Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have released never-before-seen images of Jeffrey Epstein's infamous island. The photographs and video appear to show several bedrooms in the US Virgin Islands home, as well as a room with masks on a wall and a phone with names written on speed-dial buttons.
In a statement, the committee's Democratic leader, Robert Garcia, said they collectively form a disturbing look into Epstein's world and are being released to ensure public transparency.
On November 19, President Donald Trump signed a bill that ordered the release of government files on the late convicted sex offender - a significant turning point in a months-long fight over the documents.
Those files comprise the vast trove of documents amassed during two criminal investigations into Epstein - including interview transcripts and confiscated items. On Wednesday, five members of Congress, both Republican and Democratic, requested an update from Attorney General Pam Bondi before the end of the week on the planned release of those files.
Multiple survivors have alleged that they were trafficked to and abused on the island, known as Little St James, which Epstein purchased in 1998. The newly released images from 2020 also show what appears to be a dental chair and a room with a black chalkboard on which is scrawled with words including truth, deception and power. Some of the words have been redacted.
These new images are a disturbing look into the world of Jeffrey Epstein and his island. We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein's horrific crimes, Garcia said.
The release also includes a video showing a walk through of Epstein's property. It shows a palm tree-lined swimming pool with a statue of an archer and a path to the ocean.
The images shed little new light on the case, besides providing a glimpse of one of Epstein's crime scenes and opulent lifestyle in the Virgin Islands. The release, however, comes as pressure mounts on the Trump administration to release the broader set of documents kept by the US justice department.
Later, the committee released a second batch of around 200 images, featuring new close-ups and personal items from Epstein's home. The photos seem to have been taken in 2020 according to the metadata, revealing a house that was cleared of many belongings following Epstein's death in 2019.
