Heavily redacted Jeffrey Epstein files released
The US justice department has released some of the so-called Epstein files, including personal photographs, flight logs and his contact book
The US Department of Justice has released thousands of documents relating to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein although some lawmakers have said that the justice department failed to meet its legal obligations.
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The DoJ was legally obligated to make all files related to the investigation into Epstein public by midnight on Friday following the passing of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
However, due to the scale of documents and the need to protect the identity of victims included in the documents, not all of the files have been released by the deadline.
This is the first phase of declassified files to be released by the DoJ, with more expected in the coming weeks.
The documents released in this first stage are wide ranging and give a detailed look into the life of Epstein and his associates.
Read more: New Epstein files include chilling images of Lolita quotes scrawled on female's body
Celebrity acquaintances
A number of celebrities and politicians are pictured within the documents, such as former US president Bill Clinton, late singer Michael Jackson, British singer Mick Jagger and billionaire Richard Branson.
Clinton features in a number of photos within the released documents, including one where he is in a hot tub.
One image shows a portrait of Bill Clinton wearing Monica Lewinsky's infamous blue dress by Petrina Ryan-Kleid.
The existence of the portrait is known and it was reportedly hung in Epstein's home.
Clinton has previously said he wishes he never met Epstein.
It is important to note that being pictured or named in these documents does not imply they are responsible for any wrongdoing or illegal activity.
Ghislaine Maxwell
There are also a number of unseen images of Epstein and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell.
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 by a federal jury of sex trafficking for helping recruit some of Epstein's underage victims and participating in some of the abuse.
She is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Personal documents
Also included in the latest release is a number of documents and papers.
A complaint document from the newly released files alleges that the Epstein threatened to burn a photographer's house down.
The photographer claimed that Epstein stole photos she took for her 12-year-old and 16-year-old sisters and "sold the pictures to potential buyers".
Epstein allegedly requested the photographer take pictures of young girls at swimming pools, then threatened to burn her house down if she told anyone.
One of the files shows a long list titled "masseuses" and has 254 entries - all of which have been redacted.
Another document appears to show pages from some sort of masseuse guide book.
One of the chapter titles is: "The lover's Touch: Massage and Intimacy." The next chapter is titled: "Have Hands, Will Travel: Doing Massage for a Living."
Among the thousands of files released is Epstein's 'contact book'.
There are 95 pages of the book, and all personal details other than the contact's name are redacted.
However, the very last page is handwritten and notes "important" email addresses.
One of the people named is Jean-Luc Brunel, and it says: “‘Scout’ for young females.”
Andrew and Fergie
The former Duke and Duchess of York both feature in the files.
One picture shows Andrew laying across a number of women, who have had their identities redacted.
The former Duke was banished from the monarchy and demoted to a commoner by his brother, the King, because of his "serious lapses of judgment" over his association with Epstein.
Andrew, who was stripped of his Prince and Duke of York titles in October, denies any wrongdoing.
There is no suggestion that there appearance in these documents means they are responsible for any wrongdoing.