US politicians have released new images of Jeffrey Epstein's private island estate in a move that appears designed to keep the Trump administration under pressure over the sex offender's case.
The photos and videos have been released by Democratic Party members of the House Oversight Committee, which has been scrutinising the federal government's "possible mismanagement" of Epstein's investigation and prosecution.
The Democrats described the images as "never-before-seen photos and videos of Jeffrey Epstein's private island that are a harrowing look behind Epstein's closed doors".
Their publication is separate to the expected release of the Department of Justice's "Epstein files", which has been mandated by law but is yet to happen.
Under legislation passed almost unanimously by Congress last month, the department has until December 19 to release all its unclassified documents on the case, with limited exceptions.
"We are releasing these photos and videos to ensure public transparency in our investigation and to help piece together the full picture of Epstein's horrific crimes," Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the oversight committee, said.
"We won't stop fighting until we deliver justice for the survivors."
He said the committee had also received records from two banks, JP Morgan and Deutsche Bank, which Democrats would release to the public "after review in the days ahead".
Epstein owned the island, Little St James in the US Virgin Islands, from 1998 until his death in prison in 2019. In 2016, he also bought neighbouring island Great St James.
He was accused of flying teenage girls to the islands and subjecting them to sexual abuse, but he died while awaiting trial.
A court complaint lodged by the US Virgin Islands government in 2020, seeking damages from Epstein's estate, said:
"Epstein engaged in a pattern and practice of trafficking and sexually abusing young women and female children on this private, secluded island of Little St James where Epstein and his associates could avoid detection … and prevent these young women and underage girls from leaving freely and escaping the abuse".
According to the complaint, Epstein's island properties were valued at almost $US578 million ($876 million), including $US57 million in cash found on the islands.
