All posts tagged "jeffrey epstein"

Dems sending Trump a 'veiled message' with slow drip of damning Epstein photos: attorney

President Donald Trump's administration has just one more week under a statutory deadline to release all remaining evidence about convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. And Democrats may be using Friday's release of new photos of Trump and Epstein as a way of sending a message to the administration.

That's according to criminal defense attorney Stacy Schneider, who told CNN on Friday that the photos suggest that Democrats on the House Oversight Committee may have some damning photos they're keeping under wraps as a safety measure. Democrats released several dozen photos on Friday, though they represent just a small sample of the approximately 95,000 photos the committee received via a subpoena to Epstein's estate.

Schneider noted that the mere existence of photos of people posing with Epstein doesn't suggest criminal activity, and that none of the people seen in the photos have been charged with crimes. She added, however, that Democrats could be sitting on a trove of photographic evidence that they would release if the Trump administration is not forthcoming enough in next week's expected release of the full Epstein files.

"I believe that the House Oversight Committee was sending a message to the administration, to [Attorney General] Pam Bondi and to the Justice Department, that we've got a stash of evidence and information that we know exists," she said. "And if you play funny business in releasing these files and taking advantage or over-advantage of all those loopholes that they were given in the law to release the files — and not telling the public what's really in there — we have it on this side, on the other side of the other subpoena."

"I think it was a subliminal message, or a veiled message, that we're watching you, and we want to make sure you do the right thing by the public," she added.

Under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which Trump signed into law in November, the DOJ is compelled to release all remaining evidence from Epstein's two federal criminal investigations from 2008 and 2019 within 30 days, which would be on December 19. However, the law allows Bondi to not only redact victims' names to protect their identities, but gives her final discretion over what to keep under wraps in the name of not jeopardizing ongoing investigations.

The DOJ spent more than $1 million on overtime pay earlier this year for federal agents to comb through the Epstein files, and to flag any mentions of Trump. Epstein's brother, Mark (who has not been implicated in his deceased brother's crimes), said he heard from a "pretty good source" that the FBI was "sanitizing" the Epstein files at a facility in Virginia in anticipation of the files eventually being made public.

Watch the segment below:

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'I know nothing': Trump plays dumb on new bombshell Epstein photos

President Donald Trump on Friday denied knowledge of newly released Jeffrey Epstein photos.

Trump, who was in a number of the photos released by the House Oversight Committee, said he knows "nothing about it" after a reporter questioned him following an event honoring the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team with Congressional Gold Medals.

"I haven't seen it, but everybody knew this man; he was all over Palm Beach, he has photos with everybody. There are hundreds and hundreds of people that had photos with him. So that's no big deal. I know nothing about it," Trump said.

Press was quickly ushered out of the Oval Office in the White House after the question.

After the images were released on Friday, lawmakers have signaled that they are investigating the more than 90,000 images released by the Epstein estate to the House Oversight Committee and have "pictures of people engaged in sexual acts." It's unclear who or which people are in the photos.

The images released Friday were just 20 or so of the thousands of images the committee was investigating, and now congressional leaders have questions for many of the people in the photos, including the ones who have not been identified.

Q: There were new Epstein photos released today showing you and Bill Clinton and Steve Bannon. What's your reaction?

TRUMP: I haven't seen it but everybody knew this man. He has photos with everybody. That's no big deal. I know nothing about it. pic.twitter.com/I840w4A60T
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 12, 2025

Elon Musk issues dark prediction about Steve Bannon as explosive new Epstein photos drop

Billionaire Elon Musk had an ominous prediction about MAGA strategist Steve Bannon on Friday after a newly released batch of photos showed President Donald Trump's former senior aide with the late financier and convicted child offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Musk responded to an X post from user Shadow of Ezra, suggesting that Bannon was apparently meeting with Epstein to advise him on how to "rehabilitate his public image" at his office where a "trafficking victim's photo" appeared to sit on Epstein's desk, alleging that Epstein took photos of his victims, which "were viewed by many as 'trophies' or a form of leverage."

Musk had a chilling response to the post:

"Only a matter of time before Bannon goes back to prison," Musk wrote.

Musk did not elaborate further in his post.

Bannon has previously served time in prison for refusing to submit to a congressional subpoena related to his role as a top aide to Trump during his first term.

Musk and Bannon have had a rocky relationship in the past, including public spats over MAGA strategies and Musk's interest in a proposed third party.

The images released Friday were just 20 or so of the thousands of images the committee was investigating and now congressional leaders have questions for many of the people in the photos, including the ones who have not been identified.

More lurid revelations coming on Epstein: House Dem

A Democratic lawmaker on Friday revealed a shocking update about the new trove of "explicit and disturbing" images released by House Democrats on the Oversight Committee from the Jeffrey Epstein estate, including the revelation that some of the more than 90,000 images have "pictures of people engaged in sexual acts."

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) told CNN's Kasie Hunt that the images of the late financier and convicted child sex offender with other high-profile people — President Donald Trump, Bill Gates, former President Bill Clinton, filmmaker Woody Allen and MAGA strategist Steve Bannon — were just 20 or so of the thousands of images the committee was investigating. And that lawmakers have questions for many of the people in the photos, including the ones who have not been identified.

"We're talking about sexual acts involving potentially minors, and certainly victims, too, in very suggestive and compromising positions. Just to leave it at that," Subramanyam said.

"Donald Trump and others keep saying that they didn't know about Jeffrey Epstein's crimes, but when you see Jeffrey Epstein's homes, his mansion in New York, or his island, or you see sort of the way he lived and the way he talked and communicated with people. It's pretty clear that he knew that he was doing some of these things, and you either chose to hide it, ignore it, or you were participating in it yourself. That's why we have a lot of questions for a lot of people.

Hunt specifically asked Subramanyam if images had people other than Epstein involved in sexual acts.

"Yes, there are pictures of people engaged in sexual acts," he said. "We're trying to be selective about what we release now. In this case, we're not really quite sure yet who is who. Certainly, there are a lot of people involved in some of these acts."

'Who would have imagined?' Ex-GOP governor in awe as defiant GOP sends Trump clear message

President Donald Trump got a clear message from defiant members of his own party this week.

After growing pressure from the president, GOP lawmakers twice on Thursday stood up against Trump and his administration, The Washington Post reported.

Trump spent months trying to push members of his own party to redistrict in deep-red state Indiana — and they rejected it in the state Senate Thursday. Then, 20 House Republicans voted that same day to overturn his executive order that ended union rights at federal agencies, according to The Post.

These moves follow several other changes, as Republicans work to distance themselves from some of the president's policies. Just last month, four Republicans decided to join Democrats to demand that the Department of Justice release the full Epstein files.

“There is a group of Republicans who are maybe going, ‘I’ve got to stand on my own,’ and that ranges from the Indiana state legislators to Marjorie Taylor Greene,” Pat McCrory, the former Republican governor of North Carolina, told The Post. “Who would have imagined?”

It's unclear if Trump will regain his hold on the party, but McCrory warned that Trump's signature revenge streak could also be something to be mindful of.

“This is not the first time people have stood up,” McCrory said. “The question will be, is the power still there to kill their political career?”

'It was my honor': Trump claims credit for brokering foreign ceasefire amid Epstein frenzy

President Donald Trump claimed credit Friday for brokering a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia while a frenzy grew over the newly released Jeffrey Epstein photos.

House Democrats released a massive trove of photographs of Trump and other rich and high-profile people palling around with the late financier and sex offender.

The president has not yet commented on the news and instead shared about his international efforts to bring peace to two countries in conflict.

Trump posted this on his Truth Social platform:

"I had a very good conversation this morning with the Prime Minister of Thailand, Anutin Charnvirakul, and the Prime Minister of Cambodia, Hun Manet, concerning the very unfortunate reawakening of their long-running War. They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim. The roadside bomb that originally killed and wounded numerous Thai Soldiers was an accident, but Thailand nevertheless retaliated very strongly. Both Countries are ready for PEACE and continued Trade with the United States of America. It is my Honor to work with Anutin and Hun in resolving what could have evolved into a major War between two otherwise wonderful and prosperous Countries! I would also like to thank the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim, for his assistance in this very important matter."

'Bad for Bannon': Ex-GOP strategist warns new Epstein photos may hurt MAGA influencer

Former Republican strategist Rick Wilson warned Friday that MAGA influencer Steve Bannon could be under fire next after a new batch of images showed Bannon with late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was also seen with filmmaker Woody Allen and President Donald Trump.

Bannon, a former chief strategist and senior counselor to Trump, has been a central ideological figure in shaping the MAGA movement, using his podcast "Bannon's War Room" to push his right-wing, nationalist and populist ideology.

Wilson responded to the photos after they were released Friday by House Oversight Committee Democrats who received the images from the Epstein estate late Thursday. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said that more images were handed over that are "incredibly disturbing" and have not been released yet. Only about 20 to 30 photos so far have been released so far.

"New Epstein photo tranche is bad for Bannon," Wilson, co-founder of the Lincoln Project, wrote on Threads.

People commented on his statement:

"Clinton and Bill Gates too. But the difference is @thedemocrats don't care who's on the list. if they were involved with CHILDREN they all deserve to be called out and prosecuted if possible," health journalist Liz Seegert wrote on Threads.

"Those photos are from like 2015-2018, too, not 1995," Dr. Pete Meyers, Principal Innovation Architect at Moz, wrote on Threads.

"I’m up for any sentence that includes 'bad for Bannon,'” user Patrice Friend Ostradick wrote on Threads.

"It is completely inexplicable that 100 adults in the Senate and 435 adults in the House allow this criminal abuser liar cheater convicted felon sociopath insurrectionist rapist sadist to continue to dismantle the United States. Now we know why?" User Gernilee Carter wrote on Threads.

"Good news for John McCain, tho," activist Jeff Tiedrich wrote on Threads.

'Trump will not be happy': Internet erupts over new pictures of president and Epstein

A batch of new photos released Friday of late financier and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with President Donald Trump, Woody Allen, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates, Bill Clinton and Richard Branson prompted a series of reactions online.

The images released Friday include Epstein with a number of political leaders, "Trump condoms" and sex toys.

Only about 20 to 30 photos so far have been released so far by House Oversight Committee Democrats, who received the images from the Epstein estate late Thursday. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) said that more images were handed over that are "incredibly disturbing" and have not been released yet.

People responded online to the new images:

"President Trump will not be happy with that caricature image of him on the package getting out," writer and producer Susan Bordson wrote on X.

"3/95,000 so far of Trump…" military officer and journalist Mark Naughton wrote on X.

"Oh look, Epstein has a photo of Trump with very young women wearing leis, like those worn when visiting an island," environmental scientist Bo Gardiner wrote on X.

"Every guy who associated for years with Epstein after he was outed as pedophile said they did so because he was just such a brilliant financial thinker and his tax advice was so valuable. and then you see their emails with epstein and there's no tax advice in them at all," writer Gwen Howerton posted on X.

"Are they Epstein survivors?!" User Beks wrote on X.

Trove of unseen Epstein files ordered released as Ghislaine Maxwell makes new freedom bid

The Justice Department can release investigative materials used in the sex trafficking case against Ghislaine Maxwell, a federal judge has confirmed.

Maxwell, a close friend of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was put on trial in April 2021 on sex trafficking charges and, in June 2022, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer confirmed the Justice Department could unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits from both the 2021 Maxwell case.

The release of the files could come within 10 days due to the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The Justice Department must provide Epstein-related records to the public in a searchable format by December 19, AP News reported.

Judge Engelmayer's ruling comes just a week after a judge in Florida confirmed the Justice Department could release transcripts from an abandoned investigation into Epstein.

A further request to release records from Epstein's 2019 sex trafficking case is still pending. U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith ordered the release of grand jury materials from investigations last week.

Smith wrote that the files would be released under the authority granted to him by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. He wrote, "The Act applies to unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials that relate to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Consequently, the later-enacted and specific language of the Act trumps Rule 6's prohibition on disclosure."

The news of Maxwell's 2021 files being approved for release comes as her legal team is reportedly preparing a "long-shot bid" for a new trial.

It was previously reported that "lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime Epstein counterpart, wrote in a letter filed Wednesday in federal court that she plans to soon file a court petition challenging her detention, a long-shot bid that, if successful, could result in a new trial

Trump trying and failing to 'blow up the cycle' as he distracts from one issue: expert

A political commentator believes Donald Trump's ability to "blow up the news cycle" is less intense now as he fails to distract from one topic.

The Lincoln Project founder Rick Wilson, in an appearance on Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast, believes the president is not as capable at distracting the public as he once was. A comparison between Trump in his first term and second term has been made by Wilson, who believes that despite new stories coming out of the administration, all attention returns to the impending release of Jeffrey Epstein's files.

Jong-Fast suggested the recent comments made by Trump on Ilhan Omar were made because he cannot "get any traction on anything." Wilson agreed, adding, "Nothing is working for him, Molly. Nothing. Everything he has tried, real talk, since Epstein, since Pam Bondi gave that statement of 'we're not going to release that', nothing Trump has done since that point has lasted more than about three or four days."

"Now sometimes he'll get a story. Tear down the White House East Wing, that lasts three or four days. Sometimes he'll get a story like the last week on Ukraine, three or four days, two or three, but nothing changes the subject forever from Epstein."

"The centre of gravity with Trump, he used to blow up the media cycle and then the next centre of gravity was whatever the next media cycle was for him. Whatever he blew up next. But now he blows up the media cycle, and then it's back to Epstein."

Trump came under pressure from opposition and former allies last month, with many in office calling on the release of the Epstein files. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a once staunch supporter of Trump and notorious MAGA member, claims the president told her the release of the files would "hurt people".

Lesley Stahl asked the Georgia Republican during an CBS 60 Minutes interview. Greene said, "We did talk about the Epstein files, and he was extremely angry at me that I had signed the discharge petition to release the files."

"I fully believe that those women deserve everything they're asking, they're asking for all of it to come out. And they deserve it. And he was furious with me."