(ECNS) -- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has begun releasing documents related to the investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, but the move, intended to promote transparency, has instead fueled controversy over heavy redactions, missing materials, and political sensitivities.
The files —released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act passed by Congress in November — include photos of Epstein with prominent figures and contain extensive blackouts. At least 16 files disappeared shortly after their release, raising questions about the completeness and transparency of the government's disclosure.
Bill Clinton pictured in pool and hot tub
The initial set of disclosed materials contains images showing Epstein with several well-known persons, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew (Duke of York),and musicians Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson.
BBC noted that being named or pictured in the files is not an indication of wrongdoing. Many individuals identified in the files or in previous releases related to Epstein have denied any wrongdoing. Besides, the context of the photos — including when and where they were taken — remains unclear. No evidence indicates illegal conduct by these individuals.
Several of the images released include Clinton. One picture shows him swimming in a pool, and another shows him lying on back with hands behind his head in what appears to be a hot tub.
A spokesman for Clinton Angel Ureña, issued a comment on the files, accusing the justice department of shielding "someone or something".
Ureña wrote on social media that "They can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they want, but this isn't about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be."
"There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first. No amount of stalling by people in the second group will change that. Everyone, especially Maga, expects answers, not scapegoats," he said.
According to the BBC, Clinton was photographed with Epstein on multiple occasions during the 1990s and the early 2000s, all before Epstein's first arrest. Clinton has never been accused of wrongdoing by Epstein's victims and has denied any knowledge of Epstein's sexual crimes.
Removed then restored Donald Trump photo stirred controversy
Reuters reported a photo of U.S. President Donald Trump that had been removed from the cache of Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Department of Justice was restored on Sunday after officials determined none of Epstein's victims were in the image, the department said.
The photo, showing a desk drawer containing a photo of Trump with several women, had been flagged by the Justice Department's Southern District of New York for review out of concern for potential victims.
Media outlet Axios noted that the vanishing files related to convicted sex offender Epstein's case fueled accusations that Trump's DOJ is selectively withholding information, raising questions about compliance with Congress' disclosure law and setting up a potential legal and political showdown.
The Justice Department said in a Sunday post on X that the Southern District of New York had flagged the image "for potential further action to protect victims" and that the DOJ had pulled it down "out of an abundance of caution."
It was determined there was "no evidence" any victims were depicted in the photo, so "it has been reposted without any alteration or redaction."
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche told NBC earlier on Sunday his office removed the photo because of concerns about women in the photo. "It has nothing to do with President Trump,".
BBC noted that Trump had previously said he was friends with Epstein for many years but fell out with him around 2004, well before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any involvement in wrongdoing linked to Epstein.
Massive redactions and missing details draw criticism
Beyond the individual images, the scale of redactions has drawn criticism from lawmakers. A CBS News review found that at least 550 pages of the released files were fully redacted, drawing criticism from both Democratic and some Republican lawmakers.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer has said that "Simply releasing a mountain of blacked out pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law. For example, all 119 pages of one document were completely blacked out. We need answers as to why.
The DOJ has said the redactions are necessary to protect victim identities and comply with legal requirements, adding that additional documents will continue to be reviewed for future release.
Blanche told Fox News Digital that the department is "not redacting the names of any politicians," saying names are withheld only when required by law, such as to protect victims.
"Consistent with the statute and applicable laws, we are not redacting the names of individuals or politicians unless they are a victim."
"There are no redactions of famous people," he said.
(By Feng Xiaoyan, Evelyn)
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