Newly Released Images Show Epstein’s Island as Banks Supply Records to House Panel

The Democratic minority on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee has made public a set of photographs and videos taken inside Jeffrey Epstein’s residence on Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands, adding fresh detail to the congressional investigation of the late financier’s activities.

The images, provided by the Virgin Islands Department of Justice in response to a committee request, display several rooms across the private compound, including partially furnished bedrooms, bathrooms and an office. One photo shows what appears to be a dentist’s chair surrounded by plastic masks mounted on the walls, while another captures a telephone outfitted with a speed-dial directory. A blackboard scrawled with words such as “Power,” “Deception,” “Political,” “Truth” and “Music” is visible in a separate frame, though portions of the board have been redacted. Video excerpts depict an outdoor area featuring a large statue overlooking a swimming pool.

Alongside the release of visual material, committee Democrats disclosed that JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank have submitted roughly 5,000 documents in response to subpoenas issued by Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and related follow-up requests. Democratic members said they intend to publish the banks’ records “in the days ahead” once an internal review is completed.

A spokesperson for the Republican majority confirmed receipt of the new trove, noting that the panel has already published more than 65,000 pages gathered during the current inquiry. “The Majority is reviewing these materials and will make them public soon,” the spokesperson stated, while criticizing Democrats for what it described as “selective” disclosures.

The latest document transfers arrive less than two weeks after former President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation directing the Department of Justice to declassify and release files from its investigations into Epstein and his long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The measure sets a 30-day deadline for Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce all unclassified records. On Wednesday, a group of five lawmakers from both parties requested a briefing on the department’s progress ahead of the statutory cutoff.

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the committee’s ranking member, said the publication of the island images is intended to increase transparency. “We are releasing these photos and videos to help piece together the full picture of Epstein’s crimes,” Garcia asserted, while urging the president to authorize immediate release of all remaining government files.

The investigation centers on Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking network, for which he was awaiting trial when he died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan Chase have faced civil litigation over their financial relationships with Epstein; both institutions have denied wrongdoing and reached settlements without admitting liability.

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Maxwell, convicted in 2021 of procuring underage girls for Epstein, is serving a 20-year sentence. According to a filing in Manhattan federal court, she plans to petition for release from prison. Maxwell was transferred in July to a minimum-security facility in Texas after an interview with senior Justice Department official Todd Blanche, during which she reportedly stated she was unaware of misconduct by Trump.

The Oversight Committee’s inquiry runs parallel to other ongoing reviews, including actions by the U.S. Virgin Islands government. Earlier this year, the territory reached a $105 million settlement with JPMorgan Chase related to its handling of accounts tied to Epstein.

Congressional interest in the matter has intensified amid calls for broader disclosure of investigative materials. Under the new law, the Justice Department must publish any unclassified documents unless their release would harm national security or violate privacy protections. The directive mirrors previous declassification requirements applied to intelligence records, such as those concerning the assassination of President John F. Kennedy; a summary of that process is available on the National Archives website.

The committee has not announced a timetable for its next release, but staff members from both parties are reviewing the latest batch of financial records. Additional subpoenas remain possible as lawmakers examine whether Epstein received preferential treatment or assistance from financial institutions, public officials or prominent associates.

Crédito da imagem: House Oversight Committee Democrats