Americans from both political camps are calling for the Epstein files to be made public.Image: keystone
December 19, 2025, 4:42 p.mDecember 19, 2025, 4:42 p.m
The deadline for the publication of investigative files in the scandal involving the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein expires today.
Shortly before the deadline for the publication of investigative files in the scandal surrounding the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that not all documents at once be published.
Several hundred thousand documents would be released during the course of the day“and in the next few weeks there will probably be several hundred thousand more,” said Blanche on Fox News. He justified this by saying that every single page that is published must be designed in such a way that Identity of victims protected become.
Only excerpts known
There is information about the case extensive files, from which only excerpts are known so far. Many victims of abuse have gone public in recent years.
US President Donald Trump only signed a law requiring publication after massive pressure from Parliament – including from his own Republican Party. Trump had called for the files to be released during the presidential election campaign, but then resisted doing so after taking office.
Famous Epstein victim: Virginia Giuffre.Image: imago
Documents from the estate already published
Different than the investigation files are already Documents that come from Epstein’s estatehas been published. Congress had reviewed the documents. It was only on Thursday that Democrats published photos from the estate again. Numerous celebrities can be seen in these photos, including Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who is holding a young woman in his arms. The authenticity of the photos could not initially be independently verified. Gates has already appeared in previously published images.
US President Donald Trump, who was seen around Epstein in previously published photos, is not included in the latest images. According to the Democrats, there are 95,000 photos in the estate, which is gradually being reviewed by the relevant committee in the House of Representatives.
Reason for publication in chunks
The Democrats on the relevant committee in the House of Representatives have access to around 95,000 photos. One reason why not all of them are published at once is that the committee members have not yet been able to view all the photos. A week ago The committee viewed around 25,000 photos.
Trump and six young women.Image: keystone
The Democrats also see themselves as committed to protecting the identities of survivors, as they did in the penultimate publication communicated. This means they have to examine photos more closely and black out parts of them if necessary.
The Democrats on the committee said about the recent publications from Thursday, the pictures are “Selected to provide the public with transparency through a representative selection of photos.” and “to provide insights into Epstein’s network and his extremely disturbing activities.”
The background
The New York financier Epstein was part of high society for many years and moved in influential circles. The multimillionaire had run an abuse ring for years, which victimized dozens of young women and minors. He is also said to have abused women and girls.
The case ended up in court about 20 years ago. Epstein pleaded guilty to some of the charges. Years later, the case was reopened and the multimillionaire was arrested again. Before a possible further verdict could be made, the financier died in his prison cell in 2019 at the age of 66. The autopsy report listed suicide as the cause of death.
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Epstein’s sudden death and his diverse contacts in the world of the rich and powerful sparked speculation about the possible involvement of influential circles. Before his arrest, celebrities and billionaires were in and out of his house – US President Donald Trump also spent time with Epstein, as several party videos show. However, there is no evidence of Trump’s involvement in the scandal.
(rbu) with material from sda and dpa