Barak, Clinton, and Woody Allen: Thousands of Epstein Files Released

The US Justice Department on Friday released more than 300,000 pages of documents and photographs from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, unveiling a vast archive of evidence while leaving many questions unanswered due to heavy redactions.

The materials include investigative files, witness statements, internal memoranda, and thousands of photographs spanning decades, some dating back to the mid-1990s. The Justice Department said it made “all reasonable efforts” to protect the identities of victims, but acknowledged that some personal information could still be disclosed inadvertently. In practice, many documents were partially or entirely blacked out, including full grand jury testimonies.

Among the most scrutinized items are photographs documenting Epstein’s social and professional circles. The images show Epstein alongside former US president Bill Clinton, including pictures of Clinton in a swimming pool and a hot tub with Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in facilitating the sexual abuse of minors. Other photographs depict Epstein with well-known public figures, including entertainers and political leaders. The Justice Department stressed that the appearance of individuals in the files does not constitute evidence of criminal involvement.

The release also contains images and records from Epstein’s properties, including bedrooms and what appear to be surveillance camera placements, reinforcing long-standing claims that Epstein systematically documented activity inside his residences. One document references Epstein’s so-called “masseuse list,” containing 254 names, all of which were fully redacted. Additional files confirm that complaints against Epstein were lodged with authorities years before his first arrest, including a detailed complaint filed in the 1990s that was not acted upon at the time.

Criticism of the disclosure was swift. Lawmakers and victims’ advocates said the release failed to meet the intent of legislation requiring broad transparency, noting that entire testimonies were withheld and that no definitive new evidence tying powerful individuals to Epstein’s crimes was revealed. While former president Donald Trump appears only minimally in the newly released materials, critics argued that the selective nature of the release risks fueling further conspiracy theories rather than resolving them.

The Justice Department said additional documents will be released in stages and that the disclosure process is expected to continue through the end of the year. Despite the absence of dramatic new revelations, the files reinforce a central conclusion of the Epstein case: his abuse was repeatedly reported, extensively documented, and repeatedly ignored, allowing it to continue for decades.