The U.S. Department of Justice issued thousands of documents and images related to the case of the late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, accused of trafficking in underage girls, on December 19, 2025.
This release came in response to a bipartisan law signed by President Donald Trump a month prior, requiring the release of all files by this date. However, critics described the release as an incomplete “document dump,” heavily redacted, raising accusations of political cover-up and legal violations.
The new release includes thousands of documents, hundreds of images, audio recordings, and police reports, with a significant focus on Epstein’s connections to the political and entertainment elite.
Background of the case: From mysterious wealth to global scandal
Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, managed a vast fortune estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, linked to prominent names in politics and entertainment.
Investigations began in 2005 in Palm Beach, Florida, after he was accused of paying a 14-year-old girl for sex. In 2008, he secured a secret deal with prosecutor Alex Acosta (who later became Secretary of Labor in Trump’s first administration), allowing him to plead to lesser charges and serving only 13 months in prison with work release.
In 2019, the case was reopened federally, charging Epstein with the abuse of dozens of underage girls through his private jet “Lolita Express” and luxury residences. His accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of sex trafficking and sentenced to 20 years.
Pressure from Congress, led by Democrat Ro Khanna and Republican Thomas Massie, forced the Trump administration to release the files, after an initial refusal from the Biden administration, which had held the files for four years without further action.
What was revealed in the new release: Images and documents reveal a complex network
The latest release includes thousands of pages of documents seized from Epstein’s properties, including:
- Photos and suspicious items: Photos of children’s clothing (jean shorts, white T-shirt with a cartoon cat, white pants), a decorative wooden cabinet containing massage creams and oils, boxes and envelopes, and an electric massage device and massage chair in a room with masks on the walls. It also included photos of books purchased by Epstein in 2005, such as “SM 101: A Realistic Introduction” and “SlaveCraft: Maps for Erotic Enslavement,” for $68.83.
- Police reports and testimonies: A 2006 police report listing 17 women (a mix of adults and minors) who were abused, with identifying information redacted. A 1996 complaint accusing Epstein of stealing photos and negatives of a victim’s sisters (ages 12 and 14) and threatening to burn down her house. Interviews with victims indicated that Epstein required to see girls’ IDs to ensure they were under 18, rejecting Spanish or darker-skinned girls, and expressing dissatisfaction if they were older.
- Mysterious messages and notes: A handwritten note stating “I have a girl for him,” a note from Epstein to his friend Jean-Luc Brunel warning of the “Bratislava virus” causing sexual impotence. Other partially redacted memos and a notebook with a comment “Once there was a silly little girl who was unaware.”
- Redacted documents: A fully redacted 119-page grand jury document, along with over 1,200 names or images of victims and their families redacted for their protection. The Department of Justice acknowledged that unintentional redactions may exist in some places.
The House Oversight Committee also released an additional 20,000 pages of documents from Epstein’s ownership in November 2025, enhancing the current release.
Identified figures: Links to presidents and celebrities
The release highlighted Epstein’s connections to prominent names, noting that association does not necessarily imply involvement in crimes. Here’s a key list:
- Bill Clinton: Featured prominently in photos, such as in a hot tub with an unidentified woman, in a pool with Ghislaine Maxwell, and with Kevin Spacey. He flew on Epstein’s plane four times in 2002-2003 (up to 26 times according to media reports). He denied any involvement, stating in his 2024 memoir that traveling with Epstein was not worth the controversy.
- Donald Trump: Appears minimally, such as in a photo with a fake check signed by him from a collection of Maxwell’s images. He denied involvement, stating he ended his relationship with Epstein in 2004 before his first arrest.
- Prince Andrew: Photos of him lying down with unidentified women at Sandringham. He denied involvement and settled out of court with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual assault.
- Michael Jackson: Photo with Epstein.
- Kevin Spacey: In a photo with Clinton, previously called for the release of the files, denied significant involvement with Epstein.
- Mick Jagger, Diana Ross: Mentioned as well-known names in the network.
- Ghislaine Maxwell: With Clinton in photos, convicted of trafficking.
- Jean-Luc Brunel: Epstein’s friend, received a memo about a sexual virus, died in jail in 2022 while facing rape charges.
- Sarah Ferguson: Andrew’s ex-wife, in photos.
It also included photos of two young girls in Paris (identities redacted), and a portrait of Clinton in a dress.
Controversy and criticism: Cover-up or transparency?
Despite the release, the Department of Justice confirmed it would continue to issue more in the coming weeks, which sparked outrage, with theories circulating about the redaction of Trump’s names, and accusations that the release focused on Democrats. Observers say the release shows Epstein’s connections to the business and celebrity world, but it won’t answer all questions.
