Fresh Epstein files dump puts spotlight on Clinton, offers little new on Trump

WEB DESK: The US Justice Department on Friday released thousands of documents linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, reopening political debate over one of the most controversial scandals in recent American history. The newly disclosed files, most of them heavily redacted, prominently reference former president Bill Clinton while making only passing mention of current president Donald Trump.

Clinton Features Prominently in Latest Release

The material includes photos and investigative records tied to Epstein that reference Clinton multiple times. Justice Department officials highlighted these links publicly, drawing renewed attention to Clinton’s past social interactions with Epstein. Clinton has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein but has said he was unaware of any criminal activity.

Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Urena, accused the White House of attempting to deflect scrutiny by focusing on the former president. “This isn’t about Bill Clinton,” Urena said, arguing that the administration was seeking political cover.

Trump Largely Absent From Documents

The limited references to Trump stood out, given that earlier Epstein disclosures had included images and flight records connecting the two men in the 1990s and early 2000s. Trump’s name appeared in private jet manifests released earlier this year. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and says he broke ties with Epstein before his first conviction in 2008.

Disclosure Forced by Congressional Action

The partial release was carried out under a law passed overwhelmingly by Congress in November, mandating the disclosure of all Epstein-related records. The legislation followed months of resistance by the administration, which had previously indicated no further files would be made public.

Heavy Redactions Limit Transparency

Despite the volume of documents released, many pages were entirely blacked out. The Justice Department said it is still reviewing hundreds of thousands of additional pages and noted that more than 1,200 victims or their relatives required name redactions.

Lawmakers Criticise Scope of Release

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the documents represented only a fraction of the evidence, while Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, who helped draft the disclosure law, said the release failed to meet both its spirit and legal requirements.

Epstein Issue Continues to Haunt Trump Politically

The Epstein controversy remains a sensitive issue for Trump, particularly among his supporters. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll showed significantly lower approval of Trump’s handling of the matter compared with his overall standing among Republicans, posing a potential liability ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Web Desk