Latest Epstein Files Features Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson And More

In one of the most politically charged moments of the 2025 legislative year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday, December 19, released an initial cache of more than 300,000 pages of investigative records into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The disclosure was mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law on November 19 after it passed with near-unanimous congressional support. However, the release was immediately met with controversy as the DOJ confirmed it was only a “first tranche,” failing to provide the full set of documents by the 30-day legal deadline.

The “Epstein Library”: Key Findings from the Files

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the DOJ scoured for the names of over 1,200 victims and their relatives.⁴ While many files are heavily redacted to protect these identities, the “Epstein Library” contains thousands of photos, videos, and internal memos.

• High-Profile Figures: The release features numerous photographs of celebrities and politicians. Most notably:
  • Bill Clinton: Pictured in a swimming pool with Ghislaine Maxwell and a redacted individual; another shows him in a hot tub, and a third depicts a woman sitting on his lap on a private jet.
  • Celebrity Sightings: Images include pop star Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, Diana Ross, filmmaker Woody Allen, and entrepreneur Richard Branson.
  • Missing Mentions: Notably absent from this specific batch were new photos or records of Donald Trump, despite his known social ties to Epstein in the 90s.
• Redacted Lists: A “masseuse list” containing 254 entries was released, but every single name was entirely blacked out.
• The “Black Book”: The files reiterate that what was commonly called a “client list” was largely a massive phone directory (Epstein’s “Black Book”) compiled by Maxwell, featuring thousands of names ranging from world leaders to service workers like gardeners and barbers.

Political Rebellion and “Cover-Up” Allegations

The road to Friday’s release was paved with friction. President Trump, who had promised transparency during his 2024 campaign, initially dismissed the files as a “Democrat hoax” and urged Republicans to block the law.¹¹ This triggered a rare rebellion among his base, with figures like Joe Rogan and Andrew Schulz accusing the administration of “gaslighting” the public.¹²

• The Law: The Transparency Act was forced onto the House floor via a discharge petition led by Rep.¹³ Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).¹⁴ It passed the House 427–1.¹⁵
• The Criticism: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democrats slammed the partial release as a “cover-up,” noting that the law required all unclassified material to be public by Dec 19.¹⁶
• The White House Defense: Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson stated the administration is the “most transparent in history” and has done more for victims than any previous government.¹⁷

What’s Next?