Resting his hand on Jeffrey Epstein’s shoulder, Donald Trump smiled as he posed for a photograph with his old friend in Palm Beach in 1997.

As a general rule, coverups are difficult in free societies with democratic governments. They are routine for authoritarian governments. The Epstein coverup will be an indicator of how far we are down the road to authoritarianism. The success of such a coverup would take us much further down that road.

The unreleased evidence notably includes multiple documents related to two islands Epstein owned in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Little Saint James -- where his compound was located -- and Greater Saint James. According to the index, the files include a folder containing Island blueprints, photographs and other documents.

The Trump administration records releases on Jeffrey Epstein are finished, but transparency lawsuits may reveal what else the government has kept hidden.

Earlier today, Trump posted on Truth Social that the Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy—a pillar of the MAGA cinematic universe—is a “hoax” and went so far as to disavow his “PAST supporters” over the issue.

Attorney General Pam Bondi had vowed to ask a court Friday to unseal pertinent grand jury records amid a political outcry over the Trump administration’s actions on the case.

Epstein lawyer says Ghislaine Maxwell knows ‘everything’ and should get immunity to testify to Congress - The Trump administration is facing backlash for their handling of the Epstein investigation

READ MORE: Judge denies Miami Herald request to release master list of Epstein ‘J. Does’ Then-Miami U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta — who oversaw the federal investigation — ultimately signed off on a lenient plea deal, and in 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to minor state charges. He served 13 months in the Palm Beach County jail and was released.

Professor of Law Melissa Murray is joined on The Beat by Molly Jong-Fast and Michelle Goldberg to discuss the intensifying focus on Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. (The Beat's YouTub