A newly released trove of government documents tied to the long‑running investigations into Jeffrey Epstein has drawn renewed public attention because it includes references to a series of high‑profile figures, including former President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, New York Giants co‑owner Steve Tisch and Britain’s Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor, according to reporting in The New York Times. The files were made public on Friday after more than three million pages, thousands of images and videos were posted online by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
The documents show extensive communications between Epstein and well‑known business, technology and political leaders before his death by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. In several emails, Epstein corresponded with Musk about travel to his private island and discussed potential social plans. According to the records, Musk reached out at least twice about arrangements for a visit, though it is not clear if either trip ever took place. Company representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Musk has publicly denied ongoing contact with Epstein.
Other parts of the files reveal correspondence involving Gates. One draft email attributed to Epstein suggested personal matters involving Gates after his divorce, including unverified claims that have been denied by Gates’s team as “absurd and completely false.” Gates has acknowledged in previous statements that he met Epstein in the early 2010s but said he regretted the association once Epstein’s criminal conduct was widely known.
The new records also mention Steve Tisch, who in 2013 exchanged messages with Epstein that referenced adult women. Tisch said in a statement that his interactions with Epstein were limited, that he never accepted invitations to Epstein’s private properties and that he regrets having known him. Emails show Epstein offering to introduce Tisch to certain women, but there is no indication that anything beyond correspondence occurred.
Prince Andrew appears repeatedly in the released documents. The records include invitations and social arrangements between him and Epstein, and his name shows up hundreds of times across different files. While Prince Andrew has denied allegations of sexual misconduct in the past, his continued presence in the trove has reignited scrutiny of his past relationship with Epstein.
In addition to these figures, the files contain communications with former White House strategist Steve Bannon and other political, business and philanthropic contacts. Many of the documents are emails that detail social plans, guest lists for dinners and travel proposals, providing a glimpse into Epstein’s extensive network of contacts.
Despite the breadth of material, law enforcement officials and prosecutors cautioned that many pages are heavily redacted or come from drafts that were never sent, and that appearance in the files does not imply wrongdoing. The Justice Department emphasized that redactions were made to protect sensitive personal and victim information. Critics, including some lawmakers and Epstein survivors, argue that too much material is still withheld or anonymized, leaving significant questions unanswered.
The release of these documents comes more than a month after a legal deadline for publication and adds to earlier disclosures that included flight logs, photographs and partially redacted testimonies. As researchers, journalists and legal advocates continue to comb through the massive dataset, the next phase of review will likely focus on connecting timelines and verifying details behind interactions between Epstein and the powerful individuals whose names appear in the files.
Summary:
The New York Times reports that newly released Epstein files include references to high‑profile figures such as Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Steve Tisch and Prince Andrew, among others. The documents, part of more than three million pages made public by the Justice Department, contain emails and correspondence showing social communications and proposed plans involving Epstein and these leaders. Many parts remain redacted or unverified, and officials say inclusion in the files does not prove wrongdoing.