The first phase of Jeffrey Epstein’s FBI file release has landed like a bombshell.
Made public through pressure from within the Department of Justice, the newly declassified records reveal the full scope of what the Bureau actually possessed during the investigation-and chose not to disclose.
The documents cover everything from shocking inventories of seized media and hard drives, to flight logs, victim records, handwritten notes, contact books, and intercepted communications.
Altogether, the list reads like a forensic blueprint to a global abuse and trafficking network-one that was known to authorities but buried behind procedural smokescreens for years.
🚨 200 Items: A Glimpse into the Vault
What stands out most is not a single document but the scale of what was withheld.
According to the unsealed index, the FBI maintained custody of more than 200 uniquely cataloged items connected to Epstein and his associates.
Among them:
- Dozens of laptops, servers, and encrypted USBs
- Red ropes containing physical photos, photo albums of girls, documents, and CDs
- Court-authorized wiretap discs, intercepted calls, and surveillance footage
- Personal effects including massage tables, sex paraphernalia, and yearbooks
- Multiple cellophanes and red ropes containing notes, logbooks, and hard drives
And perhaps most damning:
A red rope containing 12 polaroid photos, a folder labeled “Sue,” and various CDs - seized from Epstein’s island property.
The diversity and labeling of the material suggest comprehensive knowledge of Epstein’s operations across multiple geographic locations.
Boxes labeled with notes on private islands, aircraft, and financial ledgers show the agency had every opportunity to map the entire network. Yet the investigation stopped short.
🔍 Lost in Storage, or Deliberately Hidden?
An internal letter from Attorney General Pamela Bondi dated February 27, 2025, expresses outrage upon learning that the FBI field office in New York withheld thousands of pages of relevant documents.
The letter orders full compliance within 24 hours and demands an internal investigation:
“Despite my repeated requests, the FBI never disclosed the existence of these files.”
The correspondence reveals that only a fraction of Epstein’s file had previously been shared with DOJ officials. The files were stored at the field level and not included in the national case archive.
What emerged were DVDs labeled with terms like “nude book,” VHS and cassette tapes, backup drives, and surveillance hard disks-some reportedly containing hours of unreleased audio and video.
🚢 The Island: Visual and Written Evidence
The seizure list confirms long-standing rumors. Epstein’s private island was not only the site of repeated abuse, but also meticulously documented:
- Handwritten notes on Little St. James (LSJ) notepads
- Aerial surveillance footage of the island compound
- Remodeling documents, blueprints, and financial records tied to property operations
The FBI catalogued bust sculptures of female torsos, various sex toys, a nurse cap and stethoscope, framed photos of naked girls, and digital material with file names that indicate exploitation.
“One CD labeled ‘girl pics nude book 4’” - a damning physical artifact that remained hidden for years.
🚀 Epstein’s Tech and Communications Arsenal
At least 20 laptops and desktops were seized, along with servers and external hard drives. Many were assigned serial numbers and matched to Epstein’s residences, travel logs, and operational locations.
Some notable items:
- iPhones and iPads labeled by room location (e.g., “Kitchen Mac”)
- Unifi surveillance server and cloud key
- Tape backups and shredded paper recovered from disposal areas
Encrypted files and backup logs point to vast digital footprints that investigators never made public-until now. Names, passwords, and internal emails tied to employee rosters appear scattered throughout various file clusters.
🔢 A Black Book in Plain Sight
Perhaps the most infamous artifact-the contact logbook, often referred to as Epstein’s “Black Book”-was among the files.
It included personal information on associates, entertainers, politicians, royalty, and business executives.
Alongside it were:
- Daily vessel logs from Epstein’s boats
- Flight records from his private jets
- Notebooks and documents written in Epstein’s handwriting
Some documents are marked as Government Exhibit 662-RR from the Maxwell trial, further connecting the dots between the two cases.
💸 Cash, Valuables, and Discretion
A heat-sealed envelope labeled “SK” contained over $17,000 in cash. Another envelope labeled “2000-SK” contained $4,400.
There were iPods, watches, and more than a dozen digital cameras.
While these items alone may not prove crimes, the pattern suggests a deliberate strategy to store cash and valuables in portable forms.
Several documents note remodeling expenses, appliance invoices, and contractor payments tied to unidentified services.
🌍 Phase II: The Global Web?
This is just Phase I.
Thousands more pages remain sealed.
Advocacy groups are calling for a special counsel investigation.
Several journalists and members of Congress are now demanding that every related document-regardless of classification-be made public.
“The public interest outweighs every argument for secrecy,” said Rep. Ana Delgado in a statement today.
What will Phase II uncover? If the first batch is any indicator, the next wave could include footage, testimony, and digital files linking major names to Epstein’s inner circle.