Dentist's chair, masks on walls: Epstein's private island revealed in new trove of photos

Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress released a trove of photos and videos from Jeffrey Epstein's private island home in the US Virgin Islands, where the disgraced financier allegedly forced underage girls to have sex with powerful men.

The collection of photos and videos was released on Wednesday by Democrats of the House Oversight Committee, who said the recently received evidence showed "a harrowing look behind Epstein's closed doors."

They showed empty bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens. But other photos were more unusual — such as a room with a dentist's chair where the walls had been adorned with various face masks.

The released images and videos of Epstein's former Caribbean hideaway include everything from indoor spaces like bedrooms, bathrooms, along with items inside rooms that include a telephone and a chalkboard

On the chalkboard, words that include "deception," "power," "truth," and "political," can be read, while other words were redacted by the Democrats who released the images.

The trove of photos also includes several views of the outside lounging areas and sea shore portions of the large property. 

The release of the photos come as Democrats seek to put pressure on Trump to release all the Epstein files. 

What happened to the Epstein files?

A political battle has consumed Capitol Hill for months, with several Republicans breaking rank to join Democrats to demand the release of the so-called Epstein files held by the Department of Justice.

Although Trump denies any wrongdoing tied to the Epstein Files, his critics have accused him of attempting to block their release in a bid to conceal any potential references to him.

On November 19, Trump gave into pressure and signed a law that passed both houses of congress to release the files. 

But since then, it still remains to be seen if any or all of files will be made public.

Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of two sex crime counts in 2008, including solicitation of prostitution with a minor, and for that, he served only about a year in jail with unusually lenient conditions. 

It was not until 2019 that he was faced with greater charges such as sex trafficking of minors. But he did not face justice, as he soon died in pre-trial detention in New York. His death was ruled a suicide.