In brief
Democratic US lawmakers have released a significant collection of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, showcasing interactions between Epstein and various high-profile individuals. The release, which includes images of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew, aims to shed light on Epstein's connections to the powerful. No wrongdoing is suggested in the photos, but they raise further questions about Epstein's relationships and the need for transparency regarding related investigations.
Democratic US lawmakers have released two new batches of photos from Jeffrey Epstein's estate, revealing details of the convicted paedophile's home and ties to the rich and powerful.
US President Donald Trump, former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon are among the high-profile figures featured in the photos. The images, many of which have been seen before, do not imply wrongdoing.
The nearly 100 photos released by members of the House Oversight Committee on Friday are some of more than 95,000 images obtained via subpoena, the Democrats said. The justice department is separately approaching a deadline next week to publish all Epstein-related documents.
In the first batch of photos released on Friday by lawmakers, Epstein is seen with multiple high-profile figures, none of whom have yet commented. Many of them have previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Trump appeared in three of the images released on Friday. One image showed him standing next to a woman whose face has been redacted. Another showed Trump standing next to Epstein while talking to model Ingrid Seynhaeve at a 1997 Victoria's Secret party in New York – an image that was already publicly available. A third photo showed Trump smiling with several women, whose faces have also been redacted, flanked on either side of him.
Friday's files also include private images of Epstein, including one of him in a bathtub and another that appears to show sexual toys. They also show him with several other prominent people including former President Bill Clinton and tech billionaire Bill Gates.
Trump was asked about the new photos on Friday evening and told reporters that a lot of people knew and were photographed with Epstein, calling the release no big deal. The White House has described the release as a Democrat hoax against Trump that has been repeatedly debunked.
In a statement, Representative Robert Garcia stated, These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world. We will not rest until the American people get the truth. The Department of Justice must release all the files, NOW. The upcoming release of documents by the justice department on December 19 is expected to provide further insight into Epstein’s connections.
