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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Owen Scott,Ariana Baio and Rachel Dobkin

Epstein files live: Trump says pictures of innocent people could ‘ruin’ reputations as DOJ slammed over limited release

President Donald Trump said Monday evening that pictures of innocent people in the government’s recently released files on Jeffrey Epstein could “ruin” their reputations as the Department of Justice was slammed over its limited release of documents.

“You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago,” Trump said. “A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they’re in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin the reputation of somebody.”

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna and Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, who both sponsored legislation to release the files, have engaged in a pressure campaign against the DOJ for not yet sharing the full extent of the documents. Some lawmakers have accused officials of covering up for high-profile individuals affiliated with Epstein.

Nearly two dozen Epstein survivors have also spoken out against the DOJ for it’s incomplete and heavily redacted files dump.

“At the same time, numerous victim identities were left unredacted, causing real and immediate harm,” the survivors wrote in a statement.

The survivors called the DOJ’s handling of the documents “alarming.”

Key Points

  • Trump complains about Epstein files distracting from his agenda
  • Clinton spokesperson calls on DoJ to release everything in Epstein files
  • DOJ still has 'hundreds of thousands' of pages of Epstein material to release
  • Lawmakers are pushing to get AG Pam Bondi held in contempt for partial release of Epstein files

Epstein survivors blast ‘unacceptable’ partial release of files as Congress members weigh legal options over DOJ’s missed deadline

06:00 , Rachel Dobkin

The partial release of government files on Jeffrey Epstein has caused a firestorm among survivors of the late convicted sex offender’s alleged abuse and members of Congress.

One of the survivors, Sharlene Rochard, called the heavily redacted documents dump “unacceptable.”

“I’m very upset with the justice system because there’s full pages that are totally blacked out,” Rochard said on NBC News’ Here’s the Scoop Monday. “I don’t know about you, but my name is not a full page. We only asked that our names be redacted.”

Read on...

Epstein survivors blast partial release of files as Congress weighs legal options

Thomas Massie blasts Trump and Bondi over Epstein files

05:30 , Rachel Dobkin

Responding to the latest trove of files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein that were released last Friday, which included photos of former Democratic President Bill Clinton, Trump told reporters Monday, “I've always gotten along with Bill Clinton...I hate to see photos come out of him.”

“You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago, and they’re highly respected bankers and lawyer and others. And they’ll end up, because of guys like [Rep. Thomas] Massie, who’s a real low life…” Trump continued.

Massie, who helped push for legislation to force the Justice Department to release the Epstein files, wrote on X in response: “Trump is blaming me for a bill he eventually signed, while defending his banker friends, Bill Clinton, and ‘innocent’ visitors to rape island,” referring to Epstein’s private island where he was accused of sex trafficking underage girls.

“Meanwhile [Attorney General Pam] Bondi is working fervently to redact, omit, and delete Epstein files she is legally required to release under our bill.”

Democrat accuses Trump administration of 'cover-up' and calls for full release of Epstein files

05:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Representative Yassamin Ansari, an Arizona Democrat, has accused the Trump administration of a “cover-up” and called for the release of the “full, unredacted” files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

DOJ releases Epstein files with mentions of Trump and then deletes them: report

04:40 , Rachel Dobkin

The Department of Justice released more files related to Jeffrey Epstein Monday, which mentioned President Donald Trump, and then deleted them from its website, according to a new Washington Post report.

The Washington Post said the thousands of new documents included “wide-ranging references” to Trump.

Among the documents were notes from an assistant U.S. attorney in New York about times Trump flew on Epstein’s private plane, including one trip with just Trump, Epstein and a 20-year-old woman, the publication reported.

The documents were on the DOJ’s website for several hours Monday but have since been taken down, according to The Washington Post.

Trump has not been formally accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s sex crimes.

The Independent has reached out to the DOJ and White House for comment.

Republican says partial Epstein files release was a 'mistake'

04:22 , Rachel Dobkin

Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, said Monday the Justice Department’s partial release of its files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was a “mistake.”

“If you want trust, give the full truth,” he wrote on X.

Congress suggests holding Pam Bondi in contempt over Epstein files

04:00 , Alex Woodward

Members of Congress have suggested Attorney General Pam Bondi could be held in contempt for failing to release government documents on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein by the December 19 deadline.

Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, the Democratic and Republican lawmakers behind legislation compelling the release, “are talking about and drafting that right now,” Khanna told CBS Face the Nation Sunday.

“The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi,” Massie added.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer will also introduce a resolution next month to “initiate legal actions” against the Trump administration for “illegally refusing to release the full complete files” and “heavily redacting” others, his office said.

Read on...

Trump says Epstein files ‘deflect’ from his agenda while DOJ comes under fire

Watch: Trump says Epstein files are distracting from his agenda and could 'ruin' reputations

03:40 , Rachel Dobkin

Democrat's rebuttal to Trump saying the Epstein saga was 'finished'

03:20 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump said he thought the controversy surrounding the government’s files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was “finished.”

Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, said in response: “Actually Mr. President, we are just getting started.”

The Justice Department only released some, heavily redacted, documents by the December 19 deadline.

Epstein survivor accuses DOJ of being 'sloppy and inconsistent and thoughtless' in Epstein files release

03:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Jess Michaels, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged sexual abuse, has accused the Department of Justice of being “sloppy and inconsistent and thoughtless” in it’s release of documents relating to the late convicted sex offender.

“What we are seeing is just an incredibly sloppy and inconsistent and thoughtless process that is then done to try to redact names or leaving things haphazardly unredacted,” Michaels told CNN.

Epstein survivors say multiple survivors’ identities have been revealed in the files, despite the DOJ being allowed to withhold those names.

Epstein survivor calls heavily redacted files 'unacceptable'

02:40 , Rachel Dobkin

Sharlene Rochard, a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged abuse, called the heavily redacted government files on the late convicted sex offender “unacceptable.”

“I’m very upset with the justice system because there’s full pages that are totally blacked out,” Rochard said on NBC News’ Here’s the Scoop. “I don’t know about you, but my name is not a full page. We only asked that our names be redacted.”

The Department of Justice had until December 19 to release the full Epstein files but only released a portion of them.

“I don’t understand why it’s taking longer than 30 days,” Rochard said, referring to the time frame the DOJ had to release the files.

Democrat accuses Trump administration of Epstein files 'cover-up' and says 'legal plan' in the works

02:20 , Rachel Dobkin

Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, has accused the Trump administration of a “cover-up” and says a “legal plan” is in the works after the government only released a portion of its files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre's family calls Trump's Epstein comments 'disrespectful'

02:00 , Rachel Dobkin

The family of Virginia Giuffre, a women who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse before she died by suicide earlier this year, has called President Donald Trump's comments about the release of the government files on the late sex offender files potentially ruining people’s reputation “disrespectful.”

Earlier Monday, Trump told reporters: “A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they're in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin a reputation of somebody.”

In response, Giuffre’s sister-in-law, Amanda Roberts, said, “ To have the president of the United States care more, care more for people who have operated in this circle who could potentially be pedophiles...so the care to protect the rich and wealthy and the powerful over the survivors who have been fighting for decades. Once again, it's just so disrespectful.”

Full story: Trump complains about Epstein files distracting from his agenda as DOJ comes under fire over limited release

01:40 , Alex Woodward

President Donald Trump has criticized the release of thousands of documents from cases against Jeffrey Epstein, warning they could “ruin the reputation” of high-profile figures who were “innocently” photographed alongside the convicted sex offender and “deflect” from his administration’s accomplishments.

In his first public remarks since the Department of Justice started to publish thousands of images and heavily redacted materials, the president said the release of images of former President Bill Clinton and others photographed with Epstein is a “terrible thing.”

“You probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago,” Trump said from his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. “A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they’re in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin the reputation of somebody.”

Growing pressure from members of Congress to release the long-awaited files is merely an attempt to “deflect from the tremendous success” of the Republican Party and the Trump administration, and Republican lawmakers who support the disclosures are “being used,” the president told reporters.

Read on...

Trump says Epstein files ‘deflect’ from his agenda while DOJ comes under fire

Watch: Trump says he thought Jeffrey Epstein saga was 'finished'

01:20 , Rachel Dobkin

Pam Bondi’s approval rating has fallen by nearly 50 points in the last year as she faces fallout from the Epstein files

01:00 , Josh Marcus

Public opinion of Attorney General Pam Bondi has cratered, with a recent poll finding public opinion of her has plunged nearly 50 percent in the last 10 months, a striking referendum on one of the Trump administration’s most prominent figures handling hot-button issues such as deportations and the Epstein files.

Bondi’s popularity peaked in February, according to polling from AtlasIntel, when she had a net six percent positive image with respondents. Since then, Americans have largely turned on the former Florida attorney general, and they now hold a 41-point net negative view of Bondi.

The latest polling, based off answers from 2,315 respondents, captured public sentiment in the week ending on Friday, December 19, when Bondi’s Justice Department faced a statutory deadline to release the Epstein files.

While the DOJ has started releasing some files, the disclosure has been marked with delay and controversy. Scores of files now available to the public have been heavily redacted, angering Epstein survivors. The department also deleted then restored a file from its public portal containing photos of Donald Trump, raising suspicions of political interference, which the DOJ denied.

Read on...

Pam Bondi’s approval rating has fallen nearly 50 points as she faces Epstein fallout

Adam Schiff signals support of Senate resolution to initiate legal action against DOJ over Epstein files

00:40 , Rachel Dobkin

Earlier Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced he was introducing a resolution to initiate legal action against the Department of Justice “for its blatant disregard of the law in its refusal to release the complete Epstein files.”

In a show of support for Schumer’s resolution, Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, wrote on X Monday evening, “The Senate unanimously passed the law requiring the release of the Epstein Files. In the face of the DOJ's stonewalling and cover-up of documents required to be made public, the Senate must demand the law be enforced.”

The DOJ has released thousands of documents on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but lawmakers on Capitol Hill and the public have aired their frustrations that not all of the files have been released, and that was has been shared was heavily redacted.

Trump fact-checked on number of Epstein files released

00:20 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday evening that he believes the Justice Department released 100,000 pages of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

NBC News’ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent Ryan Nobles said “even the most generous estimates of what has been released so far is less than 10k pages and that includes all the pages that have been redacted.”

Read full statement by Epstein survivors bashing DOJ's partial files release

00:00 , Rachel Dobkin

Survivors of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have released a statement calling it “alarming” that the Department of Justice “has violated the law, both by withholding massive quantities of documents, and by failing to redact survivor identities.”

Epstein survivor 'mortified' her name is in files: report

Monday 22 December 2025 23:40 , Rachel Dobkin

A survivor of Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged abuse is “mortified” her name is not redacted in recently released government files on the late convicted sex offender, according to a new CNN report.

The Epstein survivor, who only identifies herself as “Jane Doe,” told Department of Justice officials over the weekend that her information was in the files released last Friday, according to an email exchange viewed by CNN.

While the public and lawmakers on Capitol Hill have pushed the DOJ to release the trove of documents it has on Epstein, there are some documents that the agency can withhold by law, including anything that could reveal a victims’ identity.

CNN said Jane Doe’s name was still seen multiple times in the files as of Monday afternoon.

“The reason I feel so passionate is it’s not just about me and what happened. I fear for the little girl who’s calling the FBI right now and asking for help,” the Epstein survivor said. “I am so afraid for her, because if I have to do all of this right now…I have no words. I just have no words. It hurts my heart. It haunts me to my core.”

Watch: SNL skewers Trump over Epstein files redactions

Monday 22 December 2025 23:20 , Rachel Dobkin

Trump said people are 'very angry' at Epstein files' reputation-ruining release

Monday 22 December 2025 23:02 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has said people are “very angry” at the release of government files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein, but they're in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin a reputation of somebody,” Trump told reporters Monday evening.

Trump says 'everybody was friendly with' Epstein

Monday 22 December 2025 22:57 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday evening “everybody was friendly with” the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

When asked about photos of former President Bill Clinton that were released in the Justice Department’s files on Epstein last Friday, Trump said, “I hate to see photos come out of him,” and added that there were photos of himself in the files too.

“Everybody was friendly with this guy...he was all over Palm Beach and other places,” Trump said, adding that he had kicked Epstein out of his Mar-a-Lago club when their relationship soured.

Trump and Clinton have not been formally accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s crimes.

Trump says he hates to see photos of Bill Clinton in Epstein files

Monday 22 December 2025 22:52 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump has reacted to photos of former President Bill Clinton that were released in a trove of government documents related to Jeffrey Epstein last Friday.

“I've always gotten along with Bill Clinton...I hate to see photos come out of him, but this is what the Democrats, mostly Democrats, and a couple of bad Republicans, are asking for,” Trump told reporters Monday evening.

Trump hits usual talking points about Epstein files

Monday 22 December 2025 22:47 , Rachel Dobkin

President Donald Trump told reporters Monday evening of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, “I actually threw him out of Mar-a-Lago.”

“What this whole thing is with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has.”

Trump was friends with Epstein decades ago, and their relationship has been a focal point of the controversy surrounding the government’s release of files related to the disgraced financier. The president has not formally been accused of any wrongdoing relating to Epstein’s crimes.

Democrats hold big lead for 2026 midterms, Trump’s former top pollster finds

Monday 22 December 2025 22:20 , Josh Marcus

The Democratic Party could have a seven-point lead on Republicans in the 2026 midterms, according to a new set of findings from top Republican pollsters.

On a national general congressional ballot, Democrats were favored by a seven-point margin in 2026, according to a December 18 memo from FabrizioWard, the firm of former chief Trump campaign pollster Tony Fabrizio, based on findings from surveying 1,000 registered voters.

The result is consistent with other recent polling ahead of the 2026 elections.

As of Monday, December 22, Democrats had a 4.8 percent lead over the Republicans on a generic ballot, according to Race to the WH, which aggregates the findings of mainstream polls.

RealClearPolling, another aggregator, pegs that lead at 3.7 percent.

Read on...

Democrats hold big lead for 2026 midterms, Trump’s former top pollster finds

Epstein survivor finally learns from files what happened to 1996 complaint

Monday 22 December 2025 21:55 , Josh Marcus

The 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.

Read more here:

Epstein survivor learns fate of her 1996 FBI complaint in file dump

'I am really frustrated:' Epstein survivor says of DoJ file release

Monday 22 December 2025 21:08 , Ariana Baio

Jess Michaels, a woman who was assaulted by Jeffrey Epstein more than 30 years ago, said she is angry and frustrated with the Justice Department’s decision to release only a portion of the Epstein files by the deadline.

“The thing I am really frustrated with is that DoJ broke the law,” Michaels told the New York Times.

Michaels is one of several survivors of Epstein who signed a letter to officials this morning requesting they comply with the law.

ICYMI: Bondi promises to bring charges against person involved with Epstein's crimes

Monday 22 December 2025 20:20 , Ariana Baio

Clinton spokesperson calls on DoJ to release everything in Epstein files

Monday 22 December 2025 19:40 , Ariana Baio

A spokesperson for former President Bill Clinton released a statement Monday, calling on Justice Department officials to release everything in the Epstein files to comply with the federal law.

“What the Department of Justice has released so far, and the manner in which it did so, makes it one thing clear: someone or something is being protected. We do know whom, what or why. But we do this: we need no such protection,” Angel Ureña wrote.

Ureña went on to claim that the department’s refusal to release everything would perpetuate suspicion that the DoJ’s actions “are not about transparency, but about insinuation.”

“Using selective releases to imply wrongdoing about individuals who have already been repeatedly cleared by the very same Department of Justice, over many years, under Presidents and Attorney Generals of both parties,” Ureña added.

Watch: GOP Rep. Massie and Dem. Rep. Khanna say they are drafting contempt charges against Bondi for not releasing full Epstein files

Monday 22 December 2025 18:55 , Ariana Baio

Trump goes golfing as DOJ readies next dump of files

Monday 22 December 2025 18:14 , Graeme Massie

President Donald Trump departs his Mar-a-Lago club, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Florida (AP)

Lawmakers are pushing to get AG Pam Bondi held in contempt for partial release of Epstein files

Monday 22 December 2025 17:45 , Ariana Baio

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna are once again teaming up to ensure the release of the Epstein files, this time by pressuring Attorney General Pam Bondi to comply with their legislation or face contempt of Congress charges.

Massie and Khanna, who co-sponsored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, said Sunday they were in the process of drafting “inherent contempt” against Bondi and building a bipartisan coalition in the House of Representatives to punish her for not releasing the full files by the December 19 deadline.

“Todd Blanche is the face of this, but it's really the Attorney General's Office, Pam Bondi, who is responsible,” Massie told CBS’s Face the Nation. “The quickest way, and I think most expeditious way, to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi.”

Inherent contempt is a congressional power that allows lawmakers to arrest and hold individuals until they comply with a congressional subpoena or punish them for obstructing investigations. It’s a self-enforcing power that gives Congress the ability to circumvent the typical civil or criminal court process.

Ro Khanna says DoJ will release more files this afternoon

Monday 22 December 2025 17:12 , Ariana Baio

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna said Monday morning that he believes the Department of Justice will release another round of files Monday afternoon.

We hear there will be another DOJ Epstein release this afternoon,” Khanna wrote on X before outlining what he hopes to see in the files.

Justice Department restores photo that included Trump

Monday 22 December 2025 17:00 , Ariana Baio

The Justice Department re-uploaded a photo that depicted President Donald Trump with Jeffrey Epstein, released among the trove of materials in the Epstein files Friday, after taking it down briefly.

The image was briefly taken down over the weekend because it was flagged for further redactions to protect victims, the Department of Justice said.

“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 DoJ wrote Sunday.

Epstein survivors accuse DoJ of violating law with redactions

Monday 22 December 2025 16:25 , Ariana Baio

A group of women who survived abuse at the hands of Jeffrey Epstein released a statement Monday condemning the Justice Department for heavily redacting documents and not releasing the full cache of materials in its possession.

"It is alarming that the United States Department of Justice, the very agency tasked with upholding the law, has violated the law, both by withholding massive quantities of documents, and by failing to redact survivor identities," the statement read.

The group accused the Justice Department of making “abnormal and extreme redactions with no explanation” while also not protecting numerous victims’ identities.

They cited grand jury minutes, which judges approved the release of, that were “fully blacked out” rather than containing “scattered redactions.”

Yet, several survivors are reportedly seen their names and other identifying information unredacted in the files, attorneys representing more than 200 survivors of Epstein said.

"These are clear-cut violations of an unambiguous law," the statement added.

Four major takeaways from Epstein files

Monday 22 December 2025 15:56 , Alex Woodward

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.

Read more here:

Four major takeaways from heavily redacted Epstein files

Watch: Rep. Robert Garcia tells whistleblowers to get in touch over Epstein files

Monday 22 December 2025 15:15 , Ariana Baio

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