Bombshell new Epstein files released showing pics of Andrew, Trump, Woody Allen and Richard Branson among top elites

What the newly released photographs show

The 19 images released by the committee place Epstein alongside a striking roster of public figures. Among those pictured are Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Virgin Group co-founder Richard Branson, Hollywood director Woody Allen, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, former Harvard president Larry Summers, lawyer Alan Dershowitz and Emirati business leader Ahmed Bin Sulayem.

One photograph shows Donald Trump standing with several unidentified women wearing leis, their faces redacted by the committee. Another image captures what appears to be a bowl of novelty condoms featuring a caricature of Mr Trump's face, priced at $4.50, with each item bearing the slogan, 'I'm HUUUUGE!' Further images include a mirror selfie of Epstein with Steve Bannon, and a photograph of Bill Clinton alongside Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and another couple.

One previously published image shows Bill Gates standing next to Prince Andrew at the 2018 Malaria Forum conference in London. That photograph had already circulated via Reuters in earlier years. The timing, location and photographer for most of the newly released images remain unclear, and the committee has not indicated the provenance of each shot.

Selective release and the surrounding political row

Lawmakers have said they received roughly 95,000 images from Epstein's estate. The Democratic members chose to release just 19, apparently selecting those they considered the most newsworthy or shocking. The limited release has drawn criticism from allies of President Trump, who accuse Democrats of deliberately trying to link the president to Epstein despite Mr Trump's insistence that he cut ties with the financier years ago.

In response to the publication, Mr Trump told reporters he knew 'nothing about it' and had not seen the photographs. He added, 'There are hundreds and hundreds of people that have photos with him, so that's no big deal.' The president has repeatedly denied being a close associate of Epstein and has sought to distance himself from any connection to the convicted sex offender.

The release also included a second batch of pictures showing the interior of another property linked to Epstein. The estate's lawyers told the committee it could review videos and photographs taken at any property owned, rented, operated or used by Epstein between 1 January 1990 and 10 August 2019. In a letter sent on Thursday, the lawyers noted that the production included documents that might not be responsive but which the estate could not confirm were unrelated to Epstein properties. Redactions, they said, were kept to a minimum and were limited to nudity.

How those named have responded

Several individuals pictured in the release have issued statements distancing themselves from Epstein. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton has repeatedly said the former president severed ties with Epstein before his 2019 federal arrest and was unaware of his crimes. Mr Clinton has not been accused by law enforcement of any wrongdoing connected to Epstein.

Bill Gates has previously described his meetings with Epstein as a mistake. In a 2021 interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Mr Gates said, 'It was a huge mistake to spend time with him, to give him the credibility of being there.' A spokesperson for Mr Gates has also denied that Epstein ever worked for him.

The professional fallout for some associates has already been substantial. Larry Summers took leave from Harvard and resigned from the board of OpenAI, stating he was 'deeply ashamed' of maintaining ties to Epstein. Prince Andrew relinquished the use of his royal titles and military affiliations and has denied all allegations of misconduct connected to Epstein. Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former associate, is currently serving a prison sentence for her role in facilitating sexual abuse.

Calls for full disclosure and the path ahead

Representative Robert Garcia, the senior Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, used the release to demand greater transparency. He said the latest production included 'over 95,000 photos, including images of the wealthy and powerful men who spent time with Jeffrey Epstein' and 'thousands of photographs of women and Epstein properties'.

Mr Garcia called for an end to what he described as a 'White House cover-up' and urged the Department of Justice to release all remaining files. 'These disturbing photos raise even more questions about Epstein and his relationships with some of the most powerful men in the world,' he said. 'We will not rest until the American people get the truth. The Department of Justice must release all the files, NOW.'

The committee's ongoing investigation has already made public tens of thousands of documents, emails and communications from Epstein's estate, each new release fuelling additional lines of inquiry. Whether the remaining photographs and videos will be made public depends on the Department of Justice and the committee's continuing negotiations with Epstein's estate.

What this means

The latest release from the House Oversight Committee adds little in the way of proven criminal evidence, but it provides a vivid reminder of Epstein's extraordinary social reach. The photographs capture a financier who moved easily between presidential circles, royal households, Hollywood sets and boardrooms, long after his conduct had begun attracting serious public attention. For investigators, survivors and the wider public, the central question remains whether the full archive will eventually be released and whether it will shed clearer light on who knew what, and when. Until then, the 19 published images are likely to sustain political debate about elite accountability, selective disclosure and the lingering shadow cast by one of the most notorious criminal cases of recent years.