The U.S. Department of Justice on the 19th (local time) released additional documents related to the investigation of the late Jeffrey Epstein, a minor sex abuser. While it was not confirmed whether photos or materials related to U.S. President Donald Trump were included, several photos of former President Bill Clinton emerged.
On its website that day, the Justice Department opened a new page called "Epstein Library" and began releasing hundreds of thousands of documents from the Epstein investigation. It was a step under the "Epstein Files Transparency Act," which passed both chambers last month and was signed by President Trump.
According to CNBC, the released documents included hundreds of photos. Former President Clinton appeared as well. One showed President Clinton on Epstein's private jet with a woman sitting on the armrest of his seat. The woman's arm was draped over Clinton's shoulder, and Clinton's left hand was placed near the woman's buttocks.
Another photo showed Clinton shirtless, sitting in a hot tub with his hands clasped behind his head. There were also photos of Clinton with Epstein and Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. However, the released photos had little information on when they were taken or other specifics.
Former President Clinton has not been indicted for any illegal acts related to Epstein. But Karoline Leavitt, the White House Spokesperson, and Communications Director Steven Cheung and other Trump administration figures posted on social media (SNS) highlighting the photos of the former president.
Clinton's side pushed back immediately, suggesting an attempt to shift the focus from President Trump to the former president.
Angel Ureña, Spokesperson for the former president, said on X that "the White House did not hide these files for months to protect former President Clinton and then release them late on a Friday," adding, "MAGA (Make America Great Again, President Trump's slogan) supporters expect answers, not a scapegoat."
Epstein, a billionaire and former hedge fund manager, was accused of committing sex crimes against numerous women, including dozens of minors, at his home and vacation properties. He died by suicide in prison in 2019 after being arrested on sex crime charges.
Since then, conspiracy theories have persisted, including claims that Epstein had a sex-entertainment list that included powerful political and business figures or that the cause of death was homicide, not suicide.
Because President Trump attended various events with Epstein until the early 2000s—before Epstein's sex crimes came to light—suspicions were raised that he might have been involved in the crimes. President Trump has maintained that he has nothing to do with the sex crimes and that the allegations are a political attack by Democrats.