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THE United States Justice Department on Friday released a partial set of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the late convicted sex offender, generating significant attention for the appearance of some of the world’s most prominent figures, including former President Bill Clinton.
However, President Donald Trump’s name was largely absent from the newly disclosed material, despite his well-publicised friendship with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Reuter reported today that the Justice Department cited the extensive review required and the need to protect Epstein’s victims for the partial release and heavy redactions.
Many documents, some exceeding 100 pages, were almost entirely blacked out. Officials also acknowledged that hundreds of thousands of additional pages are still under review.
Trump’s administration had been attempting to comply with a law passed overwhelmingly by Congress in November mandating the disclosure of all Epstein-related files, despite Trump’s earlier efforts to keep them sealed.
The limited release, along with the absence of Trump-related content, has drawn criticism from some Republicans and left unresolved a political scandal that continues to linger ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Sporadic references to Trump have appeared in prior releases, such as flight manifests showing him as a passenger on Epstein’s private plane, but the latest batch contained few, if any, documents or images connected to him.
A file containing a photo of Trump appeared to have been removed on Saturday from the dataset, a development noted online by House Democrats, who demanded an explanation.
According to media reports, up to sixteen images were deleted from the Justice Department website over the weekend. The Justice Department and White House have not offered comment on the missing materials.
The release included other notable items, such as a 1996 complaint alleging Epstein’s involvement in child pornography, predating broader law enforcement scrutiny.
Celebrities shown in photos released on Friday include the late news anchor Walter Cronkite, singers Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor also appears in one photo lying across the laps of several women.
None of these figures have been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein.
Marina Lacerda, one of Epstein’s victims, expressed anger over the redactions and withheld documents. “All of us are infuriated by this. It’s another slap in the face. We expected way more,” she told MS NOW on Saturday.
The Justice Department sought to draw attention to Clinton, with two spokespeople posting on social media images purportedly showing him with Epstein’s victims. Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, dismissed the focus as a deflection.
“They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton,” he said.
The White House described the release as a demonstration of transparency and commitment to justice for Epstein’s victims, but noted that the disclosures occurred only because Congress forced the administration’s hand.
The law required the Justice Department to submit information about its handling of the Epstein investigation, including internal reports and emails, none of which appeared in Friday’s release.
Personal information about victims and material that could compromise active investigations were permitted to be withheld under the legislation.
Despite the absence of Trump-related files in the latest release, previous materials—including emails from Epstein’s estate suggesting that Trump “knew about the girls”—have fuelled ongoing political debate, with Trump dismissing such claims as part of an “Epstein Hoax” promoted by Democrats.
The latest tranche of documents has therefore reignited scrutiny over both historical Epstein connections and the Trump administration’s handling of the disclosures, highlighting the continuing political and public sensitivity surrounding the case. - December 21, 2025