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Justice Department publishes initial Epstein documents
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released a portion of files tied to Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, fulfilling part of a congressional mandate to disclose all records by the end of the week. The documents include photographs, videos, and investigative materials, though thousands of pages remain heavily redacted or withheld.
Political figures and celebrities named in files
The first batch of documents references high-profile individuals, including former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Officials emphasized that appearing in the files does not imply wrongdoing, and many named have denied any involvement in Epstein's crimes.
Several images depict Clinton, including one showing him in a pool and another in a hot tub. A Clinton spokesperson dismissed the photos as decades old, stating, "They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be." The spokesperson added that Clinton cut ties with Epstein before his crimes were exposed.
President Donald Trump is also mentioned in the files. A court document alleges Epstein introduced a 14-year-old girl to Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in the 1990s, with Epstein reportedly asking Trump, "This is a good one, right?" Trump nodded and laughed, according to the filing, though the victim made no accusations against him. The White House has not commented.
Prince Andrew and other notable figures
A photograph shows Prince Andrew lying across five individuals, with Ghislaine Maxwell standing behind them. Andrew has long faced scrutiny over his association with Epstein but has denied any knowledge of his crimes. Other images include Epstein with Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and Mick Jagger, though the context of these photos remains unclear.
Redactions and delays spark criticism
Lawmakers from both parties accused the DOJ of violating the transparency law after Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed that "several hundred thousand" pages remain unreleased. Blanche cited the need to protect victims' identities as the reason for the delay, but Democrats, including Rep. Ro Khanna, threatened legal action, including impeachment proceedings.
Khanna, who co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act with Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, stated, "The DOJ's document dump failed to comply with the law." He confirmed that all options, including prosecution, were under consideration.
Victims' accounts and unresolved questions
One of the earliest whistleblowers, artist Maria Farmer, is referenced in the files. In a 1996 FBI report, she accused Epstein of stealing photos she took of her underage sisters and threatening to burn her home if she spoke out. Farmer called the release "vindicating" after nearly 30 years.
Many documents, including grand jury records and police statements, are entirely redacted. The DOJ has not provided explanations for the redactions, as required by law. Blanche assured that the department was "heavily vetting" each page to balance transparency with victim protection.
What comes next
The DOJ has not specified when the remaining files will be released. Lawmakers continue to demand full compliance with the transparency law, while advocates for Epstein's victims push for unredacted disclosures to uncover the full scope of his network.
