DOJ releases Epstein files with new age-verification notes and links to powerful figures
New documents from Palm Beach, federal and Manhattan investigations reveal attempts to verify ages of alleged victims and Epstein's reported preferences, plus references to high-profile associates
The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday posted more than 600,000 pages of Jeffrey Epstein materials online, including new investigative notes that depict Epstein seeking to verify that a girl was under 18 by asking for identification. The documents, organized into four data sets, stem from three separate probes and are part of the Trump administration's push to increase transparency around Epstein's network.
Among the newly released notes are FBI-recorded statements from a May 2, 2019 interview in which a redacted witness describes Epstein asking a girl for ID to confirm her age and expressing doubt that she was underage. The notes also recount Epstein's alleged preference for younger, lighter-skinned girls, with one redacted associate described as having brought a Dominican, darker-skinned girl to Epstein, and Epstein reportedly stating he did not want Spanish or dark-skinned girls. The notes also reference Epstein's search for young, petite victims. In addition, the archive includes photos of partially clothed women with faces redacted, dating from Epstein's homes and suggesting victims in their mid-teens.
The Justice Department says the material originates from three investigations: a 2005 Palm Beach police inquiry, the federal case that led to Epstein's 2008 controversial plea deal, and a Manhattan investigation begun in 2019 that was not completed after Epstein's death. The release also features images from Epstein's residences, including rooms decorated with nude photographs and bright blue carpeting, and other records illustrating Epstein's network of associations with prominent figures.
The files touch on Epstein's connections to well-known people and include references to interactions with former President Bill Clinton and other public figures. The documents have long fueled public interest in how Epstein moved in powerful circles. The notes describe Epstein's preference patterns and the ways in which victims might have been selected and moved within his social ecosystem, raising questions about potential accomplices and enablers.
Ahead of the Friday release, President Donald Trump faced questions about the documents and declined to comment, saying he did not want to disrupt an Oval Office event. The notes reflect a broader narrative advanced by some officials that the Epstein disclosures demonstrate unprecedented government transparency, a claim the administration highlighted as the documents were published.
Among the newly disclosed materials is a memo showing a novelty check for 22,500 dollars that appears to bear a signature resembling Trump’s, though the signature on the document diverges from Trump’s contemporary autograph. The Epstein contact book reportedly includes a redacted entry for Trump as well. The Department of Justice said the latest dump offers additional context about Epstein’s operations and the scope of the investigations, while leaving many questions about the full network unresolved.
As investigators continue to parse the vast trove, officials emphasize that the published materials represent only a portion of what the government has collected over decades. The disclosures, they say, aim to shed light on Epstein’s crimes and the people in his orbit, while preserving the integrity of ongoing inquiries and victim-focused efforts.