Closing summary
This brings our live coverage of the latest release of files from the federal investigations in to Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender, to a close for the day. Our reporters will continue to scour the database of more than 3m records in the days and weeks ahead. Here are some of the day’s revelations:
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Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general who was Donald Trump’s personal lawyer in 2024, insisted the justice department “did not protect President Trump” as it decided what files to release or not release.
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Survivors of Epstein’s abuse expressed outrage in a statement that “survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected.”
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Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, accused attorney general Pam Bondi of breaking the law after her deputy, Blanche, indicated the department would release no further files.
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The newly released documents reveal more about Epstein’s ties to Peter Mandelson, who was London’s ambassador to the United States until his sacking last year, after the extent of his ties to the disgraced financier became public.
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attended an intimate party with Epstein months after the convicted sex offender was released from prison, files suggest.
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The justice department said in a statement the files “may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos, as everything that was sent to the FBI by the public was included” in reference to a document from 2020 detailing calls to an FBI tip line by people who claimed Trump was involved in Epstein’s crimes.
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Elon Musk had more extensive – and more friendly – communications with Epstein than previously publicly known, according to documents released on Friday. “What day/night will be the wildest party on [y]our island?” Musk asked Epstein in a 2012 email.
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One friendly email to Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in 2002 was signed “Love, Melania”. In reply, Maxwell called her correspondent “Sweetpea”. Redactions make it impossible to prove that the sender was the future first lady, but those two women were photographed together just over two weeks later.
Key events
Epstein joked with his brother about his friendship with Woody Allen, emails show
Emails released by the justice department on Friday show that Jeffrey Epstein joked with his brother Mark about his friendship with Woody Allen in 2012, years after he was first convicted of sex crimes but managed to find his way back into New York society.
The partially redacted email exchange, in March 2012, begins with Mark Epstein, using an email address that was revealed as his in another document, asking his brother about the possibility that their parents had sex in the bath when they were children.
After Jeffrey Epstein replies “Aghhhhhjh”, Mark Epstein asks him where he is.
“Paris with woody allen” Jeffrey Epstein answers.
“For les pedophile convention?” Mark Epstein asks.
“i think pedophiles is the plural” Jeffrey Epstein replies.
As CBS News reported last year, previously released records show that Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, were among Epstein’s most frequent social companions in the years leading up to his death.
The records showed nearly 100 instances between 2014 and 2019 in which Allen and Epstein – almost always joined by Previn — were scheduled to spend time together.
Epstein files include dozens of documents with Trump’s quote calling late sex offender ‘a lot of fun to be with’
The files from the federal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender who socialized with Donald Trump for more than a decade, include 74 documents that refer to the fact that Trump called Epstein “a lot of fun to be with” in a flattering 2002 New York magazine profile of the financier.
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Trump told the New York writer Landon Thomas in 2002. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
Trump’s assessment of Epstein appears in the files dozens of times, as prosecutors dug into the disgraced financier, and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie demand to see unredacted versions of Epstein files
Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, the two congressmen who wrote the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the federal law that requires the justice department to release documents related to the investigations of Jeffrey Epstein, the late sex offender, just sent a letter to Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, to demand a meeting to review the unredacted files.
“At a recent news conference, you stated that Members of Congress may arrange to review unredacted versions of the Department’s production,” Khanna, a California Democrat, and Massie, a Kentucky Republican, wrote to Blanche, who was previously Donald Trump’s personal lawyer.
“Given ongoing reported concerns regarding the scope and consistency of redactions in the documents released to date, we respectfully request a meeting to review the unredacted records.”
The letter continues:
In particular, we seek access to the following categories of materials:
First, hundreds of thousands of pages of emails and other documents recovered from Jeffrey Epstein’s email accounts during the 2018 and 2019 investigations into Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Second, victim interview statements from the initial Florida investigation and subsequent investigations in New York. We understand that the Department possesses FBI Form 302 reports documenting these interviews. However, the materials released to date in this category consist largely of pages that are fully redacted, providing no meaningful information for oversight or public accountability.
Third, the 53-page draft indictment and the 82-page prosecution memorandum prepared during the 2007 Florida investigation. These documents are essential to understanding the government’s knowledge of Epstein’s criminal conduct and the circumstances surrounding the non-prosecution agreement and immunity he received.
We have seen a blanket approach to redactions in some areas, while in other cases, victim names were not redacted at all. Congress cannot properly assess the Department’s handling of the Epstein and Maxwell cases without access to the complete record.
Accordingly, we request your assistance in arranging a secure, in-person review of these unredacted materials at the Department’s earliest convenience.
New files include friendly 2002 email to Ghislaine Maxwell, signed ‘Love, Melania’
The new batch of files from the federal investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein made public on Friday includes a friendly email that was apparently sent to Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in late October 2002, signed “Love, Melania”.
Although the email addresses of both the sender and the recipient are redacted, a second copy of the same email text also appears in another document released on Friday, which includes a reply from “G. Max”.
The first email, sent on the evening of Wednesday, 23 October 2002, with the subject line “HI!” begins “Dear G!” It continues:
How are you? Nice story about JE in NY mag. You look great on the picture.
I know you are very busy flying all over the world. How was Palm Beach? I cannot wait to go down. Give me a call when you are back in NY. Have a great time!
Love, Melania
The email was sent the week that New York magazine published a flattering profile of Jeffrey Epstein that included a photograph of Maxwell with Epstein. (The article was in the 28 October 2002 edition, but new issues of the magazine are published one week prior to the cover date.)
That New York magazine article, published three years before police in Palm Beach first investigated Epstein for the alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl, also included quote from the future president, Donald Trump, praising his friend.
“I’ve known Jeff for fifteen years. Terrific guy,” Trump told reporter Landon Thomas. “He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”
In her reply, G. Max wrote:
Sweet pea thanks for your message. Actually plans changed again and I am now on my way back to NY. I leave again on Fri so I still do not think I have time to see you sadly. I will try and call though.
Keep well
Gx
While the redactions in the documents mean that there is no proof that the exchange was with the future first lady, then known as Melania Knauss, Maxwell had socialized with the future Melania Trump in Palm Beach prior to the email exchange. Just over two weeks later, on 11 November 2002, they were photographed together in New York, along with Donald Trump and Naomi Campbell, at a Dolce & Gabbana event.
Just over two months later, in January 2003, Maxwell would present Epstein with a bound volume of 50th birthday greetings from friends and associates, including a crude drawing and enigmatic message in the name of Donald Trump.
Epstein survivors outraged new documents expose names of victims ‘while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected’
In a new statement, 20 survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse expressed outrage on Friday that the partial release of documents from the federal investigation of his crimes includes “names and identifying information” of victims, “while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected”.
Here is the complete statement:
This latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files is being sold as transparency, but what it actually does is expose survivors. Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous. As survivors, we should never be the ones named, scrutinized, and retraumatized while Epstein’s enablers continue to benefit from secrecy. This is a betrayal of the very people this process is supposed to serve.
Virginia Roberts Giuffre alone reported many abusers connected to Epstein’s network, yet the public still does not have the full truth about who enabled him, who participated in his exploitation, and who has been shielded for years. Hundreds of women have come forward with additional reports like hers. The scale of this failure is staggering and indefensible.
The Justice Department cannot claim it is finished releasing files until every legally required document is released and every abuser and enabler is fully exposed. We need to hear directly from Attorney General Pam Bondi when she appears before the House Judiciary Committee on February 11. Survivors deserve answers, and the public deserves the truth.
This is not over. We will not stop until the truth is fully revealed and every perpetrator is finally held accountable. As we have always said, this is not about politics. We hope Democrats and Republicans will stand with survivors in continuing to demand the full release of the Epstein files.
We look forward to hearing from Attorney General Pam Bondi on February 11.
The statement was signed by: Annie Farmer, Anouska de Georgiou, Ashley Rubright, AW, Danielle Bensky, Jane Doe, Jane Doe, JD, Jess Michaels, Juliette Bryant, Lara Blume McGee, Liz Stein, Marijke Chartouni, Marina Lacerda, Rachel Benavidez, Sky & Amanda Roberts, Sharlene Rochard, Teresa J Helm and Wendy Pesante.
Nick Robins-Early
Elon Musk had more extensive – and more friendly – communications with the financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein than previously publicly known, according to documents released on Friday by the Department of Justice. Emails in the files appear to show the two cordially messaging each other on two separate occasions to make plans for Musk to visit Epstein’s island.
The documents include Musk and Epstein emailing in both 2012 and 2013 to determine when Musk should make the trip to Little St James. Neither exchanges appear to have resulted in Musk visiting the island, due to logistical issues.
“Will be in the BVI/St Bart’s area over the holidays. Is there a good time to visit?” Musk states on 13 December 2013.
“any day 1st – 8th . play it by ear if you want. always space for you,” Epstein replies.
Musk then sends several emails relaying his schedule, and the two settle on 2 January as a date for the visit. The email exchange ends with Epstein telling Musk that he would need to remain in New York and sending his regrets that they could not meet.
“Bad news- Unfortunately , my schedule will keep me in New York . I was really looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun as the agenda. so i am very disappointed. Hopefully we can schedule another time in the near future,” Epstein wrote.
In November 2012, Epstein sent Musk an email asking “how many people will you be for the heli to island”.
“Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night will be the wildest party on [y]our island?” Musk replied. On 2 January 2013, Musk sent Epstein an email suggesting that the visit wouldn’t take place saying: “Logistics won’t work this time around.”
Musk has been harshly critical of those linked to Epstein, but the newly released emails appear to contradict his own longstanding denial of any ties of his own. The Tesla CEO told Vanity Fair in 2019 that Epstein was “obviously a creep” and claimed that Epstein “tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island. I declined.” The emails between the two moguls come years after Epstein was convicted in 2008 of soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida. Authorities later arrested Epstein in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Justice department says Epstein files include ‘untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump’
In a June 2024 interview with three hosts from the Fox morning show Fox & Friends – including Pete Hegseth, who is now the US defense secretary and Rachel Campos-Duffy, whose husband is now transportation secretary – Donald Trump was asked if he would commit to “declassify the Epstein files” from the federal investigations into the late sex offender he socialized with for more than a decade.
“Yeah, yeah, I would,” Trump answered.
But the version of the interview first broadcast on the show left out what Trump added immediately after that: “I guess I would. I think that less so because you don’t know – you don’t want to affect people’s lives if it’s phoney stuff in there, cause there’s a lot of phony stuff with that whole … world.”
On Friday, as Trump’s justice department moved to comply, at least in part, with the law by releasing millions of files from the federal investigations into Epstein, it has released at least some unverified allegations against him from those files.
One of the documents getting the most attention online is an email from 2020 that includes uncorroborated tips about Trump’s own alleged involvement with Epstein’s victims that were made to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center.
The document, which was briefly inaccessible after it was posted, has been described as “incriminating Trump” by some critics, but the justice department provided a statement to the Guardian calling these uncorroborated tips “fake”.
Here is the justice department’s statement to the Guardian:
This production may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos, as everything that was sent to the FBI by the public was included in the production that is responsive to the Act. Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.
It is impossible to verify, from the partially redacted document, if one element of the justice department statement is true. The document is a series of emails with what appear to be screenshots from another document, rounding up what someone in the FBI refers to as “Trump accusers”. Those emails were sent in August 2020, three months before that year’s election that Trump went on to lose. But the names of the accusers, and any information about when the tips were called in to the FBI, is not included in what was made public, so we have no way of knowing when the accusations were made.
Previous reporting has shown that at least one Epstein victim reported the sexual abuse of her 16-year-old sister by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to the FBI in 1996.
Obama ethics lawyer says Trump’s justice department is illegally withholding files
Norm Eisen, a lawyer who served as special assistant to Barack Obama for ethics and government reform from 2009-2010, has released a statement on behalf of his non-partisan Democracy Defenders Fund on what he calls the Trump justice department’s “failure to fully release all eligible files relating to the Epstein investigation, as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act”, through its new, partial release of documents.
Eisen says:
These documents were due more than a month ago. Speaking at the Justice Department today, Todd Blanche announced that the Department had likely made its final release of documents. But while Blanche said the Department reviewed roughly six million records, it only plans to release about three million. Worse, he conceded the Department has been redacting records beyond what the law allows.
They are trying to sell this as full compliance and the ‘complete’ Epstein record. But everything about their rollout signals the same old playbook: heavy redactions, selective disclosure, and a public-facing archive that does not reliably reflect what the government actually has.
Again, the Department says: trust us. Again, we will not take up their insincere offer. In the hours and days ahead, we will scrutinize every page. We have litigation pending, and we are prepared to use every available legal remedy to compel full compliance and complete production, while taking every step to protect the privacy and dignity of the victims.”
Here’s more from the Guardian’s Geraldine McKelvie on what the newly released files reveal about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s interactions with Jeffrey Epstein during a visit to New York City in 2010 – after the financier’s conviction on child sexual abuse charges in Florida:
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor attended an intimate party with the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein months after he was released from prison, files suggest.
The US justice department released another cache of documents relating to the disgraced financier on Friday.
They include emails from the Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal to several high-profile figures in relation to a “last-minute casual dinner” for Mountbatten-Windsor, who was in New York on an “unofficial private visit” in December 2010.
The gathering appears to have taken place at Epstein’s New York home, where Mountbatten-Windsor was staying.
Mountbatten-Windsor previously said the purpose of his trip was to sever ties with Epstein, who was jailed for child sexual abuse offences in July 2009. During the visit, Mountbatten-Windsor and Epstein were pictured walking together in Central Park.
The former prince said in his disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019 that he chose to meet Epstein in person to end the friendship as he felt breaking the news “over the telephone was the chicken’s way of doing it”.
Epstein killed himself in prison in 2019 as he faced fresh child sexual abuse charges. Mountbatten-Windsor has withdrawn from royal life and been stripped of his titles for his links to Epstein.
In 2022, he paid a reported £12m settlement to Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre, who killed herself last April, claimed she was forced to have sex with Mountbatten-Windsor after being trafficked to him by Epstein. He has always strenuously denied these allegations and made the payment without admitting liability.
