A newly released photograph from the trove of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents has placed Prince Andrew back under intense scrutiny. The image shows Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the Duke of York, lying across the laps of five women, their faces obscured. The undated picture, which appears to be a photo of a physical photograph in a broken frame, also captures Ghislaine Maxwell smiling in the background, believed to be in front of a large fireplace.
Details of the Document Release and High-Profile Appearances
On Friday night, the United States Department of Justice uploaded thousands of documents to its website as mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The release included court filings, photographs, and video footage. The volume of public interest was so high it temporarily overwhelmed the platform, placing users in a virtual queue.
The cache of images features several globally recognized figures. Among them are appearances by Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Mick Jagger, and former UK minister Peter Mandelson. One photo shows Mandelson with Epstein at what seems to be a birthday celebration. Another depicts Jagger alongside Clinton with an unidentified, redacted woman. Images also place Maxwell, Clinton, and actor Kevin Spacey inside London's Churchill War Rooms.
Further photos show Epstein with Jackson and Maxwell standing outside 10 Downing Street. The release also contained two photographs of Andrew's former wife, Sarah Ferguson, with women who were not identified. Officials stressed that none of the images are dated and that they do not, by themselves, prove any wrongdoing.
Renewed Scrutiny and Royal Consequences
This latest document dump renews focus on Prince Andrew's association with the convicted s3x offender. Andrew stepped back from royal duties in 2019 after a disastrous BBC Newsnight interview about his ties to Epstein. The continued scrutiny, fueled by the posthumous memoir of victim Virginia Giuffre and ongoing document releases, led to a significant royal demotion.
King Charles III formally stripped his brother of his HRH style and princely military titles. Despite the fallout, Prince Andrew has consistently denied any misconduct. US lawmakers have additionally criticized him for what they called his "silence," after he missed a deadline to respond to a request for an interview related to the Epstein investigation.
Legal Criticism and Official Statements
The release has not been without controversy. Several US lawmakers and lawyers for Epstein's victims have criticized the extensive redactions in the files. Congressman Suhas Subramanyam told CNN the heavy redactions "are absolutely in violation of the law," which required full disclosure by the deadline. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer echoed this, stating the documents were "just a fraction" of the evidence and that the redactions violate both the spirit and letter of the transparency law.
US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche indicated that hundreds of thousands more documents would be released in stages to protect victims. A spokesperson for Senator Dick Durbin controversially claimed the release pattern protects former President Trump and "other perpetrators."
In a statement, a spokesman for Bill Clinton sought to distance him, stating, "There are two types of people here. The first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships after that. We're in the first."
Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal s3x trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
