Epstein files name powerful figures, revealing abuse networks
The US Justice Department has released an initial batch of long-awaited documents linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, setting off renewed political debate, public scrutiny, and frustration over transparency. The release follows a law passed by Congress requiring the department to make the full set of Epstein-related files public by a fixed deadline. That deadline, however, was missed, prompting accusations from both Democrats and Republicans that the DOJ has fallen short of its legal obligations.
The documents made public include photographs, videos, and investigative records tied to Epstein and his network. Many had been eagerly anticipated amid years of speculation about who might be named and what the files would reveal. Instead, the rollout has been marked by heavy redactions, missing material, and growing concern that the full picture is still being withheld.
Tensions rose further when at least 13 files were removed from the Justice Department’s website on Saturday. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche later said the removal was done to protect the privacy of victims. While advocates agree that survivor protection is essential, critics argue that the lack of clarity around what was removed and why has only deepened mistrust.
Among the names appearing in the first tranche are several well-known public figures, including former US President Bill Clinton, Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson. Many of those identified have previously denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, and some were mentioned in earlier releases without any allegations being substantiated.
Several of the released images show Bill Clinton in casual settings, including one photograph of him swimming in a pool and another appearing to show him reclining in a hot tub. Clinton was photographed with Epstein multiple times during the 1990s and early 2000s, years before Epstein’s first arrest. Importantly, Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein’s victims and has consistently denied any knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities.
Still, the release has prompted a sharp response from Clinton’s camp. His spokesman, Angel Ureña, issued a statement days after the files became public, accusing the Justice Department of selectively releasing material while withholding others.
Ureña called for the immediate release of all remaining documents, warning that continued delays would only fuel suspicion. “Refusal to do so will confirm the widespread suspicion the Department of Justice’s actions to date are not about transparency, but about insinuation,” he said, accusing the DOJ of creating doubt around individuals who, he argued, had already been repeatedly cleared.
He also noted that the newly released photographs are more than two decades old. “They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton,” Ureña wrote. “Never has, never will be.”
Drawing a distinction between different categories of people linked to Epstein, Ureña argued that some individuals cut ties with the financier before his crimes became public, while others maintained relationships even after serious allegations emerged. “We’re in the first,” he said, adding that delays and partial disclosures appear to shield those in the second group.
The Epstein files remain a deeply sensitive and politically charged issue. Survivors and the public alike have called for full accountability, while officials face the challenge of balancing transparency with privacy and legal constraints. As pressure mounts from across the political spectrum, many Americans say they are still waiting for clear answers—not redactions, removals, or insinuations, but a complete and honest accounting of what the Epstein files truly contain.