Dorothy

The U.S. Department of Justice released approximately three million pages of documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, fulfilling requirements under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The files contain hundreds of references to prominent individuals, including Prince Andrew, Elon Musk, Steve Tisch, and Casey Wasserman, as well as emails between Epstein and a person identified as “The Duke,” widely believed to refer to Prince Andrew. Some documents include details from FBI interviews, such as one involving financier Harlan Peltz recounting a dinner with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew. In response, U.S. House Democrats requested an urgent review of unredacted materials to assess Justice Department compliance, while the DOJ maintains it has met its legal obligations. Internationally, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged Prince Andrew to testify before Congress, and the release led to a resignation in Slovakia over alleged ties. Sources differ in how they frame the significance and intent behind the release. Left-leaning outlets like The Guardian and ABC News emphasize the public interest in transparency and detail the personal connections revealed, including unverified claims about royal figures. Center sources such as the Associated Press and BBC focus on factual reporting of names, events, and institutional responses without editorializing. Right-leaning outlets like the New York Post and Washington Times highlight political reactions, with the Post emphasizing regretful admissions from public figures and the Washington Times underscoring Democratic calls for further review. Breitbart, meanwhile, frames the release as a politically motivated distraction from what it describes as record FBI successes in combating child exploitation under former President Trump, contrasting the “tabloid fodder” of the files with law enforcement achievements. These differing narratives reflect broader ideological divides over whether the release is primarily a matter of accountability, public interest, or political theater.