Washington, Dec. 19 -- The US Justice Department is set to release "several hundreds of thousands of records" related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein later on Friday, ahead of a statutory deadline under newly enacted legislation mandating full disclosure of the government's files on the case.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said on Friday that the initial release would include "several hundred thousand" documents, with additional batches expected in the coming weeks.

Speaking to Fox News' Fox and Friends, Blanche said the material would include photographs and other investigative records, though some information would be redacted to protect the identities and privacy of Epstein's victims, reports CBS News.

"We are looking at e...