The late sex offender is pictured with a host of celebrities, including Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton, in newly released files
20 December 2025
Republicans and Democrats have accused Donald Trump officials of a cover-up after thousands of documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein case are heavily redacted.
The Justice Department released documents on Friday but officials acknowledged the release was incomplete. The photos are also undated and presented without context.
Attorney General Pam Bondi’s DOJ earlier dumped a library of legal documents, paperwork and photos, which included multiple images of former President Bill Clinton lounging in a hot tub; and Epstein with a host of celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Richard Branson, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
Being photographed with Epstein, or mentioned in documents, does not suggest wrongdoing.
President Donald Trump did not acknowledge the release of the long-awaited files in a rally speech Friday night, as his administration was blasted for failing to publish the complete documents despite the deadline being set by law.
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 in federal jail while awaiting trial, was a wealthy and powerful financier accused of sexually abusing and trafficking women and girls for years, alongside his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
- Trump makes no mention of Epstein files scandal in North Carolina rally speech
- Photos of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson feature in Epstein files
- Not all documents will be released today, deputy attorney general says
- Democrats are ‘examining all legal options’ to punish DOJ
- Epstein survivors accuse Trump administration of ‘negligence’
Democratic lawmakers ‘exploring legal avenues’ for transparency over Epstein files
US Senator Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said that by disregarding the deadline, the Trump administration was denying justice to Epstein’s victims.
He added he was “exploring all avenues and legal tools to get justice for the victims and transparency for the American people.”
If Democratic lawmakers so choose, they could go to court to force the Justice Department to comply with the law, but that would be a lengthy process that plays out while the department releases more files.
Separately, the House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena for the Epstein files. That could give Congress another avenue to force the release of more information to the committee, but it would require Republicans to join them in contempt-of-Congress proceedings against a Republican administration.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 09:17
Democrats critcise partial release of Epstein files
The US Department of Justice published thousands of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, a release long anticipated for its potential to reveal new details about the late sex offender and his connections to powerful people.
However, the release fell short of such expectations due to heavily redacted documents, undated photos and no context.
The partial release angered Democrats who accused the Trump administration of trying to hide information.
Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie had introduced what is known as a discharge petition, which eventually led to the congressional vote that forced the release of the Epstein files.
On Friday, both took to social media to criticise the partial release.
Mr Massie wrote that it “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law.”
Mr Khanna called the release so far “disappointing.”
“We’re going to push for the actual documents,” he said.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 09:09
Framed photos of Trump and Melania appear in Epstein files
Framed photographs of President Donald Trump and the first lady Melania Trump feature in the Epstein documents released by the Justice Department today.
No accusations of wrongdoing have been made against the president, who has claimed he parted ways with Epstein as friends years ago.
In one of the photographs, which was taken inside a desk drawer, Trump appeared to be pictured alongside a group of smiling women in a grainy photograph.
The women’s identities are not redacted.
In another of the framed photos in the desk drawer, which is partially obscured from view, Trump and Melania are pictured with Epstein’s accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
That image has already been in the public domain.
Another image of Trump, Melania and Epstein was also taken on Epstein’s desk.
Rhian Lubin20 December 2025 09:00
In Pictures: Famous personalities pictured in latest Epstein files ‘document dump’
Vishwam Sankaran20 December 2025 08:30
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured lying across five people in new Epstein files image
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured lying across the legs of five people in an image released in a huge dump of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In the undated photo, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell appears to peer down and smile at the former prince, who is smiling with his eyes closed and his head near a woman’s lap.
Maxwell – the former girlfriend of Epstein, who is currently serving 20 years in prison for her role in a decade-long scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls with him – can be seen standing beside another woman.
Tara Cobham reports.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured lying over five people in new Epstein files image
Former prince poses with his head near woman’s lap in image contained within latest release of files related to disgraced financier
Rhian Lubin20 December 2025 08:00
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured lying across five people in new Epstein files image
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured lying across the legs of five people in an image released in a huge dump of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In the undated photo, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell appears to peer down and smile at the former prince, who is smiling with his eyes closed and his head near a woman’s lap.
Maxwell – the former girlfriend of Epstein, who is currently serving 20 years in prison for her role in a decade-long scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor girls with him – can be seen standing beside another woman.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured lying over five people in new Epstein files image
Former prince poses with his head near woman’s lap in image contained within latest release of files related to disgraced financier
Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 07:48
Heavy redactions in released Epstein files draw criticism
Lawmakers criticised the heavy redaction of information in the latest batch of Epstein files released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
Several pages of the nearly 4,000 files released on Friday were completely redacted, drawing flak from American lawmakers.
“This set of heavily redacted documents released by the Department of Justice today is just a fraction of the whole body of evidence,” senior Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said in a statement.
Pictured: New photos of Bill Clinton prominent in Epstein files release
Former President Bill Clinton appears in several photos released by the Justice Department Friday, which are not dated.
Clinton was friends with Epstein at one point but the former president has said he had no involvement with Epstein’s crimes.
His spokesperson, Angel Urena, hit back in a statement on X and accused the Trump administration of “shielding themselves from what comes next.”
“They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton” Urena said. “Never has, never will be.”
Being photographed with Epstein, or appearing in the Epstein files does not mean they participated in Epstein’s crimes or knew of them.
Rhian Lubin20 December 2025 07:00
What is the DoJ allowed to redact from documents?
The Epstein Files Transparency Act directed the Justice Department to release everything it has unless they “jeopardize an active federal investigation or ongoing prosecution, provided that such withholding is narrowly tailored and temporary.”
The measure also requires the release of documents related to Epstein’s death behind bars.
Attorney General Pam Bondi can redact or withhold documents that include “personally identifiable information” or medical files relating to victims, as well as any content that depicts child sexual abuse, according to the legislation.
This is not a full release, this is a massive cover-up and careful cherry-picking.
The DOJ is not the department of justice, it’s the department of injustice … DOI. They and the rest of this administration must be prosecuted and put into prison. With the members of this administration, you can start with charges like treason, child rape, obstruction of justice, tampering with evidence, corruption, and acting as an accessory after the fact.
There will be plenty of work to do when a real president gets elected again.
This is Taco’s idea of transparency. What the hell is he hiding?