DOJ releases final Epstein files in four data sets, including photos, redacted victims and grand-jury materials

WASHINGTON — The Department of Justice on Friday released the final batch of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, rolling out four data sets that include thousands of photographs, New York grand jury material and other investigative records. The release follows the signing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November, which requires the DOJ to publish unclassified records and materials connected to Epstein, longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell and related individuals within 30 days of the president’s signature. DOJ officials said more documents could follow in the weeks ahead as the agency continues to fulfill the law’s directive.

Data Set One comprises thousands of photographs of Epstein’s properties, including images of interiors and exteriors of his New York residences and his private island, Little St. James. The trove provides a window into the scale of Epstein’s holdings and the environments in which his alleged crimes were investigated, though many images are marked as part of ongoing procedural review. The public release of these images accompanies other materials in the four-data-set cache and underscores how the case extended from Florida to New York and beyond.

Data Set Two contains Epstein in personal photos with high-profile individuals, including former President Bill Clinton. The images show Epstein shirtless on a sofa, on boats, and near helicopters, including a photo that purportedly shows Clinton shirtless in a hot tub. Clinton's longtime spokesperson, Angel Ureña, responded to the release by directing inquiries to a statement he posted on X, arguing that the White House had not hidden files to shield Clinton and suggesting the release reflects broader attempts to address ongoing questions. The spokesperson emphasized that the Epstein case involved two groups of people: those who severed ties after Epstein’s crimes became public, and those who maintained relationships thereafter. The Clinton team reiterated that accountability should extend beyond any single individual.

Data Set Three features heavily redacted photos of potential victims, along with 2019 grand jury materials and associated exhibits that are also largely redacted. The redactions are designed to protect privacy and ongoing investigations, but they also limit public visibility into some details tied to the case’s most sensitive aspects. The materials in this data set reflect the dual aim of transparency under the act and protection for those involved in the investigations.

Data Set Four is composed primarily of evidence and exhibits from Epstein investigations, including documents from 2005 and 2006 that relate to initial Palm Beach police and FBI inquiries into potential sex trafficking. Like the other sets, this data set includes a substantial amount of redacted material, underscoring the complexity of the Epstein investigations and the long arc of legal proceedings that followed.

The release comes amid broader political and public interest in Epstein’s network of associates. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday morning on Fox News that the DOJ expected to release several hundred thousand documents that day and that more material would be posted in the coming weeks. The Epstein Files Transparency Act, which received bipartisan backing, directs the department to publish unclassified records and investigative materials related to Epstein, Maxwell and individuals referenced in prior cases. The act also specifies that files tied to internal DOJ communications and details surrounding the investigation into Epstein’s death be provided where appropriate.

Scholarly and legal observers note the data sets lay bare the scope and borders of Epstein’s influence, including the high-profile social circles that intersected with business, politics and philanthropy. The documents released Friday illuminate the DOJ’s ongoing effort to balance transparency with privacy and ongoing investigations, as well as the challenges of presenting a complete evidentiary picture when large portions of material remain redacted for legal reasons.

The DOJ said the data sets would be accessible on its official site and that additional files could be released in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, the new material adds to the public record about Epstein’s operations and the federal and local investigations that followed his 2008 conviction for sex trafficking of minors and his 2019 arrest on new charges before his death in a Manhattan jail.

The release also surfaces questions about the role of Epstein’s associates and the extent to which public figures were aware of or engaged with his activities. While some materials depict personal interactions and travel with notable individuals, officials cautioned that the documents do not resolve every question surrounding Epstein’s networks, and some exhibits remain under protective order or redacted for privacy and safety reasons. The department emphasized that the files released Friday are unclassified and part of a wider effort to fulfill the letter of the law and provide historical context for the investigations and prosecutions tied to Epstein and Maxwell.

In its press materials, the DOJ noted that President Trump signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act into law in November, prompting the release of the data sets shortly thereafter. The agency said it would continue to post additional documents in the coming weeks as it processes and curates material for public access. The department also reiterated that some records could be released with further redactions to protect victims and ongoing investigative interests.

As the nation digests the contents of the four data sets, questions remain about how deeply the documents will inform future inquiries and whether additional releases will illuminate unresolved aspects of Epstein’s long shadow over political and financial circles. The DOJ stressed that while the material provides a window into the case, it is not a definitive or complete archive, and it will take time for researchers, journalists and the public to parse the full implications of what is publicly available.