New Epstein photos released, turning up heat on Justice Department

WEB DESK: House Democrats have released a new set of 68 photographs subpoenaed from the estate of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, showcasing a range of images from high-profile figures to logistical documents just one day before a legal deadline for a broader document release.

The images, made public by Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, include photos of well-known individuals such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, intellectual Noam Chomsky, and former Trump advisor Steve Bannon. Also among them are a screenshot of a text conversation reading “I will send u girls now,” site plans for Epstein’s private Caribbean island, and a collection of passports belonging to women from countries including Russia and Ukraine.

It is critical to note that appearing in a photograph does not imply any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities, a point the release and public figures have emphasized.

Ranking Democrat Robert Garcia stated the photos were selected from approximately 95,000 images obtained from Epstein’s estate to provide public “transparency” and insights into his “network and his extremely disturbing activities.” The release states the images were provided without context and are presented as received, with redactions made to protect victims and unidentified young women.

The latest drop is part of a strategic pressure campaign targeting the Department of Justice. A law signed by President Trump, the Epstein Files Transparency Act, mandates the DOJ to release its full trove of documents related to its criminal investigations into Epstein by Friday, December 19. “As we approach the deadline… these new images raise more questions about what exactly the Department of Justice has in its possession,” Garcia said. “We must end this White House cover-up, and the DOJ must release the Epstein files now.”

Republicans on the committee have repeatedly criticized the piecemeal photo releases, accusing Democrats of “cherry-picking photos and making targeted redactions to create a false narrative about President Trump.”

None of the figures in the latest batch are Trump, though he was featured in a previous release. The DOJ now faces intense, bipartisan pressure to comply with the congressional mandate and release the full cache of documents by the Friday deadline.