question: Nevertheless, the result appears very uniform. Page after page the same image.

Reply: That is called diligence. Lack of uniformity would have raised questions. This way everything is clear. You can see immediately where you stand. And where you do not.

Question: Critics say that a very specific handwriting can be recognized.

Reply: That is correct. I was closely involved and it naturally also bears my handwriting. From the very beginning. In the review, in the assessment, in the decision about what is acceptable and what is not. Procedures like this are not left to chance.

Question: So your role went beyond formal investigative work?

Reply: Of course. Investigations do not end with collecting. They end with the product. And the product is now available. Exactly as it was intended.

Question: Many readers are asking why even basic information has disappeared.

Reply: Basic information is always the first thing journalists read. To make their work easier, we took that step for them.

Question: Some speak of a release that conceals more than it reveals.

Reply: Look at it positively: we have proven that we possess files.

Question: On social networks there is the impression that these files could be read even without light.

Reply: That is exaggerated. You need very good light to recognize the precision. The uniformity. The spacing. This is not crude redaction. This is controlled.

Question: Do you feel responsible for the image that is now going around the world?

Reply: Yes, of course. But images are a matter of interpretation. Some see censorship, others see care. We have delivered an image that is understood worldwide, without any translation. Black works in every language.

Question: And if people say they expected more?

Reply: Expectations fall outside our area of responsibility.

Question: Would you do it the same way again?

Reply: Absolutely. Next time we would redact even earlier. Ideally before the writing.

Final question: Thank you for taking the time for this interview. What are the next plans?

Reply: The next steps are clear: we will continue in exactly the same way. It has proven itself.