Washington, D.C., Dec. 13 — President Donald Trump downplayed the significance of newly released photographs that show him alongside convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, calling the matter “no big deal.” Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he had not yet seen the images but noted Epstein was widely known in Palm Beach and that many people have photos with him. “I know nothing about him,” he added.
Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee on Friday released 19 previously unseen photos taken from a larger cache of more than 95,000 images the committee said it obtained. The small selection includes pictures reportedly showing a range of public figures linked to Epstein’s social circle, among them President Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates, and Richard Branson. The release has renewed calls for broader disclosure of Epstein‑related records and prompted accusations from some Democrats of a possible White House cover‑up.
Among the released images is a photo of a bowl of novelty condoms printed with a caricature of Trump and the caption “I’m HUUUUGE!”, made by New York store Fishs Eddy. Other photos reportedly depict Steve Bannon taking a mirror selfie with Epstein, Bill Clinton alongside Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and Bill Gates pictured with former Prince Andrew. Officials say none of the released pictures appear to show criminal activity, and the time, location and authorship of the photographs remain unclear.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson accused House Democrats of selectively releasing “cherry‑picked” photos with redactions to promote a false narrative. She pointed to other Democrats whose names have appeared in Epstein‑related documents, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Delegate Stacey Plaskett, and said the administration has supported victims, released thousands of documents, and pushed for transparency in the Epstein investigations.
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