New Epstein island images deepen Congressional battle over transparency

Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives published new images and videos from Epstein’s private Caribbean island.

According to The Guardian, the photos and footage offer a rare look inside the secretive location where Epstein is believed to have trafficked young girls. The images and videos were taken in 2020, a year after Epstein died in jail by suicide.

Epstein owned two islands in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including Little St. James — which some locals said had earned the nickname “Pedophile Island.” In 2022, the attorney general of the Virgin Islands reached a settlement of more than $100 million with Epstein’s estate after filing a lawsuit alleging “trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, and the captivity of dozens of young women on Little St. James, a private and isolated island.”

Although the images and videos released on Wednesday reveal nothing fundamentally new, they appear to be part of an effort by Congress to maintain pressure on Donald Trump’s administration ahead of a December 19 deadline for the Justice Department to release the related files.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers on Wednesday asked U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to provide an update on the status of the case.

Robert Garcia, a senior member of the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement:

“These new images offer a troubling glimpse into Jeffrey Epstein’s world and his island. We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together a full picture of Epstein’s horrific crimes. We will not stop fighting until we deliver justice for the survivors.”

He also announced that additional documents will be released in the coming days.