No big new revelations as US government releases Jeffrey Epstein files

US Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday released government documents related to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, but the first wave of files posted on the Justice Department website have largely been circulating in the public domain for years and did not include any new bombshells about the sex trafficking case that has been a favourite subject of conspiracy theorists.

The small batch of documents included copies of flight logs from Epstein’s private plane, which have long been available in multiple court cases, and a heavily redacted photocopy of an address book purportedly compiled by Epstein and his long-time confidante Ghislaine Maxwell, which has been cited in media accounts for many years.

The Justice Department also released a blacked-out list of masseuses and an evidence list showing entries for more than 150 items, including nude images, massage tables, sex toys and other items. There wasn’t any indication whether the list was from Epstein’s case, Maxwell’s case or some other investigation.

Bondi had teased the documents during a Fox News appearance Wednesday, declaring, “Breaking news right now: you’re going to see some Epstein information released”. The Justice Department said it was making the documents public to show its commitment to transparency.

President Donald Trump, who was in office when Epstein was arrested in 2019, suggested while campaigning last year that he would seek to open up the government’s files.