WASHINGTON — The US Justice Department on Friday began releasing a long-awaited cache of records from its investigations into the politically explosive case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — though much of the material remained heavily redacted.

Among the trove are numerous photographs depicting former Democratic US president Bill Clinton and other luminaries, including Mick Jagger and Michael Jackson, in Epstein’s social circle.

The sweeping blackouts across many of the documents — combined with tight control by officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration over the release — stoked skepticism over whether this disclosure will silence conspiracy theories of a high-level cover-up.

In one example, seven pages listing 254 masseuses have every name buried beneath thick black bars alongside the note, “redacted to protect potential victim information.”

Even so, the files shed some light on the disgraced financier’s intimate ties to the rich, famous, and powerful — Trump among them.

At least one file contains dozens of censored images of naked or scantily clad figures.

Others show Epstein and companions, their faces obscured, posing with firearms.

Previously unseen photographs include one of a youthful-looking Clinton lounging in a hot tub, part of the image blacked out by a stark........

© The Times of Israel