A sworn declaration by an FBI special agent, unearthed from the recently released Epstein Files, has revealed that the bureau's New York field office suffered a major cyber intrusion on Super Bowl Sunday in February 2023, resulting in the loss of approximately 100 terabytes of evidentiary data. The 64-page document, drafted by FBI Special Agent Aaron Spivack in September 2024, describes how hackers infiltrated the C-20 computer lab, a facility operated by the bureau's Violent Crimes Against Children unit, and accessed files pertaining to the investigation into convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
According to Spivack's declaration, the breach occurred on February 12, 2023, the same evening the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. The agent reported detecting unusual IP activity from two external addresses the following day and discovered that approximately 500 terabytes of data had been compromised during the intrusion. Spivack stated that he managed to recover roughly 400 terabytes, leaving an estimated 100 terabytes of evidence permanently lost. The hacked activity included systematic browsing of files tied to the Epstein investigation.
The C-20 computer lab, housed within the FBI's New York office, serves as a critical resource for investigations into child exploitation and domestic terrorism. Spivack, who had served with the Violent Crimes Against Children squad for more than a decade, indicated in his declaration that the breach stemmed from the bureau's decision to enable remote internet access to the lab's systems. The agent himself came under internal investigation for his role in configuring the remote access that ultimately allowed the intrusion. The FBI and Spivack have not responded to requests for comment on the matter, and the outcome of the internal investigation remains unknown.
The document surfaced as part of the massive trove of Epstein-related files released by the Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law on November 19, 2025. The legislation required the attorney general to make all Epstein-related files publicly available within 30 days. By January 30, 2026, the DOJ had published more than 3.5 million pages of documents, along with 180,000 images and 2,000 videos. French publication Marianne first reported the cyber breach revelation, followed by Headline USA on February 27, 2026.
The discovery has intensified scrutiny of the FBI's handling of the Epstein case and raised questions about what evidence may have been irretrievably lost. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that the DOJ holds at least 2.5 million additional Epstein files that will not be released publicly. Critics, including several members of Congress, have alleged unlawful redactions and the deliberate withholding of key materials from the public disclosures. The revelation of a catastrophic data breach within the very unit responsible for investigating child exploitation crimes has added a new dimension to the controversy surrounding the Epstein investigation and the federal government's transparency efforts.
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