White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement that Democrats had “selectively released cherry-picked photos with random redactions to try and create a false narrative,” calling the focus on Trump “a hoax.” She argued that the administration had done more for Epstein’s victims by moving to unseal related documents and promoting transparency.
The newly public pictures also depict Clinton standing next to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year federal sentence for procuring underage girls for Epstein. Other images feature former treasury secretary Lawrence Summers, Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly Prince Andrew), and attorney Alan Dershowitz. None of the individuals shown has been charged in connection with Epstein’s crimes, and all have denied wrongdoing.
Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the committee’s ranking Democrat, said the panel received the cache of images late Thursday and has reviewed roughly 25,000 to date. “Some photos we did not put out today are incredibly disturbing,” Garcia noted, adding that further releases will follow once staff complete redactions intended to shield survivors’ identities.
Republican members of the committee accused Democrats of seeking publicity. In a joint statement they said, “Once again, Oversight Democrats are chasing headlines by releasing a handful of selectively censored and cherry-picked photos from the Epstein Estate … Nothing in the documents we’ve received shows any wrongdoing.”
Democrats contend that broader disclosure is necessary to ensure accountability. “These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world,” Garcia said, calling on the Justice Department to publish its investigative file without delay.
The Justice Department materials referenced by lawmakers are separate from the photographs supplied by Epstein’s estate. During Trump’s administration, senior officials resisted calls to make those investigative records public; however, Congress passed bipartisan legislation in November mandating their release. The department has not indicated when or how it intends to comply.
Epstein died by suicide at a federal detention center in August 2019, one month after his arrest on sex-trafficking charges. His death prompted multiple investigations into the circumstances of his custody and the extent of his illicit network. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 and is incarcerated at the low-security federal prison in Tallahassee, Florida.
Clinton, through a spokesperson, has previously acknowledged traveling on Epstein’s aircraft for foundation work in the early 2000s but has said he knew nothing of Epstein’s criminal behavior. Gates, Bannon, Allen, Summers and Dershowitz have each denied knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s exploitation of minors.
The House committee indicated it will continue sifting through the remaining photographs “in the days and weeks ahead” and reiterated its intent to protect victims’ privacy. Lawmakers have not announced any plans for public hearings, though members said additional witnesses could be called once the Justice Department’s records become available.
An overview of the federal law governing the release of Department of Justice files can be found on the official DOJ website.
Crédito da imagem: Democrats on the House Oversight Committee
