Epstein files: what’s in the documents released by the Department of Justice

The United States Department of Justice has released an initial tranche of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.

The documents, which include photographs, videos and investigative documents, were highly anticipated after Congress passed a law requiring the files to be released in their entirety on Friday. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) acknowledged that it would not be able to release all the documents by the deadline.

Included in the first batch of files are several famous faces, including former US president Bill Clinton, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.

Being named or photographed in the archives is not an indication of misconduct. Many of those identified in the files or in previous communications related to Epstein have denied any wrongdoing.

Among the documents released Friday are many redacted ones, including police statements, investigative reports and photographs.

More than 100 pages of a file related to a grand jury investigation are completely redacted.

Officials, as required by law, were allowed to redact materials to protect the identity of victims, or anything related to an active criminal investigation, but were required by law to explain such redactions, which they have not yet done.

The thousands of pages released Friday are just a part of what’s to come, according to the Justice Department.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department was releasing “several hundred thousand pages” on Friday and expected “several hundred thousand more” to be released in the coming weeks.

He told Fox & Friends that the department was carefully examining every page of material to ensure that “every victim — their name, their identity, their story, to the extent that it needs to be protected — is fully protected.” That is a process, he argued, that takes time.

The timing of additional materials being released is unclear, and lawmakers from both parties have expressed frustration.

Democrats, including Congressman Ro Khanna, have threatened action against members of the Justice Department, including impeachment or possible prosecution for the delay.

Khanna joined Republican Congressman Thomas Massie to force a vote on the Epstein Records Transparency Act, defying US President Donald Trump, who initially urged his party to vote against the measure.

“The Justice Department’s dump of hundreds of thousands of pages of documents did not comply with the law,” he said on social media, saying in a video that all options were on the table and that he and Massie were mulling them over.

Several of the images released include former US President Bill Clinton.

One image shows him swimming in a pool and another shows him lying on his back with his hands behind his head in what appears to be a jacuzzi.

Clinton was photographed with Epstein several times during the 1990s and early 2000s, before the disgraced financier was arrested for the first time. Survivors of Epstein’s abuse have never accused him of any crime and he has denied knowledge of his sexual crimes.

A Clinton spokesman commented on the new photographs, saying they were decades old.

“You can post as many grainy photos from 20+ years as you want, but this is not about Bill Clinton. It never has been, it never will be,” Ángel Ureña wrote on social media.

“There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and interrupted Epstein before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relations with him afterwards. We are in the first group. No amount of procrastination by the people in the second group will change that,” he continued.

“Everyone, especially MAGA, expects answers, not scapegoats.”

In the tranche of files published by the Department of Justice there are court documents that mention the president of the United States.

Court documents detail that Epstein allegedly introduced Trump to a 14-year-old girl at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

During the alleged encounter in the 1990s, Epstein nudged Trump and “jokingly asked,” referring to the girl, “This one’s hot, right?” the document says.

Trump smiled and nodded, according to the lawsuit filed against the estate of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2020.

The document says “they both chuckled” and she felt uncomfortable, but “at the time, I was too young to understand why.”

The victim alleges that Epstein groomed and abused her for many years.

In the court filing, she makes no accusations against Trump, and Epstein’s victims have made no accusations against him.

The BBC has contacted the White House for comment.

The alleged episode is one of the few mentions of the president in the thousands of files released Friday. He can be seen in several photos but his inclusion is minimal at best.

The Trump War Room, the official X account for the president’s political operation, was instead posting photos of Clinton. Trump’s press secretary also reposted images of Clinton, saying “OMG!”

However, there are still pages to publish.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has said that “several hundred thousand” pages of documents that have not yet been made public are still being reviewed.

The US president had previously said he was friends with Epstein for years, but said they fell out around 2004, years before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding Epstein.

A photo in the released files appears to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor leaning on five people, whose faces are redacted. Epstein’s convicted co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell is seen standing behind them in the image.

Andrew has faced years of scrutiny over his past friendship with Epstein, who is not pictured.

He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and said he did not “see, witness or suspect any behavior of the type that subsequently led to his arrest and conviction.”

The newly released documents include the widest range of celebrities we’ve seen in an Epstein file yet.

The former financier was known for having connections in the world of entertainment, politics and business. Some images released by the Department of Justice show him with stars including Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Diana Ross.

It is not clear where or when the photographs were taken or in what context. It is also unclear whether Epstein was associated with all of these figures or attended these events. Previously released photos from Epstein’s estate include photographs he did not take of events he did not attend.

In one of the newly released photographs, Epstein is photographed with Michael Jackson. The pop idol is wearing a suit and Epstein is seen wearing a zip-up hoodie.

Another image of Jackson shows him with former US President Bill Clinton and Diana Ross. They are posing together in a small area and many other faces are removed from the image.

Another photo among the thousands of files shows Rolling Stones legend Jagger posing for a photo with Clinton and a woman whose face is redacted. Everyone is dressed for cocktails.

Several photos include actor Chris Tucker. One shows him posing and sitting next to Clinton at a dining table. Another shows him on the tarmac of a plane with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s convicted associate.

The BBC has contacted Jagger, Tucker and Ross for comment. Clinton has previously denied knowledge of Epstein’s sex crimes, and a spokesman said Friday they were decades-old photographs.

“This is not about Bill Clinton. It never has been, it never will be,” the spokesman said.

One of the first people to report Epstein is included in the files. Maria Farmer, an artist who had been working for Epstein, told the FBI in a 1996 report that he had stolen personal photographs she took of her 12- and 16-year-old sisters.

She said in a complaint that she believed he sold the photographs to potential buyers and threatened to burn down her house if she told anyone about it. His name is redacted in the files, but Farmer confirmed the account was his.

She notes in the report that Epstein had allegedly asked her to take photographs of girls in swimming pools.

“Epstein now threatens [redacted] that if he tells anyone about the photos he will burn down his house,” the report states.

Farmer said she feels vindicated after almost 30 years.

“I feel redeemed,” she said.