'Phase one' of the Jeffrey Epstein files has been released by the US government in a move that has left some people rather underwhelmed.
Epstein was a monstrous businessman who was found out to be a child sex offender, abusing underage girls himself as well as providing them to other paedophiles through sex trafficking in Florida and New York.
Since dying while in custody in 2019, the general public have clamoured to know the truth behind what Epstein did, with his suicide coming before he could face criminal charges in court where he most likely would have indicted other famous faces in his sex trafficking ring.
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And while his close friend and business partner, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 of recruiting young girls for him, people continue to demand more on the topic.
Prior to the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump promised to released the so-called 'Epstein list' as he focused on a campaign of transparency.
And after winning back the keys to the White House, his new US Attorney General Pam Bondi has this week released the first batch of Epstein files. But in doing so, Bondi accused the FBI of 'hiding thousands more pages'.
The documents, released on Thursday (27 February), are the first declassified and publicly released files related to Epstein and his sexual exploitation of more than 250 underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida.
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“This Department of Justice is following through on President Trump’s commitment to transparency and lifting the veil on the disgusting actions of Jeffrey Epstein and his co-conspirators,” said Bondi.
“The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein’s extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability.”
But in a public letter from Bondi to FBI Director Kash Patel, it has also been made public that she believes the FBI is withholding extra information on Epstein.
It reads: "Late yesterday, I learned from a source that the FBI Field Office in New York was in possession of thousands of pages of documents related to the investigation and indictment of Epstein.
"Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files. When you and I spoke yesterday, you were just as surprised as I was to learn this new information."
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Overall, the first batch of Epstein files have been somewhat of a disappointment, with nothing new coming out among the documents released.
With roughly 200 pages made public through 10 different files, it includes a series of flight logs from the sex offender’s private jet alongside a partly-redacted 'contacts list'.
There is also a blacked-out list of more than 250 'masseuses', a list many believe has been redacted due to the theory that Epstein trafficked his victims in to masseuse roles for his wicked operation.
A redacted photocopy of an address book allegedly created by Epstein, cited in reports on his crimes over the years, was also released.
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Celebrity name listed in the contacts book include Mick Jagger, Alec Baldwin, Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes, Dustin Hoffman, and Ivanka and Ivana Trump.
Conservative commentator Candace Owens questioned why there were even phases of the release, posting on X: "Something about this Epstein release doesn’t feel authentic. Why do we need “phases” of the release and why not just release it to the entire public at large to comb through?"
Other MAGA personalities were in agreement, with Representative Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican member of the House Oversight Committee, posting: "THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!"
Former One America News Network host Liz Wheeler said people wanted 'the juicy stuff... names'.
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As for the FBI documents Bondi says were withheld, Bondi has given the FBI until 8am local time today (28 February) to hand them over.
Topics: Jeffrey Epstein, Crime, Donald Trump, US News, Celebrity, Travel, Viral
Tom Earnshaw