Democrats release photos of Epstein’s notorious private island
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Little St James, where Jeffrey Epstein lived for the better part of two decades, was at the centre of allegations that it had been a place where he sexually abused teenage girls.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Michael Gold
Follow topic:
NEW YORK – House Democrats on Dec 3 released photographs and videos of disgraced billionaire Jeffrey Epstein’s home on the private Caribbean island where his accusers have said he trafficked underage girls for sex.
Epstein, who was also accused of shuttling dozens of girls between his homes in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida, owned two private islands in the US Virgin Islands, both off the coast of St Thomas.
One of the islands, Little St James, was where Epstein lived for the better part of two decades and was at the centre of allegations that it had been a place where he sexually abused teenage girls.
The release of the cache of 10 photos and four videos of Epstein’s secluded home appeared to be the latest bid by Democrats to intensify pressure on the Justice Department to make public all of its investigative files on the convicted sex offender’s case following enactment in November of a law requiring it
Calling the images “disturbing”, Representative Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said the release was part of a commitment to “ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein’s horrific crimes”.
Mr Garcia also said that the panel had received Epstein’s financial records from JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank, and that Democrats planned to release some of those files in the coming days.
Republicans on the Oversight Committee accused Democrats of releasing only documents that suited their agenda and said they planned to make more material public soon.
The images appear to reveal little new information about Epstein or his case. Still photographs show plainly decorated bedrooms or outdoor areas in Epstein’s home, and the videos are walk-throughs of the property.
Still photographs show plainly decorated bedrooms or outdoor areas in Epstein’s home.
PHOTO: REUTERS
In one photo that Democrats said was taken in Epstein’s residence, a room whose walls are adorned with at least 10 masks of men’s faces appears to have been turned into a dental office, with a chair and associated equipment.
Epstein’s last girlfriend was a dentist who shared an office on St Thomas with Epstein’s shell company.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Epstein’s last girlfriend, Ms Karyna Shuliak, was a dentist who shared an office on St Thomas with Epstein’s shell company.
Another photo shows a room apparently being used as a library, with four armchairs and a chalkboard where a number of words were scribbled.
In an image provided by the Attorney-General of the US Virgin Islands and released by House Democrats, a library space on the estate of Jeffrey Epstein on Little St James.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
Some of the language on the board was redacted by Democrats. NYTIMES
