The United States Department of Justice on Friday began releasing a portion of its files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, complying partially with a new law that mandated full disclosure by the end of the day.
The release, totaling around 3,965 files and approximately 3 GB of data, features hundreds of photographs, police records, handwritten notes, and images of storage media such as CDs, audio tapes, and VHS tapes apparently from Epstein's properties.
Many documents and images are heavily redacted to protect victim privacy or ongoing investigations.
Being named or pictured in the materials does not indicate wrongdoing.
The disclosed materials include photographs of prominent individuals associated with Epstein, such as former President Bill Clinton depicted in a hot tub and alongside Epstein, as well as musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.
Additional images show items from Epstein's New York and Palm Beach homes, including a voice recorder, surveillance tapes, risque wall art, and a taxidermied tiger.
Handwritten notes mention Ghislaine Maxwell, convicted in 2021 for facilitating Epstein's crimes.
The files also contain police records and framed photos involving Epstein.
A searchable database was made available on the Justice Department's website, though some users reported access issues and ineffective search functionality.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that several hundred thousand documents were released initially, with additional hundreds of thousands anticipated over the next couple of weeks to ensure victim protection.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration over the incomplete release, noting the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed by President Trump on November 19, required full publication of unclassified records within 30 days, subject to limited exemptions.
A White House spokeswoman described the administration as the most transparent in history for releasing thousands of pages.
The law covers investigative materials related to Epstein, Maxwell, and entities with alleged ties.