Today’s release is much larger than the three prior Epstein file releases.
The first was on Dec. 19, the date by which all the documents were supposed to be released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Blanche said at the time that Justice Department was releasing “hundreds of thousands” of documents, but an NBC News review found the amount was under 10,000.
Included were many documents that had already been made public and a number of previously unseen pictures of former President Bill Clinton. Those pictures are undated and it’s unclear where they were taken. His spokesperson, Angel Ureña, has said the former president traveled on Epstein’s plane four times in 2002 and 2003 on trips for his Clinton Foundation. Nothing in the photos suggests any wrongdoing, and Clinton has denied any wrongdoing regarding his relationship with Epstein.
Some additional files were released the next day, including a re-posted picture of several photos in Epstein’s home, including one of Donald Trump, his then-future wife Melania, Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, that had been posted in the initial release and removed. The Justice Department said it took down the well-known picture, which was taken in 2000, out of concern that other photos visible in the same picture might have contained victims, and restored the picture when it determined they did not. Trump also has denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.
On Dec. 23, the DOJ released about 30,000 more documents, which included more mentions of the now-president, and showed he had flown on Epstein’s plane at least eight times. It also contained email correspondence that appeared to be from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, who was stripped of his title because of his association with Epstein. The former prince also has denied any wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.