Epstein affair | What the new documents don’t show

Highly anticipated, the publication by the United States Department of Justice of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein resulted in a flood of documents revealed on Friday. But the tens of thousands of pages have done little to quell lingering questions about the fallen financier’s crimes…largely because some of the most important records remain inaccessible.

Partial lighting

A figure of the New York jet set of the 1990s, Jeffrey Epstein was accused of having sexually exploited more than 1,000 young women, including minors, and died in prison in 2019 before being able to be tried for sex crimes. The documents released Friday provide little new information about his crimes or the court decisions that allowed him to escape serious federal prosecution for years. So the documents do not include FBI interviews with victims or internal Justice Department memos reviewing charging decisions.

Absent figures

The documents make no reference to several influential figures long associated with Epstein, including the former Prince Andrew of England (now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor). The lot includes a series of previously unpublished photos of former President Bill Clinton, but very few of President Donald Trump (including a photo removed without explanation on Saturday, see next capsule). Both were associated with Epstein, but have since disavowed that friendship. Neither have been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. Photos also depict the fallen financier with superstars such as Michael Jackson and Mick Jagger.

Documents removed without explanation

At least 16 documents disappeared from the Justice Department’s public webpage for Jeffrey Epstein-related documents less than a day after their release, without any explanation from the government or notification to the public. The missing files, which were available Friday and no longer accessible Saturday, included images of paintings depicting nude women, as well as a series of photographs arranged on a sideboard and in drawers. In that image, inside a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Donald Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate.

Missing documents

The documents that have just been made public represent only a tiny part of the millions of pages of files in the possession of the Justice Department. A law passed by Congress in November required the government to release all unclassified documents in its possession by December 19. But the process will ultimately take several weeks, the Justice Department said. “I have the impression that, once again, the Department of Justice and the judicial system are letting us down,” laments Marina Lacerda, who accuses Jeffrey Epstein of having started sexually assaulting her when she was 14 years old.

Deja vu and redaction

Most of the documents released so far had already been made public through legal proceedings, congressional communications or freedom of information requests. Certain files, including a 199-page document entitled Grand Jury-NYwere largely redacted. Furthermore, certain faces appearing in photos and appearing to belong to young women were hidden. A file containing dozens of redacted images shows naked or scantily clad people, while other photos show Jeffrey Epstein and his companions, faces masked, with firearms.

Photos of Bill Clinton included

Former Democratic President Bill Clinton, already featured in previously released images from the file, appears in several photos. In some, we see him on a private plane, notably with a woman whose face has been hidden. Another photo shows him in a swimming pool with Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and Epstein’s longtime confidante, and someone whose face has been obscured. Another photo shows Mr. Clinton in a jacuzzi with a woman whose face has also been blurred. The documents do not specify the date the photos were taken and little context is provided.