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Conservative reactions to the partial disclosure of files related to the Epstein case have been sharply divided, with certain backers of the former Trump administration pointing out the prominent appearance of former President Clinton and additional Democrats in photographs, while others lamented how heavy censorship cast former President Trump and Republicans in a unfavorable light.

Justice Department Defends Redactions with Strong Hyperbole

Administration officials defended the redactions with intense hyperbole. “At no point in U.S. the nation's history has a Commander-in-Chief or the Department of Justice been this open with the public about such a sensitive legal issue,” declared Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who released a detailed memo describing the censorship process.

Questions Prompted by Redactions

While Trump's identity and image are visible in some of the materials, the widespread redactions prompt serious questions about the information may be concealed beneath them. A number of Republicans immediately demanded increased transparency.

“The public are furious and disengaging,” posted Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

In a online statement, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie said the redactions break the law, and suggested that a future Congress may move to remove the top law enforcement official, Pam Bondi, for that offense. “Regrettably, this document release egregiously does not comply with both the intent and the wording of the law,” he continued.

A Faction of Conservative Commentators Rally In Support of the Release

But, some conservative commentators and Trump loyalists came out strongly in support of the Justice Department's actions.

The release—originating from a DOJ led by key Trump ally Pam Bondi—includes scores of documents that are entirely censored, and many of the individuals depicted in pictures have their faces obscured.

Yet some are not, including prominent individuals like Bill Clinton, entertainer Michael Jackson, and academic Noam Chomsky. The inclusion of the former president, especially, allowed some conservative voices to go on the offensive.

“This is quite ironic how the Democrats wrongly accused Donald Trump of associating with a sex offender, only for the Trump DOJ to release Epstein files that depict Bill Clinton skinny dipping with a convicted sex offender,” stated right-wing commentator Laura Loomer.

“New Epstein Files show Bill Clinton shirtless in a jacuzzi with a female that is other than his wife Hillary Clinton,” posted lawyer Rogan O’Handley. “There’s only 1 reason Epstein would photograph a Commander-in-Chief with a girl in a hot tub: Blackmail.”

Former President Spokesperson Issues Statement

Clinton has repeatedly said he knew of zero criminal activity by Epstein and has never been accused to have participated in any wrongdoing. “The administration hasn’t been hiding those files for months only to dump them at the last minute on a Friday to protect Bill Clinton,” his representative Angel Ureña stated in a comment.

“The release is about shielding officials from what comes next, or from what they will try and hide forever. Therefore they can publicize as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photographs as they desire, but this isn’t about Bill Clinton. Never has, not ever be,” the response added.

Broader Conservative Comment Seems Muted

Nonetheless, broader discourse on the right was relatively muted after the release, particularly when compared with the loud demands for transparency that came before the congressional approval to pass a law requiring the files' release.

The commentator, who recently accepted media access at the Defense Department, had been among the loudest advocates for a full release. Earlier this year, she criticized the Justice Department generally and Bondi specifically after a group of conservative influencers were given physical folders of materials that contained no new information.