A significant trove of documents and photographs related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is set for public release this Friday, 19th December 2025. This follows a protracted legal and political battle compelling the US Department of Justice to disclose all files from its investigation into Epstein, who died in a prison cell in 2019.
Democrats Release New Batch of Epstein Estate Photos
As the clock ticks towards the legal deadline, House Democrats on the oversight committee have pre-emptively released dozens of undated photographs from Epstein's estate. The images, which lack captions or context, are said to illustrate the disgraced financier's associations with wealthy and famous individuals.
The newly public cache includes a photograph showing the renowned American linguist and professor Noam Chomsky aboard an aeroplane with Epstein. Another image features Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates posing with a woman whose face has been redacted. The committee has stressed that the appearance of individuals in these photographs does not constitute evidence of any wrongdoing.
Among the other materials are disturbing photographs of what appear to be lines from Vladimir Nabokov's controversial novel Lolita written on a woman's body. The batch also contains images of several foreign passports and a screenshot of a text message conversation from an unknown sender referring to an 18-year-old from Russia.
Wider Trump Administration News in Focus
The impending Epstein file release coincides with a series of major announcements from the Trump administration. In a controversial move, the board of Washington DC's prestigious Kennedy Center is advancing a proposal to rename the institution in honour of Donald Trump. According to a White House announcement, it would become the Trump-Kennedy Center, though the legality of such a change remains unclear.
On economic policy, new federal data shows US prices rose 2.7% in the year to November. This contradicts claims from President Trump that prices were falling "very fast" under his watch. The figure is down from 3% in September but still short of economists' expectations.
In a significant healthcare shift, the Trump administration has unveiled actions aimed at eliminating gender-affirming medical care for minors across the United States. The Department of Health and Human Services, referring to such treatments as "sex-rejecting procedures," plans to initiate a rule-making process. This would prevent hospitals that participate in Medicare or Medicaid from offering puberty blockers, hormone treatments, or related surgeries to minors.
Other Key Developments from the White House
Further announcements have clarified and expanded the administration's agenda. The "warrior dividend" of $1,776 for troops, recently announced by Trump, is not a new Christmas bonus funded by tariffs as suggested. The administration confirms the payments are being repurposed from a congressionally approved military housing supplement.
In a notable policy shift on drugs, President Trump has signed an executive order to reclassify marijuana out of its most restrictive category. This change would ease limits on research and certain regulations but stops short of legalising cannabis nationwide.
In business news, Trump Media and Technology Group, the owner of the Truth Social platform, has announced a $6bn merger plan with fusion power company TAE Technologies. The deal represents a vast bet on artificial intelligence driving future energy demand.
When questioned about revelations that Trump discussed the possibility of a third term with lawyer Alan Dershowitz—a move prohibited by the constitution—the White House stated the US would be "lucky" if he remained in office.
