Hundreds of thousands of new documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were released by the US Justice Department on Friday, casting further light on his predatory methods and shocking preferences. The massive document dump, authorised under a law signed by former President Donald Trump, includes investigative notes that reveal Epstein's calculated efforts to procure underage victims.
Disturbing FBI Notes Reveal Epstein's Methods
Among the files is a set of handwritten FBI notes, labelled EFTA00004179, from an interview conducted on May 2, 2019. The notes, which begin with a formal FBI evidence cover sheet, contain a deeply disturbing passage. They state that a witness, whose name is redacted, saw Epstein ask a girl for her identification because he wanted to "make sure" she was under 18 years old and did not believe her word.
The notes further reveal that Epstein expressed annoyance with an associate who had "messed up by bringing more older girls." In another chilling entry, the financier was apparently irritated because an associate brought a "Dominican, darker-skinned" girl to him. The notes explicitly state: "JE didn’t want Spanish or dark girl." When the associate countered that he had been instructed to bring a "young girl," Epstein reportedly replied, "Yea, but not dark."
A Glimpse into a Predator's World
The interview subject later recounted being confronted by Epstein, who told them, "You know what I like." This statement was understood to mean "young, petite, underage" girls. While the subject claimed not to recall if anyone as young as 13 had been brought to Epstein, the notes also reference his preference for Brazilian girls.
The newly released trove includes several photographs of scantily-clad young women with their faces redacted. Accompanying notes suggest the individuals pictured were between the ages of 14 and 17. The files also contain images from Epstein's properties, showing rooms decorated with nude photographs and distinctive bright blue carpeting.
High-Profile Names and Unfinished Justice
This latest release, which adds to over 600,000 pages made public this year, details Epstein's associations with numerous famous figures. The documents mention connections to individuals such as Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, and Kevin Spacey. Former President Bill Clinton features prominently, appearing in photographs at parties and swimming with women.
The documents originate from three key investigations: a 2005 police probe in Palm Beach, Florida; the subsequent federal investigation that led to Epstein's controversial 2008 plea deal; and a later case launched by Manhattan prosecutors in 2019. That final investigation was never concluded, as Epstein died in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Friday's release also contained a minor new link to Donald Trump, showing a novelty check for $22,500 made out to Epstein and signed "D. Trump." The memo line was redacted. Trump's administration described itself as the "most transparent in history" following the disclosure. When asked about the files' release on Friday, President Trump declined to answer questions, stating he did not wish to "spoil" another event.
