The U.S. Justice Department under President Donald Trump has released the first tranche of long-anticipated records related to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.
The initial disclosure includes photographs, call logs, excerpts of grand jury testimony, and investigative documents compiled during federal probes into Epstein’s activities. Officials stressed that the material represents only an early portion of a far larger archive.
Several images in the first release feature former U.S. President Bill Clinton, including photographs showing him in a hot tub with a woman and appearing alongside entertainers Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, and actor Chris Tucker. Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. The Justice Department emphasised that the presence of an individual’s name or image in the files does not imply criminal conduct.
The batch also contains images depicting Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying atop several individuals, as well as a photograph showing Epstein holding a cake shaped to resemble breasts.
In addition, a small number of photographs of Trump were included. These images appear to have circulated publicly for decades and do not introduce new material beyond what was already known.
The Justice Department defended its decision not to release the full collection of Epstein-related records within the 30-day timeframe stipulated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In a statement, the department said it is continuing to redact sensitive information to protect victims and witnesses, adding that several hundred thousand additional documents are expected to be published in the coming weeks.
The partial release comes amid sustained public and political pressure for greater transparency around Epstein’s network of associates and the handling of investigations prior to his death in federal custody in 2019.
