WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats released dozens of new photos from the estate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting his associations with high-profile figures, as the Department of Justice faces an impending deadline to release many of its case files on the late financier.
The newly released photos are part of a larger set encompassing over 95,000 images that the House Oversight Committee obtained through a subpoena. Epstein's estate documents provide a window into his connections before he died in a New York jail cell in 2019. In light of recent legal measures, the Justice Department is required to reveal its case files regarding Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell by the end of the week. This has led to heightened speculation surrounding the contents of these files, particularly regarding their implications for figures like Trump, former President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew.
Among the photos released on Thursday are images showcasing Epstein engaging with various influential individuals, including a notable photograph of him cooking with Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, an Emirati businessman, as well as interactions with billionaire Bill Gates. Notably, a 2011 dinner attended by philanthropists and notable personalities was also featured. The House Oversight Committee has made it clear that no allegations of misconduct against these individuals are implied by the photo releases.
Additional content from the release includes passports, visas from several countries, and images that have had identifiers removed to protect the identities of potential victims. In addressing the release, Rep. Robert Garcia, a leading Democrat on the oversight panel, stated that these new images underscore the need for transparency regarding the DOJ's ongoing investigations, insisting that the public deserves immediate access to the Epstein files.
