NEW YORK (AP) — Newly disclosed government files on Jeffrey Epstein are offering more details about his interactions with the rich and famous after he served time for sex crimes in Florida, and on how much investigators knew about his abuse of underage girls when they decided not to indict him on federal charges nearly two decades ago.
The documents released Friday include Epstein’s communications with former White House advisers, an NFL team co-owner, and billionaires including Bill Gates and Elon Musk.
President Donald Trump’s Justice Department said it would be releasing more than 3 million pages of documents along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, complying with a law intended to reveal most of the materials collected during two decades of investigating the wealthy financier.
The files reveal Epstein’s friendship with Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and email correspondence with individuals like Trump adviser Steve Bannon and New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch.
Draft Indictments and Investigations
The FBI started investigating Epstein in July 2006, hoping for an indictment by 2007, according to records. Prosecutors prepared a draft indictment involving Epstein and his personal assistants after multiple underage girls reported being paid for sexualized massages.
According to deciphered notes, an employee at Epstein’s estate recounted his bizarre duties, which included disposing of used condoms following Epstein's frequent massages with young girls.
Ultimately, former U.S. attorney Alexander Acosta signed off on a deal allowing Epstein to avoid federal prosecution, resulting in a guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor instead, leading to an 18-month jail sentence.
High-Profile Connections
The newly released records reveal thousands of references to Trump in Epstein's emails, including discussions about Trump’s policies, and mentions of Mountbatten-Windsor in Epstein’s communications. Musk also contacted Epstein to arrange visits to a Caribbean island linked to Epstein’s activities.
Tisch acknowledged only a brief association with Epstein, while Bannon engaged in political banter with him over meals and even asked to borrow his plane.
Other notable names, including Howard Lutnick and Kathy Ruemmler from the Obama administration, also appear in the documents, highlighting the vast web of connections Epstein maintained.
Continuing Investigations and Legal Actions
Despite the magnitude of the abuse, which only led to charges against Maxwell in 2021 for sex trafficking, the U.S. prosecutors did not indict any others connected with Epstein's actions. Giuffre’s lawsuit against Mountbatten-Windsor highlights the lingering legal matters that remain unresolved.
The release of these files adds further scrutiny to Epstein’s past and his notable relationships, confirming widespread concerns about the connections between prominent figures and his predatory behavior.
In the wake of these revelations, public discourse continues regarding accountability, societal norms, and the impacts of wealth and power in cases of abuse.
