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Right-leaning reactions to the partial release of files related to the Epstein case have been sharply divided, with some backers of the previous administration pointing out the noticeable presence of former President Clinton and additional Democratic figures in images, while different voices lamented how extensive redactions cast former President Trump and GOP members in a negative manner.

Justice Department Defends Censorship with Fervent Rhetoric

Administration officials defended the redactions with intense exaggerated language. “Never in U.S. the nation's history has a Commander-in-Chief or the Department of Justice been so transparent with the American people about such a delicate legal issue,” stated a senior Justice official Todd Blanche, who released a detailed memo outlining the censorship procedure.

Concerns Raised by Redactions

While Trump's name and likeness are visible in some of the documents, the widespread redactions raise significant concerns about what may be hidden beneath them. A number of conservative lawmakers immediately called for greater openness.

“People are raging and walking away,” posted Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Via a social media post, Republican Kentucky Thomas Massie said the censorship break the statute, and suggested that a future legislature may attempt to impeach the Attorney General, Pam Bondi, for that violation. “Unfortunately, this document release egregiously fails to adhere to both the spirit and the letter of the law,” he continued.

A Faction of Rightwing Figures Swing In Support of the Release

However, some conservative pundits and Trump allies swung firmly in support of the administration.

The release—from a DOJ led by key Trump ally Pam Bondi—contains scores of pages that are completely redacted, and many of the men shown in photographs have their faces obscured.

But some do not, including high-profile individuals like Bill Clinton, pop singer Michael Jackson, and scholar Noam Chomsky. The inclusion of the former president, especially, allowed some rightwing voices to launch the offensive.

“This is pretty ironic how the Democrats falsely claimed Donald Trump of associating with a pedophile, only for the Trump DOJ to release documents that show Bill Clinton swimming nude with a pedophile,” wrote conservative activist Laura Loomer.

“Recently released Epstein Files show Bill Clinton without a shirt in a jacuzzi with a woman that is other than his wife Hillary Clinton,” wrote lawyer Rogan O’Handley. “There is only 1 reason Epstein would photograph a Commander-in-Chief with a girl in a jacuzzi: Leverage.”

Clinton Spokesperson Releases Response

Bill Clinton has repeatedly stated he was aware of no criminal actions by Epstein and has never been accused to have engaged in any misconduct. “The administration hasn’t been concealing these files for months only to release them late on a weekend to shield Bill Clinton,” Clinton’s spokesperson Angel Ureña said in a statement.

“This is about protecting officials from future revelations, or from information they’ll try and hide forever. So they can publicize as many grainy decades-old photographs as they want, but it is not about Bill Clinton. Never has, not ever be,” the statement concluded.

Overall Conservative Commentary Seems Muted

However, overall discourse on the right was comparatively muted after the release, particularly when compared with the vociferous demands for transparency that preceded the congressional vote to enact a bill requiring the files' release.

The commentator, who not long ago secured media access at the Defense Department, had been among the loudest advocates for a full disclosure. In February, she criticized the administration generally and Bondi in particular after a group of conservative personalities were given physical binders of files that contained little previously unseen data.