DOJ Documents Reveal 2023 FBI Server Breach Targeting Jeffrey Epstein Investigative Files

DOJ documents reveal a hacker breached an FBI server containing Jeffrey Epstein files in 2023. Learn about the New York Task Force security incident.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 12, 2026, 8:13 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from ABC13 Houston and ABC News.

Super Bowl Sunday Intrusion

The cyber incident took place on February 12, 2023, while national attention was focused on the Super Bowl. According to sworn accounts from an FBI agent, the intrusion was detected the following Monday after the agent received a notification that the "network has been compromised." Upon investigation, the agent discovered "strange" activity originating from two specific IP addresses. The timeline suggests the hacker utilized the holiday weekend's reduced staffing levels to probe the federal network.

Targeting the New York Task Force

The breach specifically impacted a server belonging to the FBI's New York Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. This unit was central to the long-running investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. Internal emails describe the malicious actor "combing through" specific files pertaining to the Epstein case. The identifying agent initially reached out to colleagues to verify if settings had been changed inadvertently before realizing the activity was an unauthorized external hack.

FBI Response and Containment

In a statement issued Wednesday, the FBI characterized the 2023 incident as an "isolated one" that was quickly contained. Officials stated that once the malicious actor was identified, the bureau restricted access and "rectified the network" to prevent further infiltration. While the bureau has confirmed the breach occurred, they have declined to provide specific details regarding which documents were viewed or if any data was successfully exfiltrated, citing the active nature of the investigation.