Contents of the release
In a letter to congressional committees, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche outlined the scope of the disclosure. According to Blanche, the files encompass:
- Evidence gathered during a 2018 FBI investigation of Epstein;
- Materials from a 2019 probe of Maxwell;
- The FBI Miami case file from the 2006 child-prostitution investigation;
- Records from the 2019 inquiry into Epstein’s death at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York;
- Civil and criminal court filings involving Epstein, Maxwell, and the Epstein estate.
Blanche told Fox News the department expects to publish “several hundred thousand” additional documents in the coming weeks, noting that each file is being reviewed to remove information that could identify victims. He emphasized that “a lot of eyes” are examining the material to ensure survivor privacy is not compromised.
Political reaction
Criticism was swift on Capitol Hill. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said lawmakers may consider impeachment proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi or Blanche if the department withholds further records. Separately, Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) accused the DOJ of violating federal law and indicated they are exploring legal remedies. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the partial release “a cover-up” and argued that the department had broken the explicit terms of the transparency statute.
The Justice Department’s position drew a pointed response from the White House communications office, which argued that the administration had shown “historic transparency” by publishing thousands of pages and cooperating with a House Oversight Committee subpoena. The statement also asserted that Democrats had yet to explain past contacts with Epstein after his 2008 state conviction.
Images of high-profile figures
Among the photographs now public are several depictions of Bill Clinton, including one in which he sits smiling beside a young woman and another that shows him apparently shirtless in a hot tub. The dates and locations of the images are not identified. Clinton has never been charged in connection with Epstein, and spokesperson Angel Ureña reiterated that the former president “cut ties before Epstein’s crimes were widely known.”
An entry for Donald Trump appears in the released address book, identical or nearly identical to an address book previously leaked. Trump, who socialized with Epstein in the 1990s but fell out with him in the early 2000s, has denied any knowledge of Epstein’s exploitation of underage girls and has not been accused of wrongdoing.
Background of the investigations
Epstein’s legal saga began with a 2008 non-prosecution agreement that led to state charges of soliciting a minor for prostitution and an 18-month jail term. Federal authorities arrested him again in July 2019 on sex-trafficking counts. He died by suicide in a Manhattan detention center six weeks later, prompting multiple inquiries. Maxwell was arrested in 2020, convicted in 2021 for recruiting minors for Epstein, and is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison.
The transparency measure compelling Friday’s release was enacted in November after bipartisan frustration over repeated delays. Although then-President Trump had labeled the demand a Democratic “hoax,” he signed the bill amid pressure from members of his own party. The law specifies that any unclassified documents, communications, or investigative materials held by the DOJ or FBI concerning Epstein or Maxwell must be made publicly downloadable.
Full text of the legislation is available through the official U.S. Congress repository.
The Justice Department has indicated that additional batches will follow, but has not provided a detailed schedule. Lawmakers pushing for complete disclosure say they will keep the department under scrutiny until every eligible record is posted.
Crédito da imagem: U.S. Department of Justice
