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DOJ Epstein Files Reveal Unredacted Images as Mandelson Resigns Over Ties

Friday document dump exposed nude photos; Labour figure exits amid mounting pressure

Nonepaper Staff••3 min read•📰 8 sources
The Department of Justice's release of over 3.5 million pages of Jeffrey Epstein files has triggered both a privacy scandal and political fallout across the Atlantic, with images left unredacted and a senior Labour figure stepping down.

The DOJ's massive Friday document dump included more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images from investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed some images were taken by Epstein himself.

Critically, several unredacted photos showing fully nude women or girls were discovered by readers and reported to 404 Media. Despite notification Friday evening, the images remained online until Sunday—a full day after the DOJ was alerted.

The files have also brought renewed scrutiny to powerful figures who associated with Epstein, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, and President Donald Trump. Details of Epstein's online activity emerged, including a permanent Xbox Live ban.

In the UK, Peter Mandelson has resigned his Labour party membership after new details of his relationship with Epstein came to light. Questions are mounting about what Downing Street knew before appointing him as US ambassador.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The DOJ's failure to properly redact sensitive images raises serious questions about government competence in handling victim privacy. That unredacted photos stayed online for over a day after being flagged is inexcusable.

Background

Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell was convicted in 2021. This release represents the largest single document dump related to their cases.

Key Perspectives

The DOJ says teams are "working around the clock" on additional redactions. Victims' advocates are demanding accountability for the privacy breach.

What to Watch

Expect continued political fallout as more names emerge from the files. The Mandelson resignation may be the first of several casualties.

Sources