First Batch of Epstein Files Released Feature Photos of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson and Kevin Spacey, Among Other High Profile Names

Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, Michael Jackson and other high-profile celebrities and political figures appear in a newly released batch of files from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, made public by the Department of Justice on Friday, Dec. 19.

The photos and documents were released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, legislation requiring the agency to make files tied to Epstein’s *** trafficking investigation public and searchable.

Clinton appears in multiple images included in the release. In one, he is shown relaxing in a hot tub and swimming in a pool alongside Epstein, Epstein’s co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, and a woman whose face has been redacted. Another image shows Clinton standing between Epstein and another man, smiling with his arms draped over them. In a separate photo, a redacted woman sits near Clinton’s lap in what appears to be a private jet seat. One image also shows Clinton at a dinner with Maxwell and Epstein, where Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger is seated between Clinton and Maxwell.

The release also includes a photo of Epstein posing with the late pop singer Michael Jackson, who is pictured wearing a black blazer with a white flower on the lapel and dark glasses. Another image shows Jackson posing with Clinton and Diana Ross.

Actor Chris Tucker appears in multiple photos as well, including one showing him embracing Maxwell on an airport tarmac. Spacey appears in a group photo alongside Maxwell, Clinton, and several other men. Magician David Copperfield can also be seen in an image with Maxwell, with both wearing bathrobes.

Representatives for Clinton, Jagger, Ross and Tucker were contacted for comment.

A representative for Clinton pointed to a statement posted on X by Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Ureña. In the post, Ureña said the release was not about Clinton and claimed the timing was meant to protect others, adding that “Even Susie Wiles said Donald Trump was wrong about Bill Clinton.” The statement also argues that there are “two types of people” in the Epstein story: those who cut ties before his crimes became public and those who continued relationships afterward, saying Clinton falls into the first group. It ends by saying people “expect answers, not scapegoats.”

The celebrities shown in the photos released on Dec. 19 are not accused of any criminal behavior, and the images were released without context.

On Friday afternoon, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the DOJ would not be able to release the Epstein files in full yet, citing the need for additional time to complete redactions across hundreds of thousands of pages. In an X post, Blanche said additional materials would be produced as the review continues, consistent with the law and protections for victims.

Blanche later told Fox News that his office expects to release “several hundred thousand more” documents related to the Epstein investigation “in the next couple weeks,” The Hill reported.

In response, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the release, particularly the extent of redactions. “Simply releasing a mountain of blacked out pages violates the spirit of transparency and the letter of the law,” he said in a statement provided to The New York Times. “For example, all 119 pages of one document were completely blacked out. We need answers as to why.”