World News
US releases redacted Epstein files, spotlighting Clinton while Trump barely mentioned
The US Justice Department released heavily redacted Jeffrey Epstein files that frequently reference Bill Clinton but make limited mention of Donald Trump.
The US Justice Department on Friday released thousands of heavily redacted documents linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, with the material making scant reference to President Donald Trump while prominently featuring former Democratic President Bill Clinton.
The limited mention of Trump drew attention, given that his name has appeared in earlier Epstein disclosures, including flight manifests released by the Justice Department in February. Those documents had listed Trump among passengers on Epstein’s private aircraft, though Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
The partial disclosure follows a law passed overwhelmingly by Congress in November mandating the release of all Epstein-related files. The move came despite months of resistance from the Trump administration, which had earlier sought to keep the documents sealed. The Epstein case has remained politically sensitive, particularly as Trump had previously amplified conspiracy theories surrounding the disgraced financier.
However, the newly released files appeared to contain little new information. Many documents were heavily redacted, with some running over 100 pages entirely blacked out. The Justice Department said it was still reviewing hundreds of thousands of additional pages for potential disclosure.
The files include material from multiple investigations into Epstein and several photographs of Clinton, long targeted by Republicans over his past association with Epstein. In contrast, few photographs or documents referring to Trump were included, despite his well-documented social ties with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s before their relationship soured.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he had no knowledge of Epstein’s criminal activities and has not been accused of any misconduct.
Following the release, Justice Department officials highlighted Clinton’s presence in the material, with agency spokespeople posting images on social media that they said showed him with Epstein victims. Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, dismissed the focus, accusing the White House of attempting to deflect attention.
“This isn’t about Bill Clinton,” Urena said, adding that the administration was trying to shield itself from scrutiny.
Last month, Trump directed the Justice Department to examine Clinton’s ties to Epstein, a move critics described as an effort to redirect political pressure away from the president’s own past association with Epstein.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told Congress that the names of more than 1,200 victims or their relatives were redacted to protect their privacy. The White House said the release demonstrated transparency and commitment to justice, while criticising previous Democratic administrations for failing to act.
Several lawmakers from both parties criticised the release as insufficient. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the documents represented only a fraction of the evidence, while Republican Congressman Thomas Massie argued the release failed to meet the intent of the law.
Public frustration remains high among Trump supporters, many of whom believe details surrounding Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail in 2019 — ruled a suicide — have been concealed. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed only 44 per cent of Republican respondents approved of Trump’s handling of the Epstein issue, compared with his broader approval rating of 82 per cent among the group.
Previous disclosures have shown Epstein maintained correspondence with numerous high-profile figures even after his 2008 conviction, including political leaders, business executives and Britain’s Prince Andrew. In 2023, JPMorgan Chase paid $290 million to settle claims by Epstein’s victims, admitting it had kept him as a client years after his conviction.
