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Conservative responses to the limited disclosure of documents related to the Epstein case have been sharply divided, with some backers of the former Trump administration pointing out the prominent appearance of former President Clinton and other Democrats in photographs, while others expressed frustration over how extensive redactions cast Donald Trump and Republicans in a negative light.

Administration Justifies Censorship with Fervent Rhetoric

Justice Department officials justified the heavily censored sections with fervent hyperbole. “Never in U.S. history has a Commander-in-Chief or the Justice Department been this open with the public about such a sensitive legal issue,” declared Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who released a six-page memo describing the redaction process.

Questions Raised by Blacked-Out Sections

While Trump's name and image are visible in portions of the materials, the extensive redactions prompt serious concerns about what may be concealed beneath them. A number of conservative lawmakers immediately called for greater openness.

“The public are raging and walking away,” wrote Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

In a social media post, Republican Congressman Thomas Massie asserted the censorship violate the law, and implied that a future Congress may attempt to impeach the top law enforcement official, Pam Bondi, for that offense. “Regrettably, this file dump egregiously does not comply with both the spirit and the wording of the act,” he continued.

A Faction of Rightwing Commentators Swing In Support of the Release

However, some conservative commentators and Trump loyalists swung firmly in support of the administration.

The release—from a justice department run by close Trump associate Pam Bondi—contains hundreds of pages that are entirely censored, and numerous of the men depicted in photographs have their faces blacked out.

But some do not, including prominent figures like Bill Clinton, pop singer Michael Jackson, and scholar Noam Chomsky. The inclusion of Clinton, especially, allowed certain conservative voices to go on the attack.

“It’s quite rich how the Democrats falsely accused Donald Trump of being a sex offender, only for the Trump DOJ to unveil documents that depict Bill Clinton swimming nude with a pedophile,” wrote conservative activist Laura Loomer.

“New Epstein Files reveal Bill Clinton without a shirt in a hot tub with a woman that is other than his wife Hillary Clinton,” posted attorney Rogan O’Handley. “There is only one reason Epstein would take pictures of a US President with a young woman in a jacuzzi: Leverage.”

Clinton Campaign Releases Response

Clinton has repeatedly said he knew of no criminal activity by Epstein and has not been accused to have participated in any wrongdoing. “The administration has not been hiding these documents for months only to release them at the last minute on a weekend to shield Bill Clinton,” his spokesperson Angel Ureña said in a comment.

“The release is about protecting officials from future revelations, or from what they will try and conceal permanently. Therefore they can publicize as many low-quality decades-old photographs as they want, but it is not about Bill Clinton. Never has, not ever be,” the response added.

Overall Rightwing Comment Seems Muted

However, broader comment on the right was comparatively subdued following the release, especially when juxtaposed against the vociferous demands for transparency that preceded the legislative vote to enact a bill requiring the files' publication.

The commentator, who not long ago secured press credentials at the Defense Department, had been one of the most vocal proponents for a full release. In February, she chastised the Justice Department broadly and Bondi in particular after a group of rightwing influencers were provided hard-copy folders of files that included no new data.