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Conservative reactions to the limited release of documents involving the Epstein case have been sharply divided, with certain backers of the former Trump administration highlighting the noticeable presence of former President Clinton and other Democrats in images, while different voices lamented how extensive censorship portray Donald Trump and Republicans in a unfavorable light.

Administration Justifies Censorship with Fervent Hyperbole

Justice Department officials justified the heavily censored sections with fervent hyperbole. “Never in American history has a Commander-in-Chief or the Justice Department been this transparent with the public about such a sensitive law enforcement issue,” declared a senior Justice official Todd Blanche, who issued a detailed letter outlining the censorship procedure.

Questions Prompted by Blacked-Out Sections

While Trump's identity and likeness appear in portions of the documents, the widespread black blocks raise significant questions about what may be concealed beneath them. A number of Republicans swiftly called for increased openness.

“The public are furious and walking away,” wrote Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Via a online statement, GOP Congressman Thomas Massie asserted the redactions violate the statute, and implied that a subsequent legislature may move to remove the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, for that violation. “Regrettably, today’s document release egregiously does not comply with both the spirit and the wording of the law,” he added.

Some Conservative Figures Swing Behind the Disclosure

But, a segment of rightwing pundits and former President allies came out strongly in support of the administration.

The release—originating from a justice department led by close Trump associate Pam Bondi—includes scores of pages that are entirely redacted, and numerous of the men depicted in photographs have their identities blacked out.

Yet some are not, featuring high-profile individuals like Bill Clinton, entertainer Michael Jackson, and scholar Noam Chomsky. The presence of Clinton, in particular, enabled some rightwing figures to go on the offensive.

“It’s quite ironic how the political left wrongly claimed President Trump of being a pedophile, only for the administration's Justice Department to release documents that depict Bill Clinton skinny dipping with a convicted sex offender,” wrote conservative commentator Laura Loomer.

“Recently released Epstein Files reveal Bill Clinton shirtless in a jacuzzi with a woman that is not his spouse Hillary Clinton,” wrote attorney Rogan O’Handley. “There is only 1 explanation Epstein would take pictures of a US President with a young woman in a jacuzzi: Leverage.”

Clinton Campaign Issues Statement

Clinton has consistently said he knew of no criminal actions by Epstein and has not been alleged to have engaged in any misconduct. “The White House hasn’t been hiding those files for months only to dump them at the last minute on a weekend to protect Bill Clinton,” his representative Angel Ureña stated in a statement.

“This is about shielding officials from what comes next, or from information they will try and conceal forever. Therefore they can release as many grainy 20-plus-year-old photos as they desire, but it is not about Bill Clinton. Never has, never will be,” the statement concluded.

Overall Conservative Comment Seems Subdued

Nonetheless, broader discourse on the right was relatively subdued after the release, especially when juxtaposed against the loud calls for action that came before the congressional approval to pass a law requiring the documents' publication.

Loomer, who recently accepted media access at the Defense Department, had been among the most vocal proponents for a full disclosure. In February, she criticized the administration broadly and Bondi in particular after a group of rightwing personalities were given physical binders of files that included little previously unseen information.