Epstein Files Unveil Global Celebrities, But Trump Is Absent
The thousands of documents released by the US Justice Department concerning the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein contained the names of numerous high-profile individuals, including former President Bill Clinton; however, one significant omission was President Donald Trump. The department disclosed a limited selection of the Epstein-related documents it holds on Friday, with a significant portion of the content redacted. This decision was made due to the considerable effort needed to review the materials and the imperative to safeguard Epstein’s victims. The administration under Trump was making efforts to adhere to a law that had received overwhelming support in Congress in November, which required the release of all Epstein files, even as Trump sought to keep them sealed for several months. The significant redactions and the small quantity of documents made available frustrated some Republicans and did little to alleviate a scandal that poses a threat to the party as the 2026 midterm elections approach. The lack of mentions of Trump stood out, especially considering that images and documents pertaining to him have emerged from earlier Epstein disclosures over the years. Trump’s name was included in flight manifests that detailed passengers on Epstein’s private plane, which were part of an initial set of Epstein-related documents released by the Justice Department in February, for instance. The release also included significant items, such as a complaint alleging Epstein’s involvement in “child pornography,” which was submitted to the FBI in 1996, well before law enforcement initiated investigations into his misconduct.
Celebrities featured in the photos released on Friday include the late news anchor Walter Cronkite, singers Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross, British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Numerous photos lacked dates and were presented without context, and none of the individuals depicted have faced accusations of any misconduct related to Epstein. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is also featured in one photograph reclining across the laps of several women. The former Duke of York, who was stripped of his royal title due to his connections with Epstein, has denied any wrongdoing. The controversy involving Epstein has emerged as a political liability for Trump, who has long espoused conspiracy theories regarding Epstein to his followers.
The material released this week included evidence from several investigations into Epstein, along with photos of Clinton, long scorned by Republicans. However, they seemed to contain few, if any, images of Trump or documents referencing him, despite the well-known friendship between Trump and Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s, which ended before Epstein’s first conviction in 2008. Trump has not faced accusations of wrongdoing and has asserted that he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes. On Saturday, a file containing a photo of Trump seemingly was removed from the dataset released by the Justice Department. The absence was observed online by House Democrats, who called for an explanation from the administration. On Saturday, that image was included among as many as 16 photos that were removed from the Justice Department website, as reported. The Justice Department and the White House have yet to provide a response to inquiries regarding the missing files. It was not immediately clear how substantive the new materials were, considering that many Epstein-related documents have previously been made public since his 2019 death in jail, which was ruled a suicide. Many of the files were heavily redacted; several documents with 100 pages or more were entirely blacked out. The Justice Department acknowledged it was still reviewing hundreds of thousands of additional pages for possible release. Marina Lacerda expressed her anger on Saturday regarding the extensive redactions and the documents that remain unreleased. “All of us are infuriated by this.” It’s yet another affront. “We expected way more,” Lacerda told MS NOW. In the previous month, House Democrats unveiled a trove of emails acquired from Epstein’s estate, featuring a notable message in which Epstein stated that Trump “knew about the girls,” though he did not elaborate on the implications of that statement.
Trump, in response, stated that Democrats are promoting the “Epstein Hoax” as a means of distraction. The Justice Department aimed to highlight Clinton, as two agency spokespeople shared on social media images they claimed depicted him alongside Epstein victims. Angel Urena stated that the White House was trying to “shield themselves” from scrutiny by directing attention towards the former president. “They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton,” he wrote. The White House stated that the release exemplified its transparency and dedication to justice for Epstein’s victims. However, the revelations came to light solely because Congress compelled the administration to act, following statements from Trump officials earlier this year that no additional Epstein files would be released to the public. The disclosure law mandated that the Justice Department provide information regarding its management of the Epstein investigation, encompassing internal reports and emails. None of those materials were present in the batch of documents released by the government on Friday. The law permitted the Justice Department to retain personal information regarding Epstein’s victims, along with any material that could compromise an ongoing investigation.
