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After years of secrecy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking empire and his ties to the global elite, the Department of Justice on Friday released an initial batch of hundreds of thousands of documents from its investigations into the late financier— but fell short of the complete trove mandated by federal law, igniting immediate accusations of a cover-up from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
The partial dump, posted to a DOJ website in four data sets, includes photographs of former President Bill Clinton relaxing in a hot tub and swimming with unidentified women, alongside Epstein and his convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.
Other images show Clinton with celebrities like Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger.
No photos or documents prominently featuring President Donald Trump emerged in the initial release, though Epstein's past social ties to Trump have long been documented.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the release but acknowledged it was incomplete.
"I expect that we’re going to release several hundred thousand documents today, Blanche said. "And those documents will come in all different forms, photographs and other materials associated with all of the investigations into Mr Epstein. So today, several hundred thousand and then over the next couple of weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more."
The release comes under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump on Nov. 19 after an abrupt reversal.
The law required the DOJ to publish all unclassified records related to Epstein and Maxwell by Dec. 19, with narrow exceptions for victim privacy, ongoing probes or national security. It explicitly prohibits withholding material due to "embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity."
Critics charged the staggered approach violates the statute's clear deadline.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a co-sponsor, demanded a timeline for full compliance. Senate Democratic leaders vowed to work with victims' attorneys to probe withholdings.
The documents span FBI probes from 2006 in Florida—ended by a controversial non-prosecution deal—to the 2019 New York indictment that led to Epstein's jail death.
They include raid materials from his properties, flight logs, interviews and financial records.
Photos highlight Epstein's access to power: Clinton in poolside settings, Prince Andrew with Maxwell, and redacted images of nude women. A masseuse list with 254 redacted names appears, along with grand jury materials cleared by courts.
Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges involving dozens of underage girls, maintained contacts across politics, business and entertainment.
Clinton has denied knowledge of crimes.
President Trump maintains he and Epstein fell out years earlier and denies wrongdoing.
Pressure for release built after House Oversight Democrats disclosed thousands of Epstein emails and photos from his estate, showing continued elite ties post-conviction.
Survivors welcomed partial progress but demanded more.
One, Danielle Bensky, recruited in 2004, previously urged full disclosure: "I am calling for the American people. You have homework. Call your senators. Please support this bill. Let’s get it all released."
Her brother, Sky Roberts, speaking for deceased accuser Virginia Giuffre, said, "My sister is not a political tool for you to use. These survivors are not political tools for you to use. These are real stories, real trauma. We will not let Virginia’s fight be in vain together. We will not let the predators win together."
And that's where the Epstein saga stands tonight: a significant but incomplete step toward transparency in one of the most explosive scandals involving America's powerful.
More documents are promised soon, but questions linger over what remains hidden—and why.
