Powerful men in politics and media shown in new Epstein estate images
WASHINGTON- House Democrats on Friday released 19 photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s private email server showing a collection of powerful men from politics, media and Hollywood in the convicted sex offender’s orbit.
The photographs – which were released without information about the time, place or context of the events depicted – do not reveal any wrongdoing or show sexual acts, but offer more details about Epstein’s well-known associations with prominent men.
The 19 images selected and released by Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee represent just a small portion of the more than 95,000 photographs the committee received Thursday from Epstein’s private estate, Rep. Robert Garcia, the committee’s top Democrat, told reporters Friday.
Garcia, of Long Beach, added that releasing the images is an exercise in transparency and said it serves as an example of why Democrats want to keep up pressure on the Trump administration to release its Epstein files before the Dec. 19 deadline imposed by a law Congress passed in November.
“I think people should be able to judge for themselves what they see in these photos,” Garcia said. “For us, it’s a question of transparency.”
Most of the images released Friday by Democrats further illustrate Epstein’s already well-known relationships with prominent men, many of whom have faced questions over the years about their ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in federal prison in 2019.
Some photos show Stephen K. Bannon, a former Trump adviser, meeting with Epstein in an office; tech billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates stands next to what appears to be Epstein’s private jet; former President Clinton with longtime Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell; Epstein with filmmaker Woody Allen on a film set; and, before becoming president, Donald Trump with six unidentified women.
Other images show standalone images of sex toys and, in what appears to be an attempt at racy humor, a bowl filled with what one sign identifies as the “Trump condom” — packets of condoms emblazoned with a caricature of Trump and the words “I’M HUUUGE!”
An image released by a House committee shows former President Bill Clinton, center, with Jeffrey Epstein, right, and Ghislaine Maxwell, second from right.
(House Oversight Committee)
Trump has denied any involvement or knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking operations, but thousands of emails released last month suggest the president may have known more about Epstein’s abuse than he acknowledged.
Epstein was a sex offender convicted of abusing more than 200 women and girls. His longtime associate, Maxwell, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for his role in a sex trafficking scheme to groom and sexually abuse underage girls with Epstein.
The 95,000 photographs released this week were turned over to the House committee in response to a series of subpoenas issued for records related to the Epstein estate.
Garcia said Democrats on the panel were reviewing all of the photos and would continue to make them public in the coming days and weeks.
“These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world,” Garcia said. “We will not rest until the American people find out the truth. The Department of Justice must release all records, NOW.”
One of the images released by a House committee shows Stephen K. Bannon, left, with Jeffrey Epstein.
(House Oversight Committee)
Trump had tried to prevent the release of what are commonly known as the “Epstein files” for several months, but he reversed course in November under growing pressure from his party.
The president then signed a law requiring the Justice Department to release its investigative files related to Epstein by December 19. But its past resistance has sparked skepticism from some lawmakers on Capitol Hill, who wonder whether the Justice Department might be trying to withhold information.
“The real test will be: will the Justice Department release the files or will it all remain tied to the investigations? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said in November. .
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told reporters Friday that if the Justice Department does not release its records by Dec. 19, it would be considered a crime.
“This is a new law that will have criminal implications if they don’t follow it,” Massie said.
Massie said he was “encouraged” by the Justice Department’s requests to unseal court records related to the grand jury investigations into Epstein and Maxwell. Two judges granted the requests this week.
The Kentucky Republican said the Justice Department is required to disclose not only grand jury investigations, but also records that were not disclosed to the grand jury.
“The FBI and DOJ likely have evidence that they chose not to present to the grand jury because the evidence they have would implicate other people, not just Epstein or Maxwell,” Massie said. “What we want to see are the facts and evidence that the FBI and DOJ never provided to the grand jury.”
