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The US Justice Department has released hundreds of thousands of pages of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The newly released files mention President Donald Trump only minimally but highlight extensive connections to Democrat former President Bill Clinton.
This release follows a law passed overwhelmingly by Congress last November demanding the disclosure of all Epstein-related records. Despite efforts by Trump to keep the files sealed for months, the law compelled their release. While Trump has promoted conspiracy theories about Epstein over the years, the case has become a political issue for him since returning to the White House in January.
It’s unclear how detailed the new documents are, as many Epstein files have already been made public since his death in 2019—ruled as a suicide—while in jail. Reuters is currently examining these documents. They include evidence from multiple investigations, along with photographs of Clinton, who has often been criticized by Trump’s Republicans. Notably, the new release contains few references to Trump, with no photos or documents directly mentioning him, despite the well-known friendship between Trump and Epstein during the 1990s and early 2000s.
This absence is striking because previous Epstein releases included images and documents involving Trump, such as flight manifests listing passengers on Epstein’s private plane, part of the first batch released in February. Both Trump and some family members were listed in Epstein’s contact book, which was made public during the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former associate and girlfriend.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that more documents will be released later, possibly revealing more about Trump’s involvement. Last month, Trump ordered an investigation into Clinton’s ties to Epstein, a move some saw as an attempt to divert attention from his own connections.
One of the newly released images shows Clinton in a swimming pool with Maxwell and another individual whose face is obscured. Clinton has previously expressed regret for socializing with Epstein and claimed he was unaware of any illegal activities.
The Justice Department noted that all efforts were made to redact victims’ personal information, but some details might still be disclosed inadvertently. Blanche estimated it will take about two more weeks to review additional documents for release, which include over 1,200 victims or relatives listed in the files.
The White House issued a statement claiming that this release demonstrated transparency and a commitment to justice for Epstein’s victims, criticizing previous Democratic administrations for not sharing the files. However, critics point out that Congress forced the release, especially after Trump officials earlier announced no further files would be made public this year. Democrats further argued that many of the files remain heavily redacted and that the full evidence has yet to be revealed.
Public opinion among Trump supporters remains divided. A recent poll showed only 44% of Republican-identified adults approve of Trump’s handling of the Epstein situation, compared to an overall approval rating of 82%. This issue has already affected his political standing ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake.
Following these disclosures, Trump instructed the Justice Department to investigate Epstein’s relationships with Clinton and JPMorgan Chase. Despite White House pressure to delay the release, Congress passed and Trump signed a law mandating the publication of all remaining records.
Trump was once close with Epstein, but their relationship soured in the mid-2000s, before Epstein’s first conviction in 2008. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing and denies knowledge of Epstein’s sex trafficking activities.
The law governing the release of files allows the withholding of personal victim information and materials that could interfere with ongoing investigations. Previous disclosures have revealed Epstein’s continued communications with high-profile figures, including Steve Bannon, Larry Summers, Peter Thiel, and Prince Andrew—who was later stripped of his royal titles over his links with Epstein.
Spokespeople for Bannon, Thiel, and Prince Andrew haven’t responded to requests for comment. Summers has publicly expressed shame after documents showed he sought relationship advice from Epstein as recently as 2019, despite having a history of associations with him. JPMorgan paid $290 million in 2023 to settle claims from Epstein’s victims, having maintained Epstein as a client for five years after his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
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