Survivors, lawmakers slam partial release of Epstein files
WASHINGTON — Victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein expressed anger on Saturday after a cache of records from cases against the disgraced financier were released with many pages blacked out and photos censored.
The trove of material released by the United States Justice Department included photographs of former president Bill Clinton and other famous names in Epstein's social circle, including singers Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger and Diana Ross.
However, blackouts of many of the documents — combined with control over the release by officials in President Donald Trump's administration — fueled allegations of a high-level cover-up.
Democrats demanded answers on Saturday after one image that included a photo of Trump was no longer visible in the Justice Department's online release.
"If they're taking this down, just imagine how much more they're trying to hide," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. "This could be one of the biggest cover-ups in American history."
US media reported more than a dozen other images being removed from the trove of files.
The US Department of Justice issued a statement late on Saturday defending its decision to retract files after their release.
"Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information," read the statement posted on X.
One of Epstein's victims, Marina Lacerda, reacted angrily on Saturday to the large number of redactions and unreleased documents.
"All of us are infuriated by this. It's another slap in the face. We expected way more," Lacerda told cable news channel MS NOW.
Another Epstein survivor, Jess Michaels, said she spent hours combing the documents to find her victim statement and communication from when she had called an FBI tip line.
"I can't find any of those," she told CNN. "Is this the best that the government can do? Even an act of Congress isn't getting us justice."
Even so, the files shed some light on Epstein's intimate ties to the rich, famous and powerful — Trump, once a close friend, among them.
At least one file contains dozens of censored images of naked or scantily clad figures. Previously unseen photographs of former British prince -now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — show him lying across the legs of five women.
Other pictures show Clinton lounging in a hot tub, part of the image blacked out, and swimming alongside a dark-haired woman who appears to be Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Agencies via Xinhua
