The US Department of Justice has published the first tranche of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including photographs of high-profile figures such as former president Bill Clinton, but the release has been heavily criticised for extensive redactions and its partial nature.
Released on Friday to meet a congressional deadline, the files were described by officials as the beginning of a larger disclosure, with deputy attorney general Todd Blanche stating that several hundred thousand more documents would follow in coming weeks.
Critics from both parties accused the Trump administration of violating the spirit of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which mandated full release of unclassified records.
Among the newly public material were images of Clinton with Epstein and celebrities including Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, as well as video footage from the New York correctional centre on the day Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
Other photographs showed Epstein with companions holding firearms and censored images of naked or scantily clad individuals.
However, much of the content was blacked out, including an entire list of masseuses and numerous pages lacking context. Trump’s name appeared rarely, with one photo of a book by the president on Epstein’s shelf and another image reportedly removed after initial publication.
The White House hailed the release as evidence of unprecedented transparency, with communications staff highlighting Clinton’s appearances on social media. A spokesperson said the administration had done more for Epstein’s victims than previous governments.
Democrats responded angrily, with Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer calling the redacted dump a violation of the law’s intent. Representatives from the House oversight committee questioned the removal of certain images and demanded explanations.
Even some Republicans expressed dissatisfaction. Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the transparency legislation, accused attorney general Pam Bondi of withholding documents, while others lamented protections for politically connected individuals.
Epstein, a financier who socialised with politicians, celebrities and business leaders, was arrested in 2019 and died in custody shortly afterwards. Trump, a former associate of Epstein, has long denied any wrongdoing and said he cut ties years earlier.
The justice department insisted redactions were limited to protecting victims and ongoing investigations. Officials did not respond to specific allegations of selective disclosure.
With input from AFP
