Batch Size and Timing Confirmed The House Oversight Committee released roughly 70 photographs, marking the third tranche from a cache of over 95,000 images seized after Epstein’s death [1][2][3]. The release occurred just hours before the Justice Department’s statutory December 19 deadline to turn over the full Epstein file set under the Epstein Files Transparency Act [1][2][3]. Committee leaders said the timing was intended to provide Congress with additional material ahead of the DOJ’s impending disclosure [2][3].

High‑Profile Figures Appear in Images Identifiable shots show linguist Noam Chomsky on a private plane with Epstein, Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates standing beside a redacted‑face woman, and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon at a desk across from Epstein [1][2][3]. Additional photos feature Google co‑founder Sergey Brin at a dinner, filmmaker Woody Allen, former YouTube CEO Salar Kamangar, and New York Times columnist David Brooks, illustrating the breadth of Epstein’s social circle [2][3]. The BBC noted that earlier releases had shown Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Alan Dershowitz, Prince Andrew and others, but officials cautioned that appearance does not prove wrongdoing [3].

Disturbing Content Highlights Illicit Activity One image depicts a woman’s torso covered in handwritten excerpts from Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita, a detail highlighted across all outlets [1][2][3]. Other pictures include foreign female passports with most data redacted, women whose faces are blacked out, and a screenshot of a text message arranging the sale of under‑age girls, specifying “18 y old” and a Schengen‑area check [2][3]. These elements suggest ongoing exploitation and have intensified calls for a thorough investigation [2].

Political Dispute and Survivor Concerns Republican committee members accused Democrats of “cherry‑picking” images to shape a narrative, while Democratic members argued the releases advance transparency ahead of the DOJ deadline [2]. Survivors interviewed by CNN said the unpredictable timing of disclosures triggers trauma and noted they have not been contacted by the Justice Department about the forthcoming file release [2]. The Justice Department has yet to specify the exact timing or scope of its public release, fueling further uncertainty [2].