Democrats Release Select Epstein Photos
Clinton, Gates, and Other Political and Business Figures Also Featured
Democratic members of the U.S. House Oversight Committee have released photos featuring former U.S. President Donald Trump and the late Jeffrey Epstein together, bringing renewed attention to the controversies surrounding Epstein in the political arena.
According to U.S. media outlets such as The Washington Post, the Democratic Party released a total of 19 photos on December 12 (local time). These photos are part of more than 95,000 images obtained from Epstein's mansion, and include not only former President Trump but also former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, film director Woody Allen, and former White House strategist Steve Bannon, among other prominent figures from politics, business, and the cultural sector.
These are photos kept by Jeffrey Epstein, a minor sex offender. U.S. President Donald Trump is standing alongside several women. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
In the photos, former President Trump is seen standing with Epstein or posing alongside several women, whose faces are all obscured. One photo shows a sign stating that "Trump Condoms" are being sold for $4.50. However, since the time and location of the photos were not indicated, it is difficult to determine the precise context.
Legal experts have noted that while the released photos may not serve as direct evidence of a crime, they carry significant political symbolism by visually demonstrating the relationship between Epstein and former President Trump. The Democratic Party has not provided specific reasons for releasing the photos.
Donald Trump, President of the United States, and Epstein are talking with a woman. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
Epstein was arrested on charges of committing sex crimes against multiple women, including minors, at his residence and private estates, and was found dead in a New York prison in 2019. Since then, there has been ongoing controversy and conspiracy theories regarding the existence of lists of influential political and business figures connected to Epstein. Former President Trump has consistently claimed that he was unaware of Epstein’s criminal activities and had no involvement.
Although former President Trump had previously dismissed the Democrats’ demands for disclosure as a political attack and maintained a passive stance, pressure for disclosure grew even among his core supporters. Last month, he signed the Epstein Records Release Act, which was enacted by Congress. The Department of Justice is required to release the records by December 19, but due to legal exceptions, it remains uncertain whether all materials will be made public.
These are photos kept by minor sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. It is written that "Trump condoms" are sold for $4.50. Photo by AP Yonhap News
The Democratic Party plans to highlight issues of former President Trump’s morality and judgment through the release of these photos, while the Republican Party has pushed back, calling it a "selective disclosure driven by political motives." Democratic Representative Robert Garcia stated, "The photos raise further questions about the relationships between Epstein and globally influential figures," and called on the Department of Justice to immediately release the records.
This disclosure demonstrates the potential for new debates to emerge across the political spectrum in the United States, where distrust and conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein case remain deeply entrenched.
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