The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released a massive tranche of material from the so-called Epstein files, publishing roughly 300,000 documents, images and court records linked to the late financier’s sex-trafficking investigation.
The disclosure, mandated under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, briefly overwhelmed the department’s website as users were placed in an online queue due to what officials described as an “extremely high volume of search requests.”
As per Daily Mail, among the newly released materials is an undated photograph showing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across the laps of five women, with Ghislaine Maxwell seated nearby.
The image, which forms part of the government disclosure, was taken inside Sandringham House’s saloon room — the space traditionally used by the Royal Family after Christmas Day dinners.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released a massive tranche of material from the so-called Epstein files, publishing roughly 300,000 documents, images and court records linked to the late financier’s sex-trafficking investigation.
The disclosure, mandated under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, briefly overwhelmed the department’s website as users were placed in an online queue due to what officials described as an “extremely high volume of search requests.”
As per Daily Mail, among the newly released materials is an undated photograph showing Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across the laps of five women, with Ghislaine Maxwell seated nearby.
The image, which forms part of the government disclosure, was taken inside Sandringham House’s saloon room — the space traditionally used by the Royal Family after Christmas Day dinners.
The identities of the women in the image have been withheld by U.S. government lawyers.
In the photograph, the former prince is dressed in a black suit and bow tie, smiling as his face rests inches from the bare legs of one of the women. Maxwell, later convicted for her role in Epstein’s trafficking operation, appears overseeing the scene.
Visible in the background is the concealed door to the room from which King George V delivered his first Christmas radio broadcast in 1932. No contextual information accompanies the image, and authorities have not clarified when it was taken.
Andrew hosted a birthday celebration for Maxwell at Sandringham in December 2000 — an event he later described in his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview as a “straightforward shooting weekend.”
His relationship with Epstein has remained under sustained scrutiny since allegations emerged that he sexually assaulted Virginia Giuffre when she was 17, claims he has consistently denied.
Although Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019, renewed attention followed the publication of Ms Giuffre’s posthumous memoir and the U.S. government’s release of Epstein-related records.
Six years have passed since the FBI requested that Andrew submit to questioning as a witness in its investigation into Epstein’s crimes.
During the early 2000s, Andrew spent extended periods at Epstein’s Florida estate — a property later described in court proceedings as a site where underage girls were trafficked.
He has repeatedly rejected allegations by Ms Giuffre that she was forced to have sex with him on three occasions. In 2022, Andrew reached a civil settlement with her for an undisclosed sum reportedly around £12 million, without admitting wrongdoing.
Andrew has acknowledged staying at Epstein’s residences in New York, Florida and the Caribbean, and traveling aboard Epstein’s private jet, commonly referred to as the “Lolita Express.”
He has maintained that he never saw or suspected any criminal behavior connected to Epstein’s eventual arrest and conviction for child sex offences.
The newly released files also include images revealing the interior of Epstein’s properties, where walls were adorned with artwork depicting naked girls.
One photograph shows a naked baby placed in a bathroom sink; the image remains unexplained in the documents.
After Epstein’s death in 2019, U.S. prosecutors accused Andrew of failing to cooperate with investigators, stating publicly that he had provided “zero co-operation.”
American authorities later asked the British government to assist in arranging a formal interview, a request the Home Office said it was “processing,” though no interview ultimately occurred.
Andrew has declined repeated calls from Epstein’s victims to voluntarily submit to FBI questioning.
Former U.S. attorney general William Barr said recently that Andrew was “at least a witness” in the investigation. There was no response to a request for comment from Andrew regarding the latest disclosures.
Other images released alongside the files show Andrew’s former wife, Sarah Ferguson, photographed outdoors with an unidentified individual and seated indoors speaking with a woman.
In both images, she appears to be wearing the same outfit, though it remains unclear whether the photographs were taken on the same day.
The document release also contains multiple references to former president Bill Clinton, including images of him seated in a hot tub and swimming with Maxwell.
Additional photographs feature high-profile figures such as Michael Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Diana Ross, Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Richard Branson.
The Justice Department confirmed that Friday’s release represents only part of the full archive. U.S. deputy attorney general Todd Blanche said the volume of material required phased publication to protect victims’ identities.
“I expect that we’re going to release several hundred thousand documents today,” Blanche told Fox News.
“And those documents will come in all different forms, photographs and other materials associated with all of the investigations into Mr Epstein.”
Explaining the delay in releasing the full archive, Blanche added:
“What we’re doing is we are looking at every single piece of paper that we are going to produce, making sure that every victim, their name, their identity, their story, to the extent it needs to be protected, is completely protected.”
“And so I expect that we’re going to release more documents over the next couple of weeks.”
“So today, several hundred thousand and then over the next couple (of) weeks, I expect several hundred thousand more.”
The Epstein Files Transparency Act requires all investigative materials related to Epstein to be made public by midnight Friday.
Epstein was found dead in a Manhattan federal jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges; his death was ruled a suicide.
Former president Donald Trump, once socially acquainted with Epstein, had previously opposed the release of the files and described the issue as a “Democrat hoax.”
He signed the legislation last month authorizing their disclosure, following months of resistance to making the records public.
THE THIRD FORCE
