Newly Disclosed Epstein Documents Reveal High-Profile Connections and Controversial Prosecutions

Tue Feb 03 2026 15:16:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A trove of recently released government documents sheds light on Jeffrey Epstein's relationships with celebrities and politicians, providing evidence of prior knowledge of his crimes yet revealing no federal charges were pursued.

Newly released files detail Jeffrey Epstein's extensive relationships with influential figures, including recent communications with notable billionaires and politicians. Despite compelling evidence of abuse, a 2007 agreement allowed Epstein to avoid federal charges. These documents raise questions about the decisions taken by prosecutors and the Justice Department regarding Epstein's crimes just before his later charges in 2019. The files highlight the networks Epstein cultivated, including associations with figures like Bill Gates and Elon Musk, and show the controversial decisions made by the prosecutor at the time.

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 announced the release of more than 3 million pages of documents along with over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, revealing extensive materials gathered during two decades of investigating the wealthy financier.

The files, housed on the department’s website, include documents detailing Epstein’s friendship with Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and email correspondence with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch, and other prominent figures in political, business, and philanthropic circles.

Further documents provide insight into various investigations that led to sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019 and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell in 2021, as well as an earlier inquiry that found evidence of Epstein's dealings with underage girls that did not result in federal charges.

Draft Indictments and Evidence of Abuse

The FBI commenced its investigation into Epstein in July 2006, anticipating an indictment in May 2007. According to newly released records, prosecutors prepared a draft indictment based on testimonies from multiple underage girls who stated they had been compensated to provide Epstein with sexualized massages.

The draft included potential charges against Epstein and three of his personal assistants. An employee at Epstein's Florida estate testified to the FBI in 2007 about various tasks, including delivering flowers to a student celebrating a school play, holding money near Epstein, and cleaning up after abusive encounters.

Ultimately, U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, later Trump’s labor secretary, approved an agreement that allowed Epstein to avoid federal prosecution by pleading guilty to a state charge of soliciting prostitution from a minor, receiving an 18-month jail sentence.

High-Profile Connections Revealed

The records contain numerous references to Trump, including emails in which Epstein and others discussed news articles about him and commented on his positions and family. A spreadsheet summarizing unconfirmed allegations against Trump was also included.

Mountbatten-Windsor appears several hundred times in the records, documented through news clippings, private emails, and guest lists from Epstein's dinners. Records indicate attempts by prosecutors to interview him.

Communication with Musk also emerges, showing he reached out twice to arrange visits to Epstein’s Caribbean island, with spokespersons from Musk’s companies not yet commenting on the interactions. Both Musk and Tisch expressed regret over their associations with Epstein, with Tisch noting a “brief relationship” and denying ever visiting the island.

Other prominent figures connected with Epstein include Howard Lutnick, who also had lunches at Epstein's island and maintained limited contact that he has since distanced himself from. Meanwhile, former Obama White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler described a professional association with Epstein and stated her regrets.

Previous Releases Revisited

Last month’s release of documents included flight logs confirming Trump’s presence on Epstein’s private jet in the 1990s, alongside photographs of former President Bill Clinton. Notably, no allegations have been made against Trump or Clinton by Epstein’s victims, both asserting ignorance of Epstein's crimes.

Epstein infamously took his own life in jail in August 2019, shortly after his indictment, and Maxwell remains imprisoned after being found guilty of sex trafficking for her involvement in recruiting underage victims.

In conclusion, despite Epstein’s death and Maxwell’s conviction, the newly revealed documents shed crucial light on the past interactions between Epstein and influential figures, prompting legal and ethical questions about past decisions made by prosecutors regarding his repeated offenses.