WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Saturday made at least 8,000 additional documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation available online, a sweeping release that includes hundreds of videos and audio files — notably surveillance footage from August 2019, the month Epstein died in a New York jail cell — and internal emails referencing President Donald Trump’s flights on Epstein’s private jet in the 1990s.
The expanded “Epstein files” arrive amid bipartisan anger over the pace of disclosures and the heavy redactions applied to prior releases. Democrats and Republicans have accused the department of withholding information as Congress presses for compliance with a new transparency law mandating disclosure.
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Among the newly posted materials is a January 2020 email from a New York prosecutor asserting that flight records showed Mr. Trump flew on Epstein’s jet eight times during the 1990s — “many more times than previously has been reported,” the prosecutor wrote. The message notes that Ghislaine Maxwell was aboard “at least four” of those flights. One flight allegedly carried only Epstein, Mr. Trump and a 20-year-old woman, whose name is redacted. Two other flights included women who could be witnesses in a Maxwell case, according to the email.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the flight references. In a statement posted on X, the Justice Department said some newly public claims involving Mr. Trump were “untrue and sensationalist,” adding: “To be clear: the claims are unfounded and false, and if they had a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.” The department said it was releasing the documents “with the legally required protections for Epstein’s victims.”
Another email released Saturday states that in 2021 a person reviewing data obtained from Steve Bannon’s mobile phone found an “image of Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell.” The photo itself was redacted in the public file.
Separate emails point to a different sensitive thread: an August 2001 message sent from Balmoral, signed “A,” asks Maxwell whether she had found “some inappropriate friends.” In an earlier note, the same sender referred to recently leaving the Royal Navy; Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor left the service in July 2001. Additional documents show the Metropolitan Police told the FBI in November that it was reviewing matters related to Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor, including alleged efforts to obtain information about Virginia Giuffre via protection officers, trafficking allegations and flight logs tied to Epstein’s trips to the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, the Met said it would not open a criminal investigation into claims about the former duke’s use of his bodyguard. Mr. Mountbatten-Windsor denies wrongdoing. Ms. Giuffre died in April at age 41, according to the documents.
The latest tranche follows a large cache released days earlier by the Trump administration in an effort to comply with Congress’ disclosure mandate. Those postings, however, were heavily redacted, frustrating lawmakers and doing little to quell political fallout. The transparency law passed with overwhelming bipartisan support last month after years of wrangling over the Epstein records.
Mr. Trump on Friday downplayed the political impact of the Epstein files, telling reporters at Mar-a-Lago that the releases were being used to “deflect” from Republican accomplishments. Asked about photos in the first batch featuring former President Bill Clinton, Mr. Trump said he “always got along” with Mr. Clinton and called the publication of such images a “terrible thing,” adding that many “innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago.”
Pressure on the Justice Department escalated on Capitol Hill. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said the department must “quit protecting the rich, powerful, and politically connected.” Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said they are preparing to seek contempt of Congress proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi if the department does not accelerate releases following a 30-day grace period; they also floated daily fines for noncompliance. A spokesperson for Mr. Clinton, Angel Urena, urged the immediate release of any Epstein-related material referencing the former president, including photographs, and accused the department of selective disclosures that fuel suspicion.
A group identifying itself as survivors of Epstein’s abuse said the public has seen only “a fraction of the files,” many bearing “abnormal and extreme redactions,” while some victim identities were left unprotected. The Justice Department has said it is working to clear more records for Congress and the public.
Epstein, a wealthy financier with connections across politics and business, died by suicide in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
