U.S. Department of Justice Releases Millions of Epstein Files Showing Prince Andrew Kneeling Over Redacted Woman

The U.S. Department of Justice released a massive tranche of previously withheld Jeffrey Epstein materials, estimated at about 3–3.5 million pages, more than 2,000 videos, and roughly 180,000 images.

“The Justice Department, complying with a court order, added an extra certification step to prevent release of victim‑identifying information and said its redactions are intended to protect victims and families — not to shield facts about public figures”

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Officials said teams completed reviews and redactions intended to protect victims and ongoing investigations.

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The disclosure followed missed deadlines and intense public and congressional criticism.

DOJ officials said hundreds of attorneys reviewed the files and applied redactions to safeguard victims and investigations.

Lawmakers and advocates argued the rollout remained incomplete.

The release was ordered under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

Prosecutors warned the documents include unverified tips and items that do not themselves prove wrongdoing.

Undated, uncaptioned photographs published in the files appear, multiple outlets report, to show Britain’s former Prince Andrew crouched or kneeling over a clothed, unidentified woman, and in at least one image reportedly with a hand on her abdomen, though the DOJ and news organizations note the photos lack context and the woman’s face is redacted.

The files also contain email exchanges and messages from about 2002-2011 in which accounts labeled "The Duke" or signed "A." appear in correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, with messages referencing Buckingham Palace and offers of a 26-year-old Russian.

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Prince Andrew has denied wrongdoing, and the DOJ cautions that inclusion in the files is not proof of criminal conduct.

The disclosures prompted immediate political responses and renewed calls for accountability.

“I can do that — but I don’t yet have the article text or a URL”

ABC News

British politicians urged cooperation, with Labour leader Keir Starmer saying Prince Andrew should be prepared to give evidence to the US Congress, while U.K. and U.S. officials and lawmakers sought explanations for withheld material.

DOJ officials, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, defended the process by saying extensive review was necessary, denying the delay was meant to shield anyone, and offering a channel for victims to flag redaction errors, but critics from both parties and survivor advocates pressed for fuller disclosure and better redaction practices.

The publication reignited criticism over redaction quality, victim safety, and the verification of unvetted claims.

Survivor advocates and journalists flagged that some released materials were insufficiently redacted, exposing victims' names or other identifying details, and that the trove includes unverified tips and potentially false items.

Al Jazeera

The Department of Justice acknowledged errors and said it would correct mistakes if they were flagged.

Independent reviewers and researchers warned that the documents mix court records, witness accounts, and informal tips that require careful verification before drawing conclusions.

Coverage of the disclosures varies sharply by outlet type.

“Headline: DOJ releases more than 3 million Epstein-related pages, roughly 2,000 videos and about 180,000 images naming high‑profile figures amid redactions and missed disclosure deadlines”

AP News

Tabloid and sensational outlets foreground graphic imagery and allegations, vividly describing photos and palace invitations, as seen in Extra.ie and Metro.co.uk.

AP News

Mainstream Western outlets stress verification and legal context, highlighting lack of context and DOJ caveats, as the BBC and The Guardian do.

West Asian outlets emphasize political and procedural implications, underscoring congressional pushes and the scale of redaction work, as noted by TRT World and Evrim Ağacı.

Western alternative outlets focus on uncaptioned material and warnings about nonverification, for example BreakingNews.ie.