A massive trove of over 13,000 documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was made public on Friday, revealing hundreds of previously unseen photographs. The release, coordinated by the US Justice Department, includes dozens of images showing Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell socialising with a host of high-profile figures from the worlds of entertainment, politics, and royalty.
Celebrities and Politicians in the Frame
The long-awaited document dump, an enhanced version of releases from the House Oversight Committee, features several notable names. Among them are former US President Bill Clinton, who appears multiple times, including in photos lounging by a swimming pool with Ghislaine Maxwell. The late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, is pictured twice with Epstein, looking stony-faced in one image alongside Clinton and singer Diana Ross.
Other celebrities captured in the newly publicised snaps include Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, comedian Chris Tucker, actor Kevin Spacey, and magician David Copperfield. The legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite also features in a photo reportedly taken in 2007.
British Figures Under Scrutiny
The files also cast a renewed spotlight on British personalities linked to Epstein. Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, appears in a black-and-white photograph reclining on the laps of several women, with Ghislaine Maxwell smiling in the background. Andrew was stripped of his royal titles earlier this year due to his association with the disgraced financier.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, is pictured several times in the documents. In a previously leaked email, she once referred to Epstein as a "supreme friend." Additionally, Sir Richard Branson and former Labour minister Lord Peter Mandelson are shown in photographs with Epstein. Mandelson, whose relationship with Epstein led to his dismissal as UK ambassador to the US, has stated he "fell for his lies."
Context and Denials of Wrongdoing
It is crucial to note that the appearance of these individuals in photographs with Jeffrey Epstein is not an indication of any criminal wrongdoing on their part. The images have been released largely without context. All the named figures have consistently denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein's crimes.
A statement from Bill Clinton's office emphasised this distinction, stating: “There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We’re in the first.”
The document release has faced criticism from US lawmakers, who argue that officials fell short of their legal obligations in providing the material. Alongside the celebrity photos, the files contain chilling glimpses into Epstein's world, including pictures of a camera-laden bedroom, a massage room adorned with explicit images, and a scrapbook from his private island referencing a "clueless little girl."
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. Ghislaine Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in facilitating his crimes.
