DOJ releases new trove of long-awaited Epstein files
The Justice Department on Friday began releasing more highly anticipated investigative files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein again.
The new document release came more than a month after the DOJ posted on its website some 3,500 records including court documents, correspondence and dozens of photos that had not previously been made public.
Some of these documents appeared to be highly sexual in nature and were redacted. Others were marked CSAM, which stands for “child pornography material.”
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The new Epstein documents released Friday emerged after the DOJ missed a deadline to turn over all documents required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law Nov. 19 and gave Attorney General Pam Bondi 30 days to release all of the department’s Epstein files.
Epstein was indicted in 2019 in Manhattan federal court for sex trafficking of minors, many of whom he allegedly preyed on while they performed massages on him. He died behind bars while awaiting trial and his death was ruled a suicide.
In the files released in December, there are several photos of Epstein and his convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, on what appear to be trips or vacations with others.
Epstein surrounded himself with wealthy and influential people and was friends for many years with Donald Trump before the Manhattan mogul was elected president.
A search tool on the DOJ website turned up Trump’s name hundreds of times in documents released in December.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crimes related to Epstein. But he and Epstein were good friends until they had a falling out about 15 years ago.
Besides Trump, Epstein was close friends with powerful men like former President Bill Clinton, Ohio billionaire Les Wexner and Britain’s former Prince Andrew, among others.
Epstein’s death while awaiting trial fueled years of conspiracy theories, some of which were fanned by Trump himself.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump promised to “declassify the Epstein files” if elected. And in February, his hand-picked attorney general, Bondi, announced that a list of Epstein’s clients “is currently on my desk” waiting to be reviewed and released.
But the “Epstein binders” that Bondi distributed to MAGA influencers contained no client lists and turned out to be information already made public.
Trump’s core supporters erupted in anger when the DOJ and FBI announced in July that an exhaustive review of the Epstein case had uncovered no evidence to warrant investigation of other individuals. And despite previous commitments to transparency, they said no further information about the case would be released.
Facing open revolt from some of his most ardent supporters, Trump called demands to release the records a “Democratic hoax.”
