US House Democrats on Thursday released a new set of photographs from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, increasing pressure on the Trump administration as the deadline for the Justice Department to publish federal files on the late financier approaches. The 68 images, shared without context, are part of a larger collection obtained by Congress, which has been gradually making them public.
The photographs include passports and identity documents from multiple countries, with personal details redacted, and several marked “female.” The faces of some individuals have been obscured to protect their identities. Other images show public figures, including Noam Chomsky seated with Epstein on what appears to be an aircraft, Bill Gates posing with a woman whose face is blurred, filmmaker Woody Allen, former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, and New York Times columnist David Brooks. Democrats said that the release of these photos does not imply wrongdoing by any of the individuals depicted.
Some images include unusual and disturbing details. A series of photographs shows passages from Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita written on different parts of a woman’s body. Another image includes a screenshot of a text message referring to an 18-year-old and discussing paying $1,000 per girl, though the sender remains unidentified.
Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said, “Oversight Democrats will continue to release photographs and documents from the Epstein estate to provide transparency for the American people. As we approach the deadline for the Epstein Files Transparency Act, these new images raise more questions about what exactly the Department of Justice has in its possession. We must end this White House cover-up, and the DOJ must release the Epstein files now.”
The Justice Department has remained silent about whether it will meet the Friday deadline set by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed last month with bipartisan support. The law requires the DOJ to release the most comprehensive set of Epstein-related materials while protecting the identities of victims.
According to reports, lawyers in the department’s national security division have been reviewing more than 1,000 documents each since late November, with minimal guidance on redactions. Legal experts warn that the rush could result in over-redaction or accidental disclosure of sensitive information.
The release comes as Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate, filed a habeas petition asking a federal court to overturn her 20-year sentence for sex trafficking. Maxwell claims that new evidence from civil cases, government disclosures, and depositions shows that exculpatory information was withheld during her trial. Her filing marks the latest attempt to secure freedom following previous failed appeals.
Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, and his death was ruled a suicide. The ongoing release of documents and photographs from his estate has intensified public scrutiny and renewed calls for accountability.
