Jeffrey Epstein files latest: New files, including transcripts, released by Department of Justice on Saturday
Analysis: Friday’s gradual roll-out indicates efforts to obscure Trump associations. Sam Levine The justice department’s selective release of the Epstein files on Friday indicates how the agency is employing various strategies to downplay and obscure Donald Trump’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, writes Sam Levine. The release highlights how the Trump administration is attempting to navigate the push to disclose the files—predominantly from the Maga base—while simultaneously obscuring the details with a steady stream of document releases to minimize any potential embarrassment for Trump, who had a long-standing friendship with Epstein prior to their later fallout. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that the department will persist in releasing documents on a rolling basis over the upcoming weeks—a holiday period—hoping Americans will lose interest as the story drags on. Read Sam’s complete analysis here: Share Updated at 12.37 GMT Key events Show key events only Please enable JavaScript to utilize this feature. Members of the House oversight committee have accused the justice department of removing a previously published photo that featured Donald Trump from the agency’s partial release of the Epstein files. On social media, Oversight Democrats stated: “This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that features Donald Trump appears to have been removed from the DOJ’s release. @AGPamBondi, is this accurate? What else is being concealed? We demand transparency for the American public.” File 468, which House Democrats claim the DoJ has taken down from the Epstein files website. Photograph: Department of Justice Share Victoria Bekiempis Donald Trump’s justice department has faced legal threats and severe backlash after releasing a limited and heavily redacted batch of Jeffrey Epstein files, seemingly in violation of the law that mandates the near-total disclosure of these documents by Friday. Trump’s justice department was obligated to unveil all investigative files related to the late financier by December 19 under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The legislation permits the withholding or redaction of records if their release could jeopardize ongoing criminal inquiries, endanger national security, or reveal Epstein’s victims—yet it requires disclosure of everything else. The department’s initial disclosure on Friday afternoon, along with subsequent releases throughout the evening, did not comply with this requirement. Several lawmakers have voiced their discontent regarding the Trump administration’s incomplete release of the files. Share The US Department of Justice this morning uploaded two new batches of Epstein files online, available here and here. The newly released documents are all categorized under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and contain court records from previous cases involving Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Share Updated at 16.53 GMT A book entitled Massage for Dummies appeared among the partial files disclosed yesterday by the Department of Justice. It is noted as one of the “gifts” Epstein gave to a “girl” whose name has been redacted. Various reports suggest that Epstein frequently solicited massages from his victims—for both himself and those within his circle. The book in an image unveiled by the Department of Justice on December 19, 2025. Photograph: US Justice Department/Reuters Share Updated at 15.58 GMT Analysis: Trump over-promises and under-delivers with Epstein documentation David Smith “The Trump administration is the most transparent in history,” declared Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, affirming that it has “done more for the victims [of Epstein] than Democrats ever have.” However, it is clear that Donald Trump has once again fallen short of his commitments, writes David Smith. Many of the documents in the information dump were significantly redacted, making vast portions impossible to read. Norm Eisen, executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, remarked: “What they have released is evidently incomplete and appears to be excessively redacted as well.” The documents prominently featured images of former president Bill Clinton, a Democrat, while there seemed to be a noticeable lack of pictures or documents referencing Trump, despite his well-known friendship with Epstein in the 1990s and the early 2000s. It raised suspicions of an effort to cover up the issue. Moreover, Trump’s unusual silence did little to alleviate these concerns. At a White House event on Friday with pharmaceutical executives who had agreed to lower some prices, the president—who generally engages readily with the media—declined to respond to questions from reporters. Shortly after the partial release of the Epstein files, it was revealed that the US military had conducted airstrikes against several Islamic State targets in Syria as retaliation for an attack on US personnel. This bore similarities to an event from December 1998 when Clinton ordered airstrikes against Iraq and faced accusations from Congressional members of attempting to divert attention from his impeachment proceedings. Read the rest of David’s analysis here: Share Geraldine McKelvie Here are more images included in the first batch of files released by the Department of Justice. Epstein, Mountbatten-Windsor, and Maxwell in the royal box at Ascot. Photograph: US Department of Justice/PA Several pictures of Andrew Mounbatten-Windsor appear in the batch of files made public on Friday, illustrating how he granted Epstein and Maxwell access to British elite circles. Read our detailed timeline of the former Prince’s connection with Epstein. Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein in a photo released by the Department of Justice. Photograph: Department of Justice Peter Mandelson, who was recently dismissed as the UK’s ambassador to the US following revelations about his friendship with Epstein, is seen watching as Epstein blows out candles on a large birthday cake. Although this image was part of the newly released documents, it has been published previously. The Labour peer, 72, is understood to have known Epstein since the early 2000s, referring to him in a 50th birthday message as “my best pal.” Epstein was introduced to then-British prime minister, Tony Blair, in May 2002, in a meeting believed to have been set up by Mandelson, a former MP and cabinet minister. Mandelson maintained his friendship with Epstein post-2008, when Epstein’s conviction for child sex offenses occurred, urging him to “fight for early release.” In September, shortly before his ousting as ambassador, Mandelson remarked: “I deeply regret continuing that association with him for far longer than I should have.” Spacey, 2nd right, with Clinton, right, Maxwell, center, and others. Photograph: Department Of Justice/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Kevin Spacey is captured in a group photograph with Maxwell and Clinton inside Winston Churchill’s war rooms, the secret underground meeting locale for the British cabinet during World War II. This picture is believed to have been taken in 2002, when Clinton visited the UK to speak at the Labour party conference. There is no indication that Spacey, 66, was involved with or aware of Maxwell and Epstein’s crimes, and he has yet to provide any comments regarding the documents. Separately, Spacey was acquitted of nine sexual offenses during a criminal trial in 2023. See more of the images at the link below: Share Timeline: former Prince Andrew and Epstein’s connections Sky News reported that the photograph was taken at Sandringham, the late Queen Elizabeth’s estate in Norfolk. Photograph: Department Of Justice/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock 1999-2010 Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor mentioned he first met American financier Jeffrey Epstein in 1999 through Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s then-girlfriend who was already acquainted with the former prince. Several undated images of them together have been revealed in the latest batch of Epstein files, highlighting how Andrew facilitated their engagement with British high society. Epstein and Maxwell appear to be shown hunting with the former prince at Balmoral and with him in the royal box at Ascot. One additional picture captures Maxwell outside 10 Downing Street. Another photograph shows Mountbatten-Windsor lounging across the laps of five individuals, whose faces have been redacted, with his head near a woman’s lap. Another image, understood to have been taken in 2002, depicts Maxwell posing in Winston Churchill’s war rooms, the secret underground meeting location for the British cabinet during World War II, with a gathering that includes former US president Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey. Andrew expressed to the BBC that he used to see Epstein a maximum of three times a year during that period but confirmed that he had flown on his private jet, stayed at his private island, and visited his residences in Palm Beach, Florida, and New York. In July 2006, Epstein was invited to a masked ball at Windsor Castle to celebrate Princess Beatrice’s 18th birthday, Andrew’s eldest daughter. The previous month, Epstein had been charged with one count of solicitation of prostitution. Andrew claimed Epstein never mentioned he was under investigation. Former prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein at Royal Ascot. Photograph: Tim Graham/Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty Images 2010-2018: In 2010, Epstein provided Sarah Ferguson £15,000 to help with her financial issues. When this was reported by The Telegraph the following year, she publicly apologized for accepting the funds, stating in 2011: “I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me. I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error in judgment on my part. I am thoroughly contrite; I cannot state that enough. Whenever I can, I will repay the money and will forever distance myself from Jeffrey Epstein. What he did was wrong and justly resulted in his imprisonment.” However, leaked emails from just weeks after this statement in 2011 reveal that Ferguson apologized to Epstein for disavowing him. She wrote to Epstein: “I know you feel really let down by me based on what you were either told or read, and I must humbly apologize to you and your heart for that … I was instructed to act as quickly as possible if I hoped to maintain my career as a children’s author and philanthropist,” she reportedly wrote. “As you know, I absolutely did not refer to you as ‘the P word’ [paedophile], but I understand it was claimed that I did.” 2019-Present: Following Epstein’s second arrest in 2019, Andrew released a statement asserting: “During the limited time I interacted with him, I never observed or suspected any behavior that eventually led to his arrest and conviction.” On November 16, 2019, the BBC broadcast an interview with Andrew on Newsnight. When Emily Maitlis asked if he regretted his friendship with the convicted paedophile Epstein, Andrew responded in the negative, asserting that “the people I encountered and the opportunities I received to learn via him or because of him were actually very beneficial.” The interview was broadly perceived as a failure, and Andrew faced harsh criticism. Days after the airing of the Newsnight interview, Andrew stepped away from his official duties in 2019. In May 2020, it was announced that Andrew would permanently resign from all public responsibilities. In June 2022, Ghislaine Maxwell received a 20-year prison sentence in her New York sex trafficking case for procuring teenage girls for Epstein’s misuse. In 2022, Andrew settled for millions with Virginia Giuffre, who alleged he sexually assaulted her when she was trafficked by Epstein as a minor. He resolved Giuffre’s lawsuit despite maintaining that he had never met her and in spite of a widely publicized photograph of them taken by Epstein in Maxwell’s London residence. He made no admission of liability. The release of a posthumous memoir by Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, along with the U.S. government’s disclosure of documents from Epstein’s estate, has increased scrutiny of his association with the financier. Mounbatten-Windsor’s brother, the king, rescinded his royal titles in October 2025. The statement from Buckingham Palace stated: “Their Majesties wish to express that their thoughts and deepest sympathies have been, and will continue to be, with the victims and survivors of all forms of abuse.” The royal family has chosen not to comment on the images released in the first batch of ‘Epstein Files’. Share Updated at 14.29 GMT ‘What are we concealing here?’ questions Virginia Giuffre’s sibling after limited files released Virginia Giuffre’s brother Sky Roberts expressed to Reuters that he has “mixed feelings” in reaction to the partial release of the Epstein files. “What are we concealing here?” he questions. Democrat Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, estimated that the batch of documents released yesterday included merely about 10 percent of what the department possesses. Giuffre’s sister-in-law Amanda Roberts remarked that “nothing the Department of Justice does surprises me.” She asserts it has treated the case as a “political toy.” “When rumors circulated that the president might be named in there, the narrative shifted,” she points out. It was then branded a “hoax” and there was “nothing to observe,” she added. Trump is scarcely mentioned in the files released recently, and he has consistently denied any impropriety connected to Epstein. Regardless, Sky Roberts told Reuters that his sister would have experienced immense “joy for her survivor sisters” on Friday. Share Updated at 13.14 GMT Democrats criticize limited Epstein files release Following the release of the initial set of significantly redacted Epstein files yesterday, Democrats have lined up to condemn the Trump administration and the justice department, asserting that the partial release violates the Epstein Files Transparency Act. In a post on X last night, Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated: “Now the cover-up is laid bare. This is far from concluded. Everyone involved will have to explain themselves. Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, the entire administration. Protecting a group of rapists and paedophiles due to their wealth, influence, and connections. Bondi should resign tonight.” Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer accused the Trump administration of breaking the law: “Simply releasing a multitude of blacked-out pages contravenes the essence of transparency and the letter of the law… We require clarification as to why,” he posted on X. Co-author of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, Ro Khanna, posted a video on X arguing that the DOJ release “does not adhere” to the law. “Our law mandates them to clarify redactions. There is not a single justification,” Khanna stated, adding he would explore options like impeachment, contempt, or referral for prosecution. Share Analysis: Friday’s gradual roll-out indicates efforts to obscure Trump associations. Sam Levine The justice department’s selective release of the Epstein files on Friday indicates how the agency is employing various strategies to downplay and obscure Donald Trump’s links to Jeffrey Epstein, writes Sam Levine. The release highlights how the Trump administration is attempting to navigate the push to disclose the files—predominantly from the Maga base—while simultaneously obscuring the details with a steady stream of document releases to minimize any potential embarrassment for Trump, who had a long-standing friendship with Epstein prior to their later fallout. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has stated that the department will persist in releasing documents on a rolling basis over the upcoming weeks—a holiday period—hoping Americans will lose interest as the story drags on. Read Sam’s complete analysis here: Share Updated at 12.37 GMT Here are some of the photos included in the first round of files released by the US Department of Justice. Numerous prominent figures are featured, including former US President Bill Clinton, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, billionaire Richard Branson, and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Billionaire Richard Branson and Jeffrey Epstein in a partially redacted photo. Photograph: US Department of Justice/PABill Clinton, Mick Jagger and Ghislaine Maxwell. Photograph: US Justice Department/Reuters Former US president Bill Clinton in a partially redacted photo. Photograph: Department Of Justice/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Angel Ureña, a spokesperson for Bill Clinton, stated that the Epstein investigation did not pertain to the former president. “There are two categories of individuals involved,” he noted. “The first group was completely unaware and distanced themselves from Epstein prior to his offenses being disclosed. The second continued associations after that. We belong to the first group. No amount of delaying by those in the second category will alter that.” See more of the images at the link below: Share Updated at 12.16 GMT Survivors of Epstein’s abuse rebuke justice department for partial files release Survivors of the late Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse have voiced their discontent concerning a heavily redacted document release that was only partially made public. Survivors Sharlene Rochard, Jess Michaels, and Annie Farmer react as Sky Roberts, brother of the late Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre, speaks during a press conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 18, 2025. Photograph: Annabelle Gordon/Reuters Epstein survivor Liz Stein informed BBC Radio 4’s Today program that she perceives the Department for Justice as “brazenly contravening the Epstein Files Transparency Act”—the legislation that necessitated the release of all documents by Friday. She expresses concern that survivors may face a “slow rollout of incomplete information without sufficient context.” The quest for justice has spanned decades, continents, and political administrations, Stein remarks, adding: “We simply want all the evidence of these crimes made public.” While the release of documents carries a “great cost” to victims, Stein hopes it will serve as a “path to justice.” Lisa Phillips was in her 20s when she encountered the disgraced financier and claims to have endured years of abuse at his hands and those connected to him. She communicated to CNN that she believes the Department of Justice was “safeguarding themselves, not the victims,” after Trump officials unveiled only partial files that were heavily redacted. “I feel they possess a wealth of information to begin connecting the dots for survivors to obtain justice. Yet, as you can see, we continue to face delays,” she added. Jennifer Freeman, an attorney representing Epstein survivor Maria Farmer in her lawsuit against the federal government, informed our colleague Victoria Bekiempis that one newly released document held particular significance: an FBI report from 1996, detailing Farmer’s attempt to report her abuse by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. “Maria Farmer reported the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in 1996,” Freeman stated. “Had the government adequately performed its duties and properly investigated Maria’s report, over 1,000 victims could have been spared much trauma over 30 years.” Share Updated at 11.56 GMT Opening Summary Hello. We are resuming our live coverage regarding the Department of Justice’s long-anticipated release of documents from federal inquiries into Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex offender who mingled with Donald Trump for over 15 years. The first set of ‘Epstein Files’ was released on Friday evening after months of delays and stalling from the Trump administration. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche communicated with Fox News, expressing his expectation for the department to unveil several hundred thousand more files within the following weeks. However, considerable parts of the files have been heavily redacted. The images lack critical context, including dates and locations. Moreover, the justice department seems to be violating the law that mandated the release of all Epstein files by a Friday deadline, according to two congressmen who drafted the legislation, Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, and Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky. Missing documents & ‘over-redactions’:
Khanna asserted that the partial “document dump this afternoon does not fulfill” the Epstein Files Transparency Act, informing CNN, and added: “The most critical documents are absent.” These documents include a draft 60-count federal indictment detailing charges against Epstein and a comprehensive memorandum summarizing evidence disregarded by US Attorney Alex Acosta, who ultimately chose to offer Epstein an exceptionally lenient plea deal.
A Fox News report noted that the justice department redacted the identities and details of victims and “the same redaction standards were applied to politically exposed individuals and government officials.” Massie noted on social media that Attorney General Pam Bondi might face obstruction of justice charges from a future justice department for violating a provision of the law by redacting the names of government officials. Massie highlighted that the law explicitly states that no documents may be “withheld, delayed, or redacted due to embarrassment, reputational damage, or political sensitivity, including for any government official.” Blanche subsequently called Fox News to clarify that the justice department is “not redacting the names of any politicians.”
Instead, the justice department claimed it might have “over-redacted” the Epstein files to “protect victims.” Jay Clayton, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated in court on Friday that they blacked out the faces of nearly every woman photographed with Jeffrey Epstein, citing challenges in distinguishing who constituted a victim of the paedophile. Mr. Clayton reportedly mentioned that this approach might be “over-redaction,” but laid the blame on the 30-day timeframe Congress established for document release.
Who is in the Epstein files?
The viewable files featured images of Epstein mingling with numerous high-profile individuals, including celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, and Diana Ross, as well as entrepreneur Richard Branson. The files also depicted former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
Peter Mandelson, who lost his position as the UK’s ambassador to the US earlier this year, could be spotted in a picture with Epstein, who is receiving a large birthday cake.
There were many images of Bill Clinton, yet very little concerning president Trump in the section of the files released on Friday. However, one seemingly benign snapshot of Epstein’s library did serve as a reminder of his previous closeness with Trump. The image revealed Epstein’s copy of Trump’s 1997 book, Trump: The Art of the Comeback, which the New York Times reported in July had an inscription from Trump reading: “To Jeff – You are the greatest!” Share
Published: 2025-12-20 17:33:00
source: www.theguardian.com
