The US Department of Justice has released a chilling new photograph of convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, showing him shirtless and seated next to what appears to be a young child's leg. The image, part of a vast tranche of documents made public on Friday, has ignited a firestorm of disgust and concern across social media.
Disturbing Details of the Released Photographs
The photograph in question depicts Epstein, topless, sitting on a white armchair with a towel around his waist. On a sofa to his right, the foot and lower leg of another individual are visible. The foot is clad in a Croc-style clog and appears diminutive, with social media users and observers speculating it belongs to a toddler. A second image from the same setting shows Epstein turning to leer in the direction of the child.
The photos were released alongside a cache of documents that also include images of notable public figures such as former US President Bill Clinton, the late singer Michael Jackson, and Britain's Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. Their inclusion does not imply any wrongdoing on their part, according to the release.
Online Outrage and Legal Context
The release has provoked intense reaction online, with one user branding Epstein a "disgusting animal" upon noting the apparent presence of a very young child. The images have heightened concerns about the full extent of Epstein's crimes, which primarily involved the sex trafficking of teenage girls aged between 14 and 17, though some accusers allege abuse began when they were as young as 11.
Epstein was first convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor and later pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking charges in 2019 before his death in a Manhattan jail cell, ruled a suicide. He was accused of operating a vast network that exploited underage girls for sex with powerful clients.
Criticism of the Document Dump
Despite the public interest, the document release has faced criticism from US lawmakers. Democratic Senator Adam Schiff accused the Justice Department of "completely unlawful withholding of information", arguing the dump failed to comply with a law passed earlier in 2025 mandating fuller disclosure. He suggested officials should be called before Congress to explain why the law was violated.
The latest files, while revealing, are said by critics not to lay bare the true totality of Epstein's paedophilic activities, leaving many questions unanswered for his victims and the public.
