Democrats release fresh set of Epstein photos featuring Gates, Chomsky and Bannon

Epstein photos spark political row

A new set of 68 photographs linked to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has been released by Democratic US lawmakers, providing additional insight into the notorious financier’s associations.

The images include prominent figures such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates, linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky, and former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon. Other materials in the batch include passports, maps, and a screenshot of a text message stating, "I will send u girls now."

Lawmakers emphasised that the presence of individuals in the photographs does not imply any criminal conduct. Many of those pictured have previously denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

“These photographs, which do not provide additional context, are being released from Epstein’s estate for transparency,” a Democratic lawmaker said.

The release is separate from the so-called Epstein files, which Congress has compelled the Justice Department to make public by Friday, December 19.

Republicans, meanwhile, accused Democratic lawmakers of selectively releasing content. “They are cherry-picking photos and making targeted redactions,” a Republican critic said.

The new batch adds to the ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s network and associations, as lawmakers and the public await the full disclosure of the court-mandated files.