Epstein Island photos revealed as Maxwell contests grand jury transcripts

On Wednesday, Democrats from the House Oversight Committee unveiled over 150 photos and more than a dozen brief videos of Jeffrey Epstein's private estate in the U.S. Virgin Islands, coinciding with arguments from Ghislaine Maxwell's lawyers opposing the release of grand jury transcripts in her criminal case.

The visual materials, all devoid of any individuals, were captured in 2020 by the U.S. Virgin Islands government during civil proceedings against Epsteins estate. Some of these images resemble content previously shared by Project Veritas founder James OKeefe.

The collection features an image of a room containing a dental chair and multiple masks on the walls, and a photograph of a blackboard listing words like "Power," "Deception," "Intellectual," "Political," and "Music," with other terms redacted. Similar dental equipment had been noted in Epsteins other residences, including a 2005 police video from his Palm Beach property. Another image depicts a large No Trespassing sign near the beach, while a close-up of a telephone reveals speed dial buttons for Epsteins staff.

The short videos offer walkthroughs of a bedroom, a bathroom, the pool area, the helipad, and the coastline. Republicans criticized Democrats for labeling the release as "never-before-seen," arguing that similar content had been previously published. A follow-up release added more than 100 images and videos.

Later releases included 15 additional videos and over 150 images, including a framed photograph of Epstein and Maxwell with Pope John Paul II. Other images show a computer monitor likely tied to a security system, a white bathrobe, a chefs kitchen, a beach and dock, and one of Epsteins boats, "Little C."

In 2022, Epsteins estate settled with the U.S. Virgin Islands, paying $105 million plus a portion of property sale proceeds and repaying past tax breaks.

Maxwells lawyers informed a federal judge that while they have no formal position on the Justice Departments request to unseal her grand jury transcripts, releasing these materials could prejudice her ability to secure a fair retrial. Maxwell, serving a 20-year sentence for aiding Epsteins sexual abuse of minors, plans to file a habeas petition in the Southern District of New York.

Epstein, a financier and convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019. The Epstein Transparency Act, signed into law last month, allows the DOJ to withhold records if their release could compromise ongoing investigations or prosecutions.

The DOJ has previously cited the possibility of a Maxwell retrial to justify withholding certain records, including documents related to FBI and Justice Department searches and redactions of Epstein files, citing exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act.

Author: Noah Whitman