Epstein Files: What The US Justice Department Has Made Public

The Epstein files have been haunting the Trump administration for months. The US Justice Department has now started releasing thousands of documents connected to its case against Jeffrey Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender who died in custody in 2019 as he faced federal charges related to the trafficking of minors. Many had been waiting for these documents, hoping they might finally offer clear insight into Epstein’s world, not just what he did, but who he was connected to among the wealthy and influential.

However, advocates who pushed for the Epstein Files Transparency Act say the disclosures have fallen well short of expectations. They argue that large portions of the documents are blacked out, leaving key details hidden. US media have also reported that at least 16 files, which appeared online later than the rest, are no longer accessible. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, approved by US Congress in November and later signed by President Trump, directed the government to make public all unclassified records tied to the cases of Epstein and his associate, who is now serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in the abuse.

Some of the newly released documents include images featuring former US President Bill Clinton, including one of him swimming in a pool. Clinton had been photographed with Epstein on multiple occasions during the 1990s and early 2000s, years before Epstein was first taken into custody. Newly released photographs also show Epstein with musicians Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross. Some images also include others whose faces have been deliberately blacked out. The documents also include a number of other high-profile figures, including actor Kevin Spacey, comedian Chris Tucker, billionaire Richard Branson, former UK ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew of the UK.

The recently released documents also make reference to US President Donald Trump. A photograph of Trump, along with several other documents, was initially pulled from the recent release of Epstein-related files. The photo has since been restored online. The temporary removal of these materials has sparked claims that the Justice Department under Trump may be selectively limiting access to certain information. The recent Epstein documents notably left out Trump, even though past releases have included him. Back in February, for instance, flight manifests from Epstein’s private plane with his name were made public. However, Trump has repeatedly denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, and none of Epstein’s victims have ever accused him of wrongdoing.

Several reports show that certain Epstein-related documents vanished from the Justice Department’s public website less than a day after being posted. The administration did not provide an explanation or notify the public about the removal. The Justice Department has stated that it will continue publishing Epstein-related records over the next several weeks, with the release schedule possibly stretching into early January 2026.