The Justice Department has begun releasing the first batch of Jeffrey Epstein files, including new photos and documents that feature numerous high-profile figures connected to the disgraced financier and convicted child rapist.
While the images capture striking encounters, the DOJ emphasized that simply appearing in photographs with Epstein does not constitute evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Many past photos, including those involving figures like former President Donald Trump, depict casual or social interactions.
The release includes several notable individuals:
- Former President Bill Clinton: Photos show Clinton vacationing with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime partner. One particularly notable image depicts Clinton partially unclothed in a hot tub alongside Maxwell and an unidentified woman.
- Mick Jagger: Images show the Rolling Stones frontman dining with Epstein and Clinton. One photo shows Jagger seemingly close to a woman whose face was redacted.
- Michael Jackson: A much-discussed photo features the late pop star standing next to Epstein; Jackson is seen wearing sunglasses while Epstein wears slippers. Another image shows Clinton, Jackson, and singer Diana Ross together on a plane.
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (Prince Andrew): Photos and files revisit the British royal long dogged by his Epstein ties. A black-and-white image shows a younger Andrew sprawled across the laps of several women.
Other names identified in the Epstein files include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Naomi Campbell, and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York.
The release also covered these key developments:
- Tech-savvy users reportedly found ways to bypass redacted sections.
- An Epstein email revealed federal investigators tried contacting ten ‘co-conspirators’, including the billionaire behind Victoria’s Secret.
- The DOJ stated that a purported Epstein letter mentioning Donald Trump was fake.
- The latest file batch includes a report detailing Epstein’s medical condition after a suicide attempt and grave photos taken shortly before his jail cell death.
- The DOJ preemptively defended Trump against allegations in the files, labeling them “unfounded and false.”
This release occurred after Congress compelled the DOJ to hand over records by a Friday deadline under the new Epstein Files Transparency Act.