Lawmakers and Jeffrey Epstein survivors alike continue to press the Trump administration to do more to immediately release its remaining Epstein files.
Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna, who led the initial House push to force the files to be released, are threatening to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in contempt of Congress, arguing the DOJ has failed to comply with the terms of a November law ordering the files to be made public by this Friday.
The DOJ has acknowledged hundreds of thousands of pages of materials have not been released yet, but it argues it is withholding certain materials to protect the identities of victims.
The continued delays prompted Rep. Robert Garcia of California to call for whistleblowers to come forward about what’s still being withheld.
“What they need to understand is that there are hundreds of FBI agents and others that are good American patriots that have worked to put these files together. They know what is in them,” Garcia said Sunday on MS NOW.
Marina Lacerda, a Brazilian-born survivor said they were “excited” for the files to come out, but were left disappointed.
“And when they did come out, we were just in shock, and we see that there is nothing there that is transparent,” she told Sky News. “So it's very sad, it's very disappointing."
In a small victory for critics, the Justice Department restore a previously deleted photo it made public from the files, which featured a drawer that appeared to hold multiple photos of Donald Trump.
Epstein files latest: Key points
- 'It's very disappointing': Survivors express outrage over redacted files
- Democrats claim photo of Trump deleted from Epstein files
- Trump administration must share full timeline for release, Democrats say
- Lawmakers want 'inherent contempt' proceedings and fines against Bondi for DOJ Epstein delays
- Democrats critcise partial release of Epstein files
- Photos of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, former Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson feature in Epstein files
- Epstein survivors accuse Trump administration of ‘negligence’
SNL's Epstein-themed Trump takedown
03:00 , Josh MarcusSaturday Night Live's cold open mocked President Donald Trump over the heavily redacted Epstein files and his renaming of the Kennedy Center in a scathing Christmas episode.
James Austin Johnson continued his streak as the president and ridiculed the Trump administration over its claim to be the “most transparent in history” after hundreds of pages of the long-awaited documents were redacted when they were partially released Friday by the Justice Department.
Trump only appeared in the tens of thousands of documents a handful of times, and one of the photographs that appeared to show the president was removed by the DOJ Saturday, Democrats said. Trump is not accused of any wrongdoing.
“With regard to files, we're being very transparent,” Johnson’s Trump began. “Because Jeffrey Epstein was a terrible man, and I didn't know him, and I liked him a lot.”
Rhian Lubin has the story.
SNL mocks Trump over Epstein file redactions in scathing Christmas episode cold open
Pam Bondi tweet about prosecuting Epstein ring hit with X community note
02:00 , Josh MarcusThe Department of Justice previously stated we will bring charges against anyone involved in the trafficking and exploitation of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. We reaffirm this commitment, and ask any victim to please come forward with any information pertaining to any individuals…
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) December 21, 2025
X users on Sunday were quick to add missing context to a Sunday tweet from the attorney general vowing to go after remaining criminals tied to the Epstein ring.
Under a tweet from Attorney General Bondi reaffirming the DOJ’s “commitment” prosecute Epstein-related crimes, X users lodged a community note pointing out the numerous redactions and multiple deleted files in the materials that have been released on Epstein to the public so far.
It’s also worth noting how Bondi’s statement appears to contrast with the DOJ’s position over the summer, that further investigations into Epstein associates were not warranted based on existing evidence.
‘Epstein client list’ doesn’t exist, feds say, despite Musk’s claim that Trump on it
Trump is 'very frustrated' with continued Epstein pressure, Khanna claims
01:20 , Josh MarcusDonald Trump may be fuming behind closed doors about the ongoing political pressure of the Epstein scandal, according to congressman Ro Khanna.
"I think Trump is genuinely very frustrated because the reality is usually he just lies about something or says, ‘Move on,’ and his base moves on,” Khanna told The Bulwark on Sunday. “If he wants to bomb people in the Caribbean, he'll bomb people in the Caribbean. If he wants to have ICE agents rip people away from their families, they'll have ICE agents do that...And usually the Republicans in Congress don't say anything.”
“In his opinion, he just doesn’t understand it,” Khanna added. “Why is it that he’s losing his MAGA base over this issue?”
Republican lawmakers like Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene have played a key role in the pressure on Trump so far, helping trigger a vote in the House that ultimately paved the way for the president to sign a law mandating the release of the Epstein files.
.@RoKhanna: "I think Trump is genuinely very frustrated because the reality is usually he just lies about something or says move on and his base moves on. If he wants to bomb people in the Caribbean, he'll bomb people in the Caribbean. If he wants to have ICE agents rip people… pic.twitter.com/x0DcTX6FFl
— The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) December 21, 2025
DOJ still has 'hundreds of thousands' of pages of Epstein material to release
00:50 , Josh MarcusThe DOJ admitted on Sunday it has “hundreds of thousands” of pages from the Epstein files it has yet to release, despite a Friday legal deadline to share the files with the public.
In an X post, the Justice Department said the delays were because of efforts to ensure releases complied with court orders and protected the identities of victims and minors.
“NO redactions have been or will be made to protect famous individuals or political exposed persons, “ the department wrote.
A team of roughly 200 lawyers is working on reviewing the files, the DOJ added.
WATCH: Top Trump administration official defends removal of photos from released Epstein files
00:20 , Josh MarcusEpstein files provide more details on first victim and alleged Trump meeting
Sunday 21 December 2025 23:17 , Josh MarcusThe newly released Epstein files include a reference to a 2020 lawsuit describing the late pedophile’s approach of a girl thought to be his first victim.
The lawsuit alleges that in 1994, Epstein and his now-imprisoned associate Ghislaine Maxwell approached a 13-year-old, whose name is anonymous in the filing, at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan.
At the time, the teen was a student there and Epstein “bragged to her about being a patron of the arts,” according to the lawsuit.
Epstein and Maxwell allegedly asked the girl numerous questions about her background, and later proceeded to “groom” the teen over a number of years when she returned to her home in Florida.
Epstein allegedly sexually abused the girl on multiple occasions and insisted she call him “godfather,” according to the suit.
The lawsuit also claims that Epstein once introduced the teen to Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, at which point “Epstein elbowed Trump playfully asking, referring [to teen], “‘This is a good one, right?’”
By 1999, the girl had moved to Los Angeles and cut ties with Epstein, according to the suit.
“It’s not news that President Trump knew Epstein back in the day, because he kicked him out of his club for being a creep,” the White House told The Independent. “Despite desperate wishcasting from the Democrats, the fact remains: Donald Trump never did anything wrong. The same can’t be said for Democrats like Hakeem Jeffries and Stacey Plaskett who continued to reach out to and pal around with Epstein after he was a convicted sex offender.”
The president has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing or knowledge associated with Epstein’s abuses and trafficking.
The allegations appear to match those made in a book about Epstein.
Epstein met first known underage victim at prestigious Michigan arts camp, book says
Missing Trump photo from Epstein files that prompted criticism is back
Sunday 21 December 2025 23:05 , Josh Marcus
The Justice Department has now republished a highly scrutinized photo from the Epstein files showing a drawer with pictures of Donald Trump, which it had previously removed from circulation.
In the photo, one of the images visible appeared to show Trump standing with a group of women, while another was a well-known image of Trump, Melania Trump, Epstein, and Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
When observers noticed the photo had gone missing, Democrats accused the administration of orchestrating a cover-up.
“The Southern District of New York flagged an image of President Trump for potential further action to protect victims,” the Justice Department wrote on X of the restored image. “Out of an abundance of caution, the Department of Justice temporarily removed the image for further review. After the review, it was determined there is no evidence that any Epstein victims are depicted in the photograph, and it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction.”
The removed photo was just one of multiple files that were released then deleted over the course of this weekend.
Catch up on the whole controversy here.
Over a dozen Epstein files disappear from DOJ site including Trump photo
Congressmen rage at Pam Bondi after her renewed calls to tackle Epstein cases
Sunday 21 December 2025 22:35 , Josh MarcusThe Trump administration is on the defensive, facing accusations it is illegally slow-walking the release of the Epstein files.
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Sunday seemed to add fuel to the fire with an X post where she vowed the DOJ would “bring charges against anyone involved in the trafficking and exploitation of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims.”
“Your promise to prosecute rich & powerful men who were at Epstein's rape island would be more credible if you stop breaking @RepThomasMassie & my law,” Rep. Ro Khanna wrote on X in response. “Release the draft 60 count indictment, 82 page prosecution memo and the FBI files.”
“Unfortunately, @AGPambondi is breaking the law,” Massie added in his own X post. “Epstein survivors aren't satisfied with the DOJ's incomplete and redacted Epstein files disclosures, and neither am I. Congress should assert its ability to hold Bondi in ‘inherent contempt’ to get justice for the survivors.”
Why whistleblowers might hold the key to the Epstein files
Sunday 21 December 2025 22:06 , Josh MarcusCalifornia Representative Robert Garcia urged FBI and Department of Justice employees who are angry about the Trump administration’s redactions of the Epstein files to come forward – noting there are whistleblower protections to ensure the truth gets out.
Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, slammed the Trump administration for saying for months that the files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were ready to be released – only to heavily redact the materials and miss the legal deadline for releasing them in full.
“To spend this entire period of time, the last few months, claiming that you have the files ready to be released... And then this all-out effort to hide them from the public, to stop the will of Congress, to not answer the oversight subpoena. What they need to understand is that there are hundreds of FBI agents and others that are good American patriots that have worked to put these files together. They know what is in them,” Garcia said Sunday on MS NOW.
Garcia urged anyone at the FBI or Department of Justice who worked on the Epstein files – who believes their work is currently being hidden – to come forward to the Oversight Committee.
Isbael Keane has the story.
Full truth of Epstein files could come from whistleblowers, senior Democrat says
WATCH: Congress wants to hear from whistleblowers over missing Epstein files
Sunday 21 December 2025 21:30 , Josh MarcusDOJ will continue going after Epstein ring if new evidence arises, Bondi says
Sunday 21 December 2025 21:00 , Josh Marcus
As the Trump administration faces criticism it hasn’t done enough to release the full Epstein files on time, Attorney General Pam Bondi on Sunday reiterated the DOJ’s vow to continuing prosecuting those tied to Epstein’s trafficking ring.
“The Department of Justice previously stated we will bring charges against anyone involved in the trafficking and exploitation of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims,” she wrote on X. “We reaffirm this commitment, and ask any victim to please come forward with any information pertaining to any individuals who engaged in illicit activity at their expense.”
“We have met with many victims and victims groups, and will continue to do so if more reach out,” she added. “We believe in the equal standard of justice in this country and will ensure that Justice is served.”
Lawmakers in the House are threatening to bring inherent contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi, following accusations the DOJ has failed to comply with a November law mandating the release of the Epstein files.
“The quickest, and I think, most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi, and that doesn’t require going through the courts,” Republican Rep. Thomas Massie told CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday.
“We do not just do memes or speeches,” Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat partnering with Massie on the effort, wrote on X of the contempt process. “We take action to fight a corrupt system.”
Inherent contempt refers to a congressional power, rarely used in modern times, that allows lawmakers to punish individuals who are not complying with their investigatory powers, according to the Congressional Research Service, including by imprisoning or fining them.
When asked about these plans on Sunday on NBC’s Meet The Press, Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche brushed off the threats, saying he wasn’t even “a little bit” concerned.
“Bring it on,” he said. “We are doing everything we’re supposed to be doing to comply with this statute.”
How Congress could force Trump's hand on Epstein with 'inherent contempt' proceedings
Sunday 21 December 2025 20:43 , Josh MarcusLawmakers in the House are threatening to bring inherent contempt proceedings against Attorney General Pam Bondi, following accusations the DOJ has failed to comply with a November law mandating the release of the Epstein files.
“The quickest, and I think, most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi, and that doesn’t require going through the courts,” Republican Rep. Thomas Massie told CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday.
“We do not just do memes or speeches,” Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat partnering with Massie on the effort, wrote on X of the contempt process. “We take action to fight a corrupt system.”
Inherent contempt refers to a congressional power, rarely used in modern times, that allows lawmakers to punish individuals who are not complying with their investigatory powers, according to the Congressional Research Service, including by imprisoning or fining them.
When asked about these plans on Sunday on NBC’s Meet The Press, Deputy Attorney Todd Blanche brushed off the threats, saying he wasn’t even “a little bit” concerned.
“Bring it on,” he said. “We are doing everything we’re supposed to be doing to comply with this statute.”
California congressman tells whistleblowers at FBI and Justice Department to get in touch
Sunday 21 December 2025 20:30 , Isabel KeaneGarcia: If you are a whistleblower at the FBI, at the DOJ, if you worked hard to put the files together and are seeing your work now being hidden by your own DOJ, contact the oversight committee. We have whistleblower protections. We want to make sure that the truth gets out,… pic.twitter.com/W3nDj5jQhV
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 21, 2025
It’s ‘laughable’ DOJ would take down photos from Epstein files because of Trump: Deputy AG
Sunday 21 December 2025 19:59 , Josh MarcusDeputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on Sunday said it’s “laughable” to think the Department of Justice would remove a photo from the Epstein files because it features President Donald Trump.
Blanche defended the fact that photographs were redacted after initially being released on Friday, along with records from the DOJ’s investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying their removal had “nothing to do” with Trump.
“There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public, seeing him with Mr. Epstein,” Blanche said on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday morning.
“The absurdity of us pulling down a single photo because President Trump was in it is laughable,” he said. “And the fact that everybody’s trying to act like that’s the case is a reflection of their true motivation.”
Isabel Keane reports.
Deputy Attorney General says it’s ‘laughable’ DOJ would take down photos with Trump
Democratic lawmakers question partial release of files
Sunday 21 December 2025 19:30 , Isabel KeaneDemocratic lawmakers on Sunday continued to question President Donald Trump and the Justice Department for the partial release of the Epstein files, igniting fresh accusations of a cover-up.
Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin argued on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday that the Justice Department isn’t obstructing the release of the Epstein files to protect victims, as officials have claimed.
“It’s all about covering up things that, for whatever reason, Donald Trump doesn’t want to go public, either about himself, other members of his family, friends, Jeffrey Epstein, or just the social, business, cultural network that he was involved in for at least a decade, if not longer,” Raskin said.
Rep. Massie says lawmakers are drafting effort to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in inherent contempt
Sunday 21 December 2025 19:00 , Isabel KeaneBRENNAN: What are you going to do to force DOJ to comply?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 21, 2025
MASSIE: The quickest way and most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi. That doesn't require going through the courts. We're drafting that right now. pic.twitter.com/k2dCmVfpe5
'I think it should all be released,' Sen. Rand Paul tells ABC's 'This Week'
Sunday 21 December 2025 18:26 , Isabel KeaneRand Paul on Epstein files: "I think it all should be released. I think it's a big mistake. Any indication that there's not a full reveal on this, it will just plague them for months and months more. pic.twitter.com/ZfsAPmU95W
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 21, 2025
Justice Department re-releases 119-page grand jury documents with 'minimal redactions'
Sunday 21 December 2025 17:24 , Isabel KeaneThe Justice Department on Sunday re-released 119 pages labeled as grand jury materials in the 2021 case against Ghislaine Maxwell, noting that the files now have “minimal redactions.”
“Here is the document now with minimal redactions. Documents and photos will continue to be reviewed consistent with the law and with an abundance of caution for victims and their families,” the DOJ wrote on X along with a link to the document.
The lengthy document had been completely redacted when it was first released Friday.
Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking minors to be abused by financier Jeffrey Epstein in 2021.
Lawmakers who pushed for Epstein files to be released say they are considering an effort to hold attorney general in contempt of Congress
Sunday 21 December 2025 16:54 , Isabel KeaneRepublican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, who together led the charge to release the Epstein files, say they are considering an effort to hold Attorney General Pam Bondi in inherent contempt of Congress over the extensive redactions made to the documents.
“The quickest, and I think, most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi, and that doesn’t require going through the courts,” Massie told CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday.
The two lawmakers are currently drafting legislation to hold Bondi in inherent contempt. The U.S. Constitution notes that federal courts can punish contempt and impose other sanctions on parties who engage in misconduct.
“We only need the House for inherent contempt, and we’re building a bipartisan coalition,” Khanna said. “So, I believe we’re going to get bipartisan support in holding her accountable, and a committee of Congress should determine whether these redactions are justified or not.”
Khanna said they measure being drafted “would fine Pam Bondi for every day that she’s not releasing these documents.”
Department of Justice missed deadline to release documents 'to protect victims'
Sunday 21 December 2025 16:30 , Isabel KeaneThe Department of Justice missed the Friday deadline to release all of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein because the statute requiring their release also requires them to protect victims, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said.
“It’s very simple and very clear. The statute [Epstein Files Transparency Act] also requires us to protect victims,” Blanche said on Meet the Press Sunday morning.
“The reason why we are still reviewing documents and still continuing our process is simply that,” he said. “To protect victims.”
Photo of desk with pictures of Trump on it removed over concerns about the women pictured
Sunday 21 December 2025 16:04 , Isabel KeaneA photo of an open desk drawer that showed pictures of Donald Trump was taken down from the Department of Justice website over “concerns” about the women in the images, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Sunday.
“You can see in that photo there are photos of women. We learned after releasing that photograph that there were concerns about those women and the fact that we had put that photo up, so we pulled that photo down. It has nothing to do with President Trump,” Blanche said on Meet the Press Sunday morning.
“There are dozens of photos of President Trump already released to the public of him with Mr. Epstein,” Blanche added, noting the two “socialized” in the 90s and early 2000s.
Blanche said that photos and materials have been redacted after being published due to concerns from victims or victims’ rights groups.
When asked if the women in the photos were victims of Epstein and that’s why the image was taken down, Blanche responded, “No, that’s not what I’m saying.”
Deputy Attorney General defends removing some photos
Sunday 21 December 2025 15:51 , Isabel KeaneDeputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended photographs that were redacted after being released Friday, along with records from the Department of Justice’s investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
“There were a number of photographs that were pulled down after being released on Friday. That’s because a judge in New York has ordered us to listen to any victim or victim rights’ group if they have any concerns about the material that we’re putting up,” Blanche said on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday morning.
Blanche stressed that once those concerns are flagged, “of course,” they are going to take the photo down and make redactions before uploading it again.
“We are, in every way, shape and form, complying with the statute, which, by the way, is what President Trump has been asking us to do since before he was elected,” Blanche continued.
“There is nothing that he has to hide in the Epstein files, there never was,” he said.
DOJ says it will continue to review and redact materials
Sunday 21 December 2025 15:14 , Isabel KeaneThe U.S. Department of Justice says it will continue to review and redact materials “consistent with the law.”
“Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information,” the agency noted on X Saturday night.
The DOJ on Friday released some of the records related to its investigations into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The thin batch of documents prompted critics from both sides of the aisle to accuse the DOJ of heavily redacting the materials and failing to meet a legal deadline to share all documents in its possession by Friday.
The Justice Department has also been accused of deleting once public documents, including a photo featuring President Donald Trump that was part of the Epstein files library on Friday.
In response to allegations of a cover-up, the Trump administration said its release of the files shows they are the “most transparent” administration in history.
Epstein survivor finally learns from files what happened to 1996 child porn complaint she made to FBI - years before financier was investigated
Sunday 21 December 2025 15:00 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe release of tens of thousands of files from probes into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has confirmed that a former employee warned the FBI in 1996 that he was seeking out child pornography - a decade before the agency investigated the financier.
“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.
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Epstein survivor learns fate of her 1996 FBI complaint in file dump
Glaring gaps in Epstein files as DOJ release offers scant new insight into his crimes
Sunday 21 December 2025 14:15 , Maryam Zakir-HussainThe Justice Department’s much-anticipated release of records tied to Jeffrey Epstein arrived in a flood of documents that did little to quell the long-simmering intrigue, largely because some of the most consequential records were nowhere to be found.
The initial disclosures, spanning tens of thousands of pages, offer scant new insight into Epstein’s crimes or the decisions that allowed him to avoid serious federal prosecution for years.
Missing are FBI interviews with survivors and internal Justice Department memos examining charging decisions — records that could have helped explain how investigators viewed the case and why Epstein was allowed in 2008 to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge.
Glaring gaps in Epstein files as released docs offer scant new insight into crimes
'What else is being covered up?': 16 files disappear from DoJ website
Sunday 21 December 2025 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAt least 16 files disappeared from the Justice Department's public webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein — including a photograph showing President Donald Trump — less than a day after they were posted, with no explanation from the government and no notice to the public.
The missing files, which were available Friday and no longer accessible by Saturday, included images of paintings depicting nude women, and one showing a series of photographs along a credenza and in drawers.
In that image, inside a drawer among other photos, was a photograph of Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Epstein's longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
The Justice Department didn't answer questions Saturday about why the files disappeared but said in a post on X that "photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information."
Online, the unexplained missing files fueled speculation about what was taken down and why the public was not notified, compounding long-standing intrigue about Epstein and the powerful figures who surrounded him.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee pointed to the missing image featuring a Trump photo in a post on X, writing: "What else is being covered up? We need transparency for the American public."
What is missing from the partially released Epstein files?
Sunday 21 December 2025 12:55 , James ReynoldsSome of the most consequential records are nowhere to be found in the Justice Department's initial disclosures.
Missing are FBI interviews with survivors and internal DoJ memos examining charging decisions, records that could have helped explain why Epstein was allowed to plead guilty to a relatively minor state-level prostitution charge in 2008.
Rep. Ro Khanna said that “the most important documents are missing”. He said survivors most wanted to see a prosecution memo and a draft indictment drawn up against Epstein by federal prosecutor Marie Villafaña in 2007.
Those documents were never filed as her superiors chose to negotiate a deal with Epstein instead.
The records also hardly reference several powerful figures long associated with Epstein, including Britain's former Prince Andrew, renewing questions about who was scrutinised, who was not, and how much the disclosures truly advance public accountability.
The releases so far have been heavy on images of Epstein's homes in New York City and the US Virgin Islands, with some photos of celebrities and politicians.
What did the '16 removed photos' show?
Sunday 21 December 2025 12:28 , James ReynoldsSixteen pictures included in Friday’s release of Epstein files were seemingly taken down on Saturday.
They were undated and unlabelled, but appeared to be from a 2019 search of Epstein’s New York mansion.
One photograph now missing showed a dresser covered in and containing pictures of people. Inside a drawer was a picture of Trump, alongside Epstein, Melania Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Twelve of the pictures removed appeared to show the massage room at Epstein’s New York mansion, according to the NYT.
The images showed paintings and photos of nude women.
It was unclear why those pictures were removed. Other, similar images remained on the website.
While the DOJ has not publicly released a detailed index of the missing files, social media users who independently tracked the file list say they identified 16 documents that were possibly removed.
The DoJ said: “Photos and other materials will continue being reviewed and redacted consistent with the law in an abundance of caution as we receive additional information.”
'It's very disappointing': Survivors express outrage over redacted files
Sunday 21 December 2025 10:48 , Maryam Zakir-HussainEpstein survivors have said the release of the heavily redacted files has left them in “shock”.
Critics from both sides of the aisle have accused the DOJ of heavily redacting the materials and failing to meet a legal deadline to share all documents in its possession by Friday.
Marina Lacerda, a Brazilian-born survivor said they were “excited” for the files to come out, but were left disappointed.
She told Sky News: "And when they did come out, we were just in shock, and we see that there is nothing there that is transparent. So it's very sad, it's very disappointing."
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured lying across five people in new Epstein files image
Sunday 21 December 2025 10:19 , Maryam Zakir-HussainAndrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been pictured lying across the legs of five people in an image released in a huge dump of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In the undated photo, convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell appears to peer down and smile at the former prince, who is smiling with his eyes closed and his head near a woman’s lap. The photograph was taken at the royal residence of Sandringham.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor pictured lying over five people in new Epstein files image
Epstein survivors outraged over files release to ‘protect people in power’ as 1996 FBI complaint emerges
Sunday 21 December 2025 09:23 , Maryam Zakir-HussainSurvivors of the late Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse have expressed disappointment over a document dump that was heavily redacted and only partially released.
Read more here:
Epstein survivors outraged over files release to ‘protect people in power’
What we know of Epstein’s ‘co-conspirators’ in his sexual crimes
Sunday 21 December 2025 08:30 , Vishwam SankaranAlthough the latest documents released by the US justice department reveal several famous personalities who socialised with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, US attorney general Pam Bondi says there is no known Epstein “client list” yet.
However, Republican Congressman Tom Massie says he knows of 20 men who have been implicated in Epstein’s crimes.
Known Epstein aide Ghislaine Maxwell also filed a habeas corpus petition last week, claiming there were “at least 25 men with whom there were confidential private settlements” made “that could equally be considered as co-conspirators”.
However, the petition does not publicly list the names of those 25 men.
Documents reveal 1996 complaint against Epstein ignored by FBI
Sunday 21 December 2025 08:00 , Vishwam SankaranThe latest trove of documents released by the US justice department includes a record of a complaint filed against Epstein in 1996 with the FBI’s Miami office, long before any federal investigation into the convicted sex offender took place.
Although the complainant’s name has been redacted in the DOJ files, her attorney confirmed the document refers to Epstein survivor Maria Farmer, who has long said she reported Epstein to law enforcement in 1996.
In the complaint, Farmer alleges that Epstein stole nude photos of her underage sisters and possibly sold them. She also claims he sought photographs of girls at swimming pools and threatened her to keep silent.
You can read more about Farmer’s latest statement following the DOJ Epstein files release here:
Epstein survivor learns fate of her 1996 FBI complaint in file dump
‘Very clear DOJ has different motive’: Virginia Giuffre’s brother
Sunday 21 December 2025 07:30 , Vishwam SankaranThe US justice department’s partial release of documents from the Epstein files reveals that the DOJ has a “different motive”, said Sky Roberts, the brother of Epstein trafficking victim Virginia Giuffre.
Sky Roberts (Virginia Giuffre’s brother): “The reality with the DOJ right now is it’s very clear they have a different motive behind them. It’s another way of creating smoke and mirrors. It’s another way to create this facade that they’re actually doing something when in reality… pic.twitter.com/P89FOCGDJh
— Marco Foster (@MarcoFoster_) December 20, 2025
“The reality with the DOJ right now is it’s very clear they have a different motive behind them,” Mr Roberts said yesterday.
“It’s another way of creating smoke and mirrors. It’s another way to create this facade that they’re actually doing something when in reality they’re actually not doing anything at all,” he said.
When will the remaining Epstein files be released?
Sunday 21 December 2025 07:00 , Vishwam SankaranThe US department of justice has said it will continue releasing the remaining several hundred thousand Epstein-related files “over the next couple of weeks”, suggesting a phased rollout extending into early January 2026.
However, no precise date has been officially announced by the DOJ.
The Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed last month, mandates that the US justice department make all unclassified Epstein-related records publicly available within 30 days of the law being signed, setting a deadline of 19 December 2025.
While the DOJ released an initial batch of documents on Friday, including photographs, FBI complaints, court records, and other investigative material, it did not publish all the files in its possession, and many of the released documents were heavily redacted.
Lawmakers have criticised the Trump administration for failing to meet the 30-day deadline required under the law.
Senator Jeff Merkley said he was “exploring all avenues and legal tools to get justice for the victims and transparency”.
Who are Epstein’s known associates and clients in his crimes?
Sunday 21 December 2025 06:30 , Vishwam SankaranAlthough many high-profile names have emerged among people in Jeffrey Epstein’s social circle, most have not been charged with crimes connected to the convicted sex offender, and many have denied any wrongdoing.
There is also no proven or officially confirmed “client list” of individuals who paid Epstein for sex with minors.
The appearance of names in the Epstein files, including references in flight logs or photographs of his properties, does not in itself indicate involvement in sexual crimes.
To date, the only legally proven and convicted associate in Epstein’s sexual crimes is Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in US federal prison for offences including sex trafficking, grooming, and the recruitment of minors.
Another individual accused of being an Epstein co-conspirator was modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who was arrested in France in 2020 but died by suicide in prison in 2022 before his trial.
Other figures whose names frequently appear in relation to the Epstein files include former US president Bill Clinton, current president Donald Trump, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak.
However, there have been no criminal charges or victim testimony under oath accusing them of any crimes involving Epstein.
What’s in the 16 documents removed from the Epstein files after their release
Sunday 21 December 2025 06:00 , Vishwam SankaranObservers have pointed out that 16 documents from the Epstein files, which were available yesterday, have disappeared from the Department of Justice website where the files were released.
One of the removed documents included an image stored inside a drawer showing US president Donald Trump alongside Epstein, Melania Trump, and Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Several other missing documents reportedly contained images of paintings depicting nude women, as well as a photograph showing several pictures placed on a credenza and inside drawers.
While the DOJ has not publicly released a detailed index of the missing files, social media users who independently tracked the file list say they identified 16 documents that were possibly removed.
Epstein scandal likely to dominate the Sunday political shows
Sunday 21 December 2025 05:30 , Rhian LubinThe Epstein files controversy is likely to dominate the Sunday morning political talk shows this weekend.
Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat and Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who led the charge to release the Epstein files, will be on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday morning.
Meanwhile, deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche will be on NBC’s Meet the Press, where he will likely be quizzed about the documents the DOJ appeared to remove from the tranche of files it dropped, including one of President Donald Trump.
TOMORROW on @MeetThePress with @kwelkernbc, exclusive interviews with:
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) December 21, 2025
➡️ @DAGToddBlanche
➡️ Sen. @LindseyGrahamSC (R-S.C.)
➡️ @SenTimKaine (D-Va.) pic.twitter.com/Me9CQi7xKy
SUNDAY on @FaceTheNation with @MargBrennan:
— CBS News PR (@CBSNewsPress) December 20, 2025
➡ @RepRoKhanna and @RepThomasMassie
➡ National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett
➡ @unicefchief
➡ @ArchbishopOKC
➡️ @SalvantoCBS pic.twitter.com/tiyoY3C39K
DOJ releases new Epstein docs, including from Epstein and Maxwell cases
Sunday 21 December 2025 05:00 , Josh MarcusThe Justice Department released a new batch of Epstein files Saturday, including grand jury documents from past cases against the late sex offender and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
In one document, an FBI agent testified that an Epstein victim said Maxwell acted "like a cool older sister and made comments like this is what grownups do” when trying to convince girls to perform various acts.
The agent recounted hearing from an individual that Maxwell encouraged her to wear a schoolgirl outfit while serving Epstein tea, an encounter in which the late financier reached under the woman’s skirt and touched her sexually.
A schoolgirl outfit was later recovered from Epstein’s mansion, the agent said.
You can read the documents here on the DOJ website.
ICYMI: Four major takeaways from Epstein files
Sunday 21 December 2025 04:30 , Alex WoodwardThousands of documents from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein have finally been released by President Donald Trump’s administration after months of public pressure.
While an initial round of long-awaited documents includes a vast library of salacious images and photographs of high-profile figures, it remains unclear whether they shed any new light on Epstein’s crimes and alleged connections to a sex trafficking ring implicating prominent officials accused of exploiting and abusing young girls.
Disclosures related to the Epstein Files Transparency Act include hundreds of undated photographs as well as heavily redacted images and case files, including 119 pages of grand jury testimony that have been totally blacked out.
Photographs submitted by law enforcement investigating Epstein’s properties include sex toys and costumes, images of women exposing themselves, folders full of photographs of nearly naked women, and nude paintings and sculptures of women’s breasts.
Alex Woodward has the details...
UFC fighter says he won't take part in White House fight event over Epstein files
Sunday 21 December 2025 04:00 , Rhian LubinUFC fighter Sean Strickland said that he’ll give the White House event next year a swerve and nodded to the current Epstein files scandal.
“I think I’d wanna do the White House… if there was some kind of inclusion for fans…but like, just to go hang out with the f***ing Epstein list?” Strickland told controversial online streamer Adin Ross. “I’m good, dog. I’m good, dude.”
Donald Trump has said the UFC is planning “eight or nine championship fights” for its proposed event at the White House in 2026.
UFC president Dana White is friends with Trump and the pair have been working on staging a fight card at the White House on 14 June – the president’s birthday.
Beyond the date, details have been somewhat scarce.
Epstein files saga has dogged the Trump administration for most of 2025
Sunday 21 December 2025 03:30 , Rhian LubinThe Jeffrey Epstein scandal has dogged Donald Trump and his administration for most of the first year in his second term.
Survivors of the late sex offender’s abuse have long campaigned for full transparency and the release of all of the documents in the case.
That deadline was up on Friday.
Thousands of documents in Epstein’s cases, and the probe against his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, have already been made public and the Justice Department yesterday dropped files that have not been seen publicly before.
But there was no smoking gun. The DOJ dumped the undated documents without any context and hundreds of pages were redacted.
The end of Trump’s first year in office has culminated in anger yet again over the Epstein case.
After promising to release the Epstein files during the 2024 presidential election, Attorney General Pam Bondi threw the issue into the spotlight again in February when she said the files were sitting on her desk.”
A botched photo-op with MAGA influencers took place, where they were given binders of “Phase 1” documents that were largely already in the public domain.
Trump’s MAGA base erupted in July when a DOJ and FBI bombshell memo deemed that “no further disclosures” in the convicted pedophile’s case would be “appropriate or warranted.”
It was a controversy that failed to die down and one in which Trump’s own chief of staff, Susie Wiles, recently admitted she and the administration had underestimated.
In November, following a relentless pressure campaign from the right and the left, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, requiring the Justice Department to release all of the documents, which Trump then reluctantly signed into law.
Justice Department officials have already said that not all materials will be released by the deadline, prompting yet more outrage from both Democrats and Republicans, and survivors.
Social media users fact-check DOJ's claim it complied with the law on Epstein files
Sunday 21 December 2025 02:55 , Rhian LubinSocial media users on X have “added context” to a post by the Department of Justice that attempted to quell speculation over whether the names of politicians were redacted in the Epstein files.
The department issued a brief statement Friday from deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche after Fox News reported the DOJ used the same redaction standards for “politically exposed individuals and government officials” as it did for Epstein’s victims.
“The only redactions being applied to the documents are those required by law — full stop,” Blanche said. “Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim.”
But X users felt compelled to add some additional information which now shows up on the DOJ’s post.
“The DOJ’s extensive redaction of the only-partially released Epstein files does not comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and thus is against the law,” the note said.
Notes are compiled by contributors on the platform who sign up to write and rate them.
Ro Khanna takes a swipe a JD Vance as 2021 social media post emerges
Sunday 21 December 2025 02:20 , Rhian LubinRepresentative Ro Khanna — a California Democrat who, along with Republican congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, led the charge to release the Epstein files, has highlighted one of Vice President JD Vance’s old social media posts calling for the documents to be released.
In 2021, Vance posted: “What possible interest would the US government have in keeping Epstein’s clients secret? Oh...”
Khanna shared the post to his X account and accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of breaking the law.
Great question, @JDVance. Have you asked @AGPamBondi?
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) December 20, 2025
She is brazenly breaking the law @RepThomasMassie and I led and insulting MAGA voters' intelligence with excessive redactions and concealment. https://t.co/ViFhgsnMnL
Gavin Newsom: "What are Trump, Bondi, and Kash hiding?"
Sunday 21 December 2025 01:50 , Rhian LubinCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom’s team has asked: “What are Trump, Bondi, and Kash hiding?” after it emerged the Justice Department has removed 16 documents in the Epstein files it released Friday.
Newsom’s official press office account on X also pointed out that FBI deputy director Dan Bongino announced he would be leaving his role in January 2026, just a few days before the documents were dropped.
Bongino, who has long campaigned for the release of the documents in the late sex offender’s case, reportedly clashed with Attorney General Pam Bondi during the summer over her handling of the Epstein files and the release of a joint memo that attempted to draw a line under the saga.
WHAT ARE TRUMP, BONDI, AND KASH HIDING?
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 20, 2025
IS THIS WHY BONGINO QUIT THE DAY BEFORE THEY IGNORED THE LAW AND RELEASED ONLY A FEW FILES? https://t.co/ScCTZWfM52
Has Trump said anything about the Epstein files release?
Sunday 21 December 2025 01:15 , Rhian LubinPresident Donald Trump has not acknowledged or commented publicly on the release of the Epstein files.
On his way to a rally Friday night in North Carolina, the president made brief remarks to reporters about drug prices, which he touched on during his speech, but ignored any questions on Epstein.
Trump spoke for 90 minutes at a rally in Rocky Mount and made no mention of Epstein during his speech.
Watch: ‘Stop redacting names’ says Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda
Sunday 21 December 2025 00:50 , Rhian LubinJeffrey Epstein survivor Marina Lacerda has spoken out after thousands of documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein case were heavily redacted.
“Just put out the files and stop redacting names that don't need to be redacted. It's just - who are we trying to protect?” said Marina Lacerda, who has publicly identified herself as someone who was abused by the late convicted sex offender.
More Democrats accused Trump's DOJ of a 'cover-up'
Sunday 21 December 2025 00:20 , Rhian LubinRep. Jimmy Gomez of California was among Democrats accusing the Trump administration of a “cover-up” over the Epstein files release.
Trump’s DOJ appears to be scrubbing any mentions of Trump from the Epstein files after they were already public.
— Rep. Jimmy Gomez (@RepJimmyGomez) December 20, 2025
Every deleted file, every redaction after-the-fact is outrageous and unacceptable. This is an active cover-up, and we need answers. https://t.co/phDLU1HsZ0
Full story: Democrats claim DOJ has deleted Trump photo from Epstein files
Saturday 20 December 2025 23:48 , Rhian LubinThe Department of Justice appears to have removed 16 files from the document dump that landed Friday afternoon, though the department has not offered any explanation as to why.
One of the documents that no longer appears is a photograph of Jeffrey Epstein’s desk or bureau, with the drawers open.
Visible is a photograph of a man who appears to be President Donald Trump standing in the middle of a group of women.
This file, number 468, is no longer visible in a list of documents on the DOJ’s website.
Other documents that no longer appear include photos of what looks to be a massage room where the walls are adorned with nude images of women.
The DOJ did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent as to why some documents have been removed.
Full story: Democrats claim DOJ has deleted Trump photo from Epstein files
Saturday 20 December 2025 23:00 , Rhian LubinThe Department of Justice has removed at least 16 files from the Jeffrey Epstein documents it released Friday without any explanation, including one including a picture of President Donald Trump, as Democrats accused the administration of a “cover-up.”
Trump’s photograph appeared several times among the thousands of documents, which were undated and lacked any context.
Among the files that appear to have been removed from the DOJ’s website since Friday’s publication is a photograph taken of Epstein’s desk or a bureau, with the drawers open.
Inside the drawers is a photo of a man who appears to be Trump, dressed in a white shirt, standing with a group of women, including at least one who is wearing a bikini. The identities of the women are not known and their faces were not redacted in the photograph.
Read the full story below.
Democrats claim DOJ has deleted Trump photo from Epstein files
Epstein files deletion could be 'one of the biggest cover ups in American history'
Saturday 20 December 2025 22:40 , Josh Marcus
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer fumed on Saturday about the Justice Department’s apparent removal of a series of previously released Epstein files from its web page, including one that appeared to reference the president.
In one of the files, it appeared multiple photos of Donald Trump could be seen, including one with him standing with a group of women.
“This is what Susie Wiles meant when she said Trump and Epstein were ‘young, single playboys together,’” Schumer wrote on X, referencing recent comments from the White House chief of staff Susie Wiles downplaying the president’s prior friendship with the late sex offender.
“And if they’re taking this down, just imagine how much more they’re trying to hide…” Schumer continued. “This could be one of the biggest cover ups in American history.”
Trump’s chief of staff confirms Trump is in the Epstein files as she torches Bondi
READ: New Epstein docs released, including from Epstein and Maxwell cases
Saturday 20 December 2025 22:00 , Josh MarcusThe Justice Department released a new batch of Epstein files on Saturday, including grand jury documents from past cases against the late sex offender and his living associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
In one document, an FBI agent testified that an Epstein victim said Maxwell acted "like a cool older sister and made comments like this is what grownups do” when trying to convince girls to perform various acts.
The agent recounted hearing from an individual that Maxwell encouraged her to wear a schoolgirl outfit while serving Epstein tea, an encounter in which the late financier reached under the woman’s skirt and touched her sexually.
A schoolgirl outfit was later recovered from Epstein’s mansion, the agent said.
You can read the documents here on the DOJ website.
Congressman accuses DOJ of 'flaunting' law on Epstein files release
Saturday 20 December 2025 21:20 , Josh Marcus
The Department of Justice is ignoring clear provisions in a bill signed last month requiring it to release all unclassified Epstein files, including those from within the FBI, DOJ, and federal prosecutors’ records, according to one of the representatives who led the Epstein push in Congress.
“THEY ARE FLAUNTING LAW,” Rep. Thomas Massie wrote in a post on X, comparing side-by-side images of the Epstein Files Transparency Act and the DOJ’s letter to Congress describing certain materials it said it would withold, such as those touching on attorney-client privilege and files on DOJ work-product.
DOJ may have removed more than a dozen files from Epstein release: report
Saturday 20 December 2025 21:05 , Josh MarcusThe Justice Department may have removed more than a dozen files from the Epstein materials released online yesterday, an NPR review found.
The removed files reportedly included an image of a desk drawer filled with photos, including two that appeared to show Donald Trump, as well as separate files showing images various works of art, including those containing nudity.
At least 16 files were removed, a separate Associated Press review found.
Democrats in Congress have said they will investigate the missing Trump photo, suggesting it might be part of a larger cover-up.
VIDEO: Trump delays on Epstein files are 'very hard on the survivors'
Saturday 20 December 2025 20:40 , Josh MarcusDemocrats 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.
Justice Department appears to delete photo of Trump from Epstein files library
Saturday 20 December 2025 18:58 , Josh MarcusDemocrats 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.
Old JD Vance post on Epstein resurfaces amid document dump
Saturday 20 December 2025 18:20 , Josh MarcusAmid 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.
Epstein survivors outraged over files release to ‘protect people in power’
DOJ still 'covering up' for powerful men in Epstein files, congressman says
Saturday 20 December 2025 17:35 , Josh MarcusThe 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.”
'Bondi should resign tonight': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls files' release a 'cover-up'
Saturday 20 December 2025 14:17 , Maryam Zakir-HussainUS 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.”
Now the coverup is out in the open. This is far from over.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 19, 2025
Everyone involved will have to answer for this. Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, whole admin.
Protecting a bunch of rapists and pedophiles because they have money, power, and connections.
Bondi should resign tonight. https://t.co/7KILMsuPwv
Epstein staffer who reported him in 1996 'vindicated' by release of files
Saturday 20 December 2025 13:43 , James ReynoldsA 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.
