DOJ Releases Additional Epstein Files, Including Flight Logs and Address Book
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Justice released a new set of government documents related to convicted sex offender and late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that the release was part of an effort to increase transparency under the Donald Trump administration.
The newly released files include copies of flight logs from Epstein’s private planes. Also included is an “edited” photocopy of an address book allegedly compiled by Epstein and his close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell. Notably, President Donald Trump’s name appears multiple times in the flight logs. The release of these documents marks the first phase of the declassification of Epstein-related files, which was announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi on February 27.
The flight logs reveal several trips involving Trump. On October 11, 1993, Trump boarded a flight from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to Joacaba (JCB), and a few days later, he took another flight from PBI to JCB. In 1994, on March 15, Trump flew from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) with his then-wife Marla Maples, their daughter Tiffany Trump, and a nanny. Later that same day, he took another flight from DCA to Teterboro Airport (TEB). In all four flights mentioned, Epstein's name is also listed.
While the release of these documents has stirred public interest, they mostly contain information that has already circulated widely in the public domain, with no significant new revelations regarding the sex trafficking case that has been a subject of intense public and media speculation. The files also include Epstein’s address book, which lists numerous high-profile names, such as celebrities Michael Jackson, Alec Baldwin, Mick Jagger, Naomi Campbell, Courtney Love, and Ethel Kennedy, the mother of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Despite the release, the files sparked controversy, with social media users pointing out the “redacted” sections of the documents, raising concerns over the transparency of the information made available.
Outrage Over Heavily Redacted Epstein Files Released by DOJ, Critics Call It a "PR Stunt"
The recent release of Epstein-related documents by the U.S. Department of Justice has sparked outrage on social media, with critics accusing the Trump administration of attempting to downplay the significance of the files. Many users pointed out that the newly released files were heavily redacted, making them almost identical to previously available documents.
One social media user voiced frustration, writing, “Epstein files RELEASED and they've been completely redacted by Kash Patel's FBI. #EpsteinList. This cannot be redacted.” Others were quick to label the release as a public relations move, with one user claiming it was a "PR stunt" and calling the release "one of the craziest scams" they had ever seen.
“The 'Phase 1' Epstein binders are filled with heavily redacted versions of information that’s been publicly available for five years. This entire PR stunt is one of the craziest scams I’ve ever seen. What a disaster,” @sovereignbrah posted, criticizing the release as an ineffective gesture. Another user echoed similar sentiments, accusing the Trump administration of orchestrating a "massive scam" and stating that the redacted files offered little new insight into the Epstein case.
Some users took to expressing distrust in the administration's transparency, with one posting, “You’re never going to believe this. The 'Epstein files' are MORE redacted than what’s already publicly available. I don’t trust them. I don’t trust anyone trying to make excuses for them."
Investigative journalist Laura Loomer also criticized the release, claiming that the documents provided by the White House were simply redacted versions of files already published in 2015 and 2021. Loomer added, "Today was nothing but a performance by @PamBondi," referring to Attorney General Pam Bondi, who handed out the files at a White House event.
Meanwhile, @EdKrassen slammed the Trump administration for what he perceived as a lack of transparency. He stated, "No, the FBI didn't release any Epstein Files publicly. Everything listed below was already available under the Biden Administration. What is the Trump administration hiding? Dump it all publicly."
The release of these heavily redacted documents, many of which had been accessible to the public for years, has only intensified the controversy surrounding the Epstein case, leaving many questioning the true intentions behind the government’s latest move.
References:
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- Breen, K. (2025, February 27). Right-wing influencers get binders labeled “The Epstein Files,” but downplay revelations. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/right-wing-influencers-get-binders-labeled-the-epstein-files-but-downplay-revelations/
- Department of Justice | Homepage | United States Department of Justice. (2025, February 12). http://justice.gov/
- Explorepedia. (n.d.). https://explorepedia.org/explore/donald-trump
- Home - Michael Jackson Official site. (2016, January 15). Michael Jackson Official Site. https://www.michaeljackson.com/IMDb. (n.d.). Marla Maples. IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005185/bio/
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- Mallick, A. (2025, February 28). Trump’s DOJ declassifies sex offender Epstein files; Michael Jackson, Alec Baldwin among big names. News18. https://www.news18.com/world/trumps-doj-declassifies-sex-offender-epstein-files-michael-jackson-alec-baldwin-among-big-names-9243984.html
- Online, E. (2025, February 28). Epstein Files Finally Released: High-profile names appear, but are there any surprises? The Economic Times. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/epstein-files-finally-released-high-profile-names-appear-but-are-there-any-surprises/articleshow/118615650.cms?from=mdr
- Sisak, A. D. R. a. M. R. (2025, February 28). No big new revelations in Justice Department’s release of Jeffrey Epstein files. ABC7 New York. https://abc7ny.com/post/jeffrey-epstein-files-released-justice-department-heres-what-revealed/15961350/#:~:text=The%20small%20batch%20of%20documents,cited%20in%20media%20accounts%20for
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- TOI World Desk. (2025, February 28). Who was Jeffrey Epstein and what do the newly released court documents reveal? The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/who-was-jeffrey-epstein-and-what-do-the-newly-released-court-documents-reveal/articleshow/118617535.cms