U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) documents have revealed the late Jeffrey Epstein’s extensive connections across politics, business and academia, prompting resignations, investigations and renewed public scrutiny of his influence.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors. He later died in a Manhattan jail cell; his death was ruled a suicide.
The DOJ has released millions of internal documents related to Epstein, cautioning that the files may contain fake images or unverified allegations and do not constitute evidence of criminal activity by those named.
The latest tranche highlights Epstein’s links to prominent figures across multiple sectors. Inclusion in the documents does not imply wrongdoing, and many individuals have denied any misconduct.
The following is a summary of some of the figures mentioned in the latest files.
U.S. President Donald Trump socialised extensively with Epstein in the 1990s and early 2000s. Documents include photographs of Trump with women whose faces are redacted and a suggestive note to Epstein that appears to bear Trump’s signature. Evidence presented during the 2021 trial of Ghislaine Maxwell indicated that Trump travelled on Epstein’s plane multiple times.
Trump has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, denied flying on Epstein’s plane and said the suggestive note was fabricated.
The Democratic former U.S. president socialised with Epstein and flew on his plane several times in the early 2000s, after Clinton left office.
Photographs released by the Justice Department show him swimming and posing with women whose faces are redacted. Clinton has denied wrongdoing and said he regrets his past association with Epstein.
He is due to give a closed-door deposition to a House of Representatives committee on 27 February. Clinton has dismissed the Republican-led investigation as a partisan effort to protect Trump.
Børge Brende, president and chief executive of the World Economic Forum (WEF), said on Thursday (26 February) that he was stepping down, weeks after the forum launched an independent investigation into his relationship with Epstein.
Brende, who became president of the WEF in 2017, announced his decision in a statement following DOJ disclosures showing he had three business dinners with Epstein and communicated with the disgraced financier via email and text message.
“After careful consideration, I have decided to step down as President and CEO of the World Economic Forum. My time here, spanning eight and a half years, has been profoundly rewarding,” Brende said. The statement made no mention of Epstein.
Lawyers representing Britain’s former ambassador to the U.S., Peter Mandelson, who has faced scrutiny over his ties to Epstein, said his arrest stemmed from a “baseless suggestion” that he intended to leave the country and settle abroad.
Mandelson, 72, was released from police custody after being arrested by the Metropolitan Police in London on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
He was dismissed from his diplomatic post in September, when the depth of his friendship with the convicted sex offender became clearer.
“The arrest was prompted by a baseless suggestion that he was planning to leave the country and take up permanent residence abroad,” law firm Mishcon de Reya said in a statement on his behalf.
“There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any such suggestion.”
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said he “took responsibility for his actions” over his ties to the late financier and sex offender. He made the remarks during a town hall meeting with employees of the Gates Foundation, a spokesperson for the philanthropic organisation told Reuters in a written statement.
DOJ documents indicate that Gates and Epstein met repeatedly after Epstein’s prison term to discuss expanding the Microsoft founder’s philanthropic efforts.
According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Gates told staff it was a “huge mistake” to spend time with Epstein and to bring Gates Foundation executives into meetings with him.
“I apologise to other people who are drawn into this because of the mistake that I made,” he was quoted as saying.
The billionaire chief executive of Tesla asked Epstein in 2012 whether he had any parties planned on his island, but apparently decided not to visit. Epstein responded that “the ratio on my island” might make Musk’s female companion uncomfortable, without elaborating.
Musk later invited Epstein for drinks on another island a few days later, though it is unclear whether they met. Musk has said he had limited interactions with Epstein and turned down repeated invitations to visit the island or fly on his plane.
The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, agreed to release documents relating to the appointment of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a trade envoy amid widening scrutiny over his ties to Epstein.
Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Prince Andrew, was questioned by police on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He has denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein and said he regrets their friendship.
He has always denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, and said he regrets their friendship.
The linguist Noam Chomsky appeared in both releases of the Epstein files. The latest documents suggest he advised Epstein on media coverage of sex trafficking allegations against him.
In emails from February 2019, Epstein asked Chomsky whether he should “defend myself” or “try to ignore” the allegations.
A response appearing to be from Chomsky lamented “the horrible way” Epstein was treated and the “hysteria that has developed about abuse of women”.
“It’s painful to say, but I think the best way to proceed is to ignore it,” the email said.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers announced he would retire from teaching at Harvard University at the end of the academic year amid renewed scrutiny over his ties to Epstein.
“I have made the difficult decision to retire from my Harvard professorship at the end of this academic year,” Summers said in a statement on Wednesday (25 February).
The renewed attention follows the release of documents by the U.S. House Oversight Committee, which include personal correspondence between Epstein and several high-profile figures.
The spouse of the heir to Norway’s throne apologised for her extensive email correspondence with Epstein, saying she had shown poor judgement.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, the wife of the heir to Norway's throne, Crown Prince Haakon, apologised for her extensive email correspondence with Epstein, saying she had shown poor judgement.
Former prime minister Thorbjørn Jagland is facing a corruption investigation over dealings with Epstein when he was head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and secretary general of the Council of Europe.
Documents show he asked Epstein for help financing an apartment in Oslo and discussed a visit to Epstein’s private island. Epstein, in turn, sought an introduction to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Jagland has denied wrongdoing and said he never visited the island.
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