The cache includes more than three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos related to the late sex offender
The US Justice Department has published the final massive trove of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a release mandated by Congress that reveals new details about the financier’s associations but contains no criminal allegations against the prominent individuals named.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced on Friday the release of over three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images, though he noted “extensive” redactions to protect victim identities and ongoing investigations.
The cache of records, which comes over a month past a congressional deadline, concludes the Trump administration’s obligation under the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
High-profile names surface
The new documents, drawn from FBI investigations and Epstein’s own records, include emails that show Tesla CEO Elon Musk discussing plans to visit Epstein’s private island. In late 2013, Musk emailed Epstein stating he would be in St. Barts and asked about “a good time to visit,” with Epstein offering to send his helicopter. The visit did not materialize, and Musk has publicly stated he never traveled to the island.
In a separate 2013 email, Epstein sent himself a document formatted as a resignation letter from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making the sensational and unverified claim that Gates had sought help getting drugs “in order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls.” A spokesperson for Gates dismissed the claims as “absolutely absurd and completely false.”
The files also indicate continued contact between Epstein and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick through 2018, contrary to Lutnick’s prior claims that he cut ties in 2005. Flight manifests and schedules also name Prince Andrew, as well as other figures like tech mogul Peter Thiel and former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
Uncorroborated tips against Trump
A portion of the cache includes summaries of tips sent to the FBI’s public tip line, containing uncorroborated allegations of wrongdoing by President Trump in connection with Epstein. The Justice Department prefaced the release with a statement that some documents “contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump,” which it labeled “unfounded and false.”
Deputy AG Blanche emphasized that a review of Epstein’s personal emails revealed no suggestion from Epstein that Trump “had done anything criminal or had any inappropriate contact with any of his victims.” The emails instead show Epstein frequently disparaging Trump, calling him “stupid” and questioning his mental fitness.
DOJ dismisses cover-up claims
At a press conference, Blanche defended the delayed release, citing the monumental task of reviewing millions of pages. He forcefully denied allegations of a cover-up.
“There’s not some tranche of super-secret documents that we’re withholding,” he stated, adding the White House had “no oversight” over the review process.
The release also includes new materials related to Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence, including her mugshot and naturalization certificate listing her occupation as Epstein’s “manager.”
This follows a recent court filing by Maxwell claiming 29 of Epstein’s alleged accomplices avoided prosecution, mostly through secret settlements – a claim Blanche said he was unaware of.
The final document release has failed to settle the intense speculation surrounding Epstein’s network, with lawmakers and the public sifting through the heavily redacted files for new clues about the scope of his crimes and the powerful circles in which he moved.