Donald Trump has been accused of trying to "hide the truth" about the Epstein files, as the White House has said it will not fully release them.

Files on disgraced paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein will not be released in their entirety before the legal deadline, the US deputy attorney general Todd Blanche has said.

Friday (December 19) is the deadline for the long-awaited release of the Epstein files, whose publication was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said: “Senate Democrats are working closely with attorneys for the victims of Jeffrey Epstein and with outside legal experts to assess what documents are being withheld and what is being covered up by Pam Bondi. We will not stop until the whole truth comes out.

“People want the truth and continue to demand the immediate release of all the Epstein files. This is nothing more than a cover up to protect Donald Trump from his ugly past.”

Todd Blanche said “several hundred thousand” documents from the so-called “Epstein files” will be released on Friday, but said the need to protect the sex offender’s victims meant thousands more would be released over the coming weeks.

The US Department of Justice are legally obligated to make all files related to the investigation into Epstein public by midnight on Friday following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Speaking ahead of the release, Mr Blanche told Fox News: “I expect that we’re going to release several hundred thousand documents today.

“And those documents will come in in all different forms, photographs and other materials associated with, with all of the investigations into Mr Epstein.”

Explaining why there may be a delay in releasing all the files, Mr Blanche told the broadcaster: “What we’re doing is we are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce, making sure that every victim, their name, their identity, their story, to the extent it needs to be protected, is completely protected.

“And so I expect that we’re going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks.

“So today, several hundred thousand and then over the next couple (of) weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more.”

It remains to be seen whether the files will contain any information on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose association with Epstein has led to his downfall from public life.

Andrew has made headlines in recent months after some of his correspondence with Epstein was made public in files released from the Epstein estate via Democrats from the US House Oversight Committee.

It led to the King officially stripping his disgraced brother of both his HRH style and his prince title.