Todd Blanche says DoJ will release Epstein files Friday to meet Congressionally-imposed deadlineYour support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.Read more

The Trump administration is facing mounting pressure to defend its handling of the release of thousands of Jeffrey Epstein files after the DOJ defied Congress by failing to share all the documents by the Friday deadline, while blacking out more than 500 pages.

“There’s been a lot of effort, money and time put into redactions. Not to protect victims, but to protect people in power,” one Epstein survivor said.

Rep. Ro Khanna, who co-wrote the law requiring the full release of the files, called on Attorney General Pam Bondi and deputy Todd Blanche to come before the public, share a timeline for the full release, and explain any redactions.

“They have not been transparent, and that’s why that’s people’s biggest concern on this – that they’re hiding things,” he said.

The Justice Department acknowledged that the files were only partially released and said the entirety would come in a “couple of weeks.”

The Epstein files so far include an extensive library of legal documents, paperwork and photos, including images of former President Bill Clinton lounging in a hot tub and Epstein with a host of prominent figures, including Michael Jackson.

Many of the photos were without dates and lacking in context. Inclusion in the Epstein files does not suggest wrongdoing.

Epstein files latest: Key pointsThe DOJ has allegedly taken down a recently released photo from the Epstein files that featured a desk drawer containing images of a man who appeared to be Donald TrumpThe DOJ has allegedly taken down a recently released photo from the Epstein files that featured a desk drawer containing images of a man who appeared to be Donald Trump (DOJ)

Democrats have accused the Justice Department of removing a document from Friday’s Epstein files release that appeared to show Donald Trump in a photograph with a scantily-clad woman.

“This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release,” Democrats on the House Oversight Committee wrote on X Saturday. “[Attorney General Pam Bondi] is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.”

The file shows a photo of a desk drawer full of photo albums and documents. Among them is a photograph of a man who appears to be Donald Trump, dressed in a white shirt, standing with a group of women, including at least one who looks to be wearing a bikini. Behind the photo is a partially obscured photo where the faces of Trump, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell can be seen.

This photo appears to be one that has been widely circulated featuring the Trumps, before they were married, Epstein, and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in February 2000.

“The Trump Administration is the most transparent in history,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Independent. “By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epstein’s Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have.”

A Trump administration official referred further questions to the Department of Justice, which has not yet responded to a request for comment from The Independent.

Many of the photos in the Epstein files released Friday are without dates and lacking in context. Inclusion in the Epstein files does not suggest wrongdoing.

Critics accuse the administration of failing to fully release the files it agreed to under a law signed last month.

The DOJ says it is focusing on protecting the privacy of victims and that further releases are forthcoming over the next few weeks.

The release has also been plagued with technical issues.

After the DOJ posted thousands of documents to its website on Friday, it appeared that so many people were trying to access the files at the same time that the site required users to wait in a queue for access. The site frequently crashed as attempts to open files were made.

Josh Marcus20 December 2025 19:11

Justice Department appears to delete photo of Trump from Epstein files library(DOJ)

Democrats have accused the Justice Department of removing a document from Friday’s Epstein files release that appeared to show Donald Trump in a photograph with a scantily-clad woman.

“This photo, file 468, from the Epstein files that includes Donald Trump has apparently now been removed from the DOJ release,” Democrats on the House Oversight Committee wrote on X Saturday. “[Attorney General Pam Bondi] is this true? What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public.”

The file shows a photo of a desk drawer full of photo albums and documents. Among them is a photograph of a man who appears to be Donald Trump, dressed in a white shirt, standing with a group of women, including at least one who looks to be wearing a bikini. Behind the photo is a partially obscured photo where the faces of Trump, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell can be seen.

This photo appears to be one that has been widely circulated featuring the Trumps, before they were married, Epstein, and Maxwell at Mar-a-Lago in February 2000.

“The Trump Administration is the most transparent in history,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told The Independent. “By releasing thousands of pages of documents, cooperating with the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena request, and President Trump recently calling for further investigations into Epstein’s Democrat friends, the Trump Administration has done more for the victims than Democrats ever have.”

A Trump administration official referred further questions to the Department of Justice, which has not yet responded to a request for comment from The Independent.

Many of the photos in the Epstein files released Friday are without dates and lacking in context. Inclusion in the Epstein files does not suggest wrongdoing.

Critics accuse the administration of failing to fully release the files it agreed to under a law signed last month.

The DOJ says it is focusing on protecting the privacy of victims and that further releases are forthcoming over the next few weeks.

Josh Marcus20 December 2025 18:58

Old JD Vance post on Epstein resurfaces amid document dump

Amid ongoing outrage that the Trump administration hasn’t fully released the Epstein files it agreed to share with the public, Rep. Thomas Massie has resurface an old X post from JD Vance where the vice president, then an author, pushed for more transparency.

“I miss this version of JD Vance,” Massie wrote, linking to a 2021 message from Vance.

“What possible interest would the US government have in keeping Epstein’s clients secret?” Vance wrote in the original post, which was in reaction to the government’s negotiations with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

Members of Congress and Epstein survivors alike have pushed the administration to release more, alleging the heavily redacted tranche of documents shared Friday doesn’t fully comply with a November law mandating the release.

Josh Marcus20 December 2025 18:20

DOJ still ‘covering up’ for powerful men in Epstein files, congressman says

The Trump administration is continuing to shield powerful people who are tied to the Epstein sex trafficking ring, according to California congressman Ro Khanna.

In an X post on Saturday, the Democrat railed against the DOJ, highlighting how a file from the newly released Epstein documents showed the FBI was warned by ex-Epstein employee Maria Farmer he might be a predator as early as 1996, a full decade before it began an investigation into the financier.

“The reality is that our nation could have prevented the abuse of many of the 1200 plus survivors, but Epstein was connected to enough powerful & rich men to block law enforcement from acting,” Khanna wrote. “For three decades, powerful people have accused Maria of lying about filing that complaint.”

“The survivors, like Maria, are telling the truth,” he added. “This country has betrayed and abandoned them for decades. The DOJ still is covering up for prominent men who abused or raped young girls or were at parties where these young girls were being paraded & abused.”

Josh Marcus20 December 2025 17:35

Epstein survivor finally learns from files dump what happened to 1996 child porn complaint she made to FBI, years before investigation

“I’ve waited 30 years,” Maria Farmer told The New York Times after the Justice Department released files Friday. Among the documents was Farmer’s report to the bureau, which is thought to be the first time someone reported Epstein to law enforcement.

“I can’t believe it,” Farmer added. “They can’t call me a liar anymore.”

The FBI has never publicly acknowledged the report.

More details in our full story.

Josh Marcus20 December 2025 16:50

Why the Epstein saga is far from over on Capitol Hill

As the year comes to a close, the political fire around the Epstein scandal shows no signs of abating.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) has said members of Congress are talking about possible impeachment or contempt actions against the Justice Department because it has not released the full trove of documents required by a bill Trump signed last month.

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, among a small group of House Republicans who pushed for the release, has said the Justice Department has “grossly” failed to “comply with both the spirit and letter of the law.”

The Justice Department has said more releases will come in the next few weeks.

Josh Marcus20 December 2025 16:08

Ro Khanna reacts to partial release of Epstein files: “They have not been transparent”Ro Khanna reacts to partial release of Epstein files: “They have not been transparent”

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 15:04

‘Bondi should resign tonight’: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls files’ release a ‘cover-up’

US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called for Bondi to “resign tonight”.

Accusing the Trump administration of orchestrating a “cover-up”, she wrote on X: “This is far from over. Everyone involved will have to answer for this. Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, whole admin.”

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 14:17

What Susie Wiles was really trying to say about Trump in her tell-all interview

As Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles is one of the few people the president really trusts, writes Jon Sopel. So why did this savvy political operator go on-the-record with Vanity Fair to paint such a damning picture of the White House?

Maryam Zakir-Hussain20 December 2025 14:02

Epstein staffer who reported him in 1996 ‘vindicated’ by release of files

A woman who reported Epstein for his then alleged interest in child pornography in 1996 said she felt ‘vindicated’ by the release of the files.

Maria Farmer told the New York Times: “I’ve waited 30 years. I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.”

Ms Farmer’s original report was never publicly acknowledged by the FBI.

She said that “they should all be ashamed”, having not acted until years after the report. Epstein was first arrested in 2006.

James Reynolds20 December 2025 13:43