Jeffrey Epstein

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[[File:Epstein Final Mugshot.png|thumb|165px|Epstein in 2019]]
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{{cquote|I wanted to do a story on sex trafficking, but every time I googled Florida and sex trafficking, a story about Jeffrey Epstein came up.|||investigative [[journalist]] {{wpl|Julie K. Brown}}<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/25/meet-julie-k-brown-the-woman-who-brought-down-jeffrey-epstein Meet Julie K Brown, the woman who brought down Jeffrey Epstein] by Andrew Anthony (25 Jul 2021 03.00 EDT) ''The Observer''/''The Guardian''.</ref>}}
'''Jeffrey Epstein''' {{lived|1953|2019}} was an [[American]] financier who was well known; now infamous for two things&nbsp;— a [[sex trafficking]] operation he ran with Ghislaine Maxwell (arguably the largest-scale crime revealed under the aegis of [[MeToo]] challenged only by {{wpl|Keith Raniere}}/[[NXIVM|NXIVM]], the {{wpl|Peter Nygård}} case, the {{wpl|Samuel Klein (businessman)|Samuel Klein}} case, and {{wpl|P. Diddy||),}} along with the…&nbsp;''controversial'' circumstances of his [[death]] in [[prison]], which has been ruled a [[suicide]]. Many have doubted this ruling, especially as these revelations came around the time [[conspiracy theory|conspiracy theories]] claiming to link the international [[elite]] to [[Pizzagate|pedophile]] [[QAnon|cults]] were rapidly growing. Epstein had over 1,000 victims.<ref>Melissa Quinn and Jacon Rosen (July 7, 2025). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-client-list-died-by-suicide-justice-department-review/ "Justice Department review finds Jeffrey Epstein had no 'client list' and died by suicide"]. ''CBS''.</ref> One judge (quite plausibly) described him as "the most infamous pedophile in American history".<ref>(July 1, 2024). [https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/judge-calls-jeffrey-epstein-most-infamous-pedophile-in-american-history-as-he-releases-transcripts/ "Florida judge calls Epstein the 'most infamous pedophile in American history' following transcripts release"]. ''CBS''.</ref>

Epstein had long been considered in right-wing circles as somebody who was let off the hook for his crimes because of his connections with the [[Democratic Party]]. (Epstein had personal connections and donations to politicians of both parties, but in private said he was "not political".<ref name="ReasonLeak2025">Matthew Petti (August 27, 2025). [https://reason.com/2025/08/27/inside-jeffrey-epsteins-spy-industry-connections/ "Inside Jeffrey Epstein's Spy Industry Connections"]. ''Reason''.</ref>) A 2007 column from [[Ann Coulter]], for example, specifically notes how light of a sentence he was given and compares it to the then-ongoing controversy surrounding [[Scooter Libby]] and the investigation of [[Rush Limbaugh]] from a few years before.<ref>[https://anncoulter.com/2007/03/07/shooting-elephants-in-a-barrelxx/ Shooting Elephants In A Barrel] (March 7, 2007) ''anncoulter.com''.</ref> However, a renewed interest in Epstein occurred following the rise of the [[Pizzagate]] and [[QAnon]] conspiracy theories in ~2016–2019.

There was a relative lull in interest in the few years after Epstein's death, during which Epstein's collaborator, '''Ghislaine Maxwell''' {{lived|1961}}, was imprisoned. There was still lasting interest in some political corners, such as with holdouts for QAnon, {{w|TrueAnon||,}} and parts of the [[MAGA]] and liberal activist worlds, the latter two of whom hyped up the topic as a potential [[2024 United States presidential election]] issue (though it never much broke through to the general public that year). There was again widespread renewed public interest in the Epstein case in 2025, as [[Donald Trump]]'s lieutenants Pam Bondi and Kash Patel were widely considered not to have achieved enough transparency regarding the case in July 2025.<ref>(July 16, 2025). [https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3928 "63% Of Voters Disapprove Of The Trump Administration's Handling Of The Jeffrey Epstein Files, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds"]. ''Quinnipiac University''.</ref> By 2026, that lack of transparency in Bondi's case turned into active [[coverup]] and stonewalling, as evidenced by the DoJ's release of Epstein files that redacted perpetrators and revealed victims' names, the exact opposite of the law passed by Congress.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5gzepnw4lo US lawmakers accuse justice department of 'inappropriately' redacting Epstein files] by Caitlin Wilson (February 10, 2026) ''BBC''.</ref><ref>[https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/unhinged-bondi-refuses-to-look-epstein-survivors-in-the-eye-or-apologize-for-leaking-their-identities-and-private-information-as-she-doubles-down-on-grotesque-cover-up-to-protect-sexual-predators 
Unhinged Bondi Refuses to Look Epstein Survivors in the Eye or Apologize For Leaking Their Identities and Private Information As She Doubles Down on Grotesque Cover-Up to Protect Sexual Predators] (February 12, 2026) ''''House Committee on the Judiciary, Democrats''.</ref> In June 2025, Trump donor [[Elon Musk]] made a very public (and later-retracted) accusation that the results of Epstein investigations hadn't been made public because of the presence of Donald Trump's name in the investigative documents.<ref>{{cite web | last=Treene | first=Alayna | last2=Cancryn | first2=Adam | title=Bondi briefed Trump that his name was in Epstein files | website=CNN | date=2025-07-23 | url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/23/politics/bondi-trump-epstein-list-files | access-date=2025-07-26}}</ref> Trump had previously been known as a friend of Jeffrey Epstein, and was seemingly aware of and congratulatory towards Epstein's liking of "women … on the younger side", thus fueling conspiracy theories about his potential involvement with, or at least potential awareness of, Epstein's more criminal proclivities.<ref>Taylor Orth and David Montgomery (August 5, 2025). [https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/52716-unemployment-concerns-gaza-israelis-palestinians-jeffrey-epstein-investigation-trust-medicine-health-vaccines-guns-team-names-nfl-mlb-commanders-guardians-august-1-4-2025-economist-yougov-poll "Unemployment concerns, Gaza, Epstein, trust and medicine, guns, and team names: August 1 - 4, 2025 Economist/YouGov Poll"]. ''YouGov''. {{blockquote|* 47% of Americans think that Trump was involved in crimes allegedly committed by Epstein
* An even larger share — 68% — think Trump knew some (24%) or a lot (44%) about the sex crimes committed by Epstein against underage girls before investigations into Epstein began}}.</ref>

In 2026, an independent panel of experts appointed by a [[United Nations]] human rights panel found that the acts committed by Epstein and his accomplices met the legal threshold for [[crimes against humanity]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/18/epstein-files-crimes-against-humanity-un-experts Epstein files suggest acts that may amount to crimes against humanity, say UN experts. Independent experts appointed by human rights council speak of ‘grave’ nature regarding scale of atrocities against women and girls] (17 Feb 2026 20.36 EST) ''Reuters'' via ''The Guardian''.</ref>

==Some background==
[[File:Jeffrey Epstein, 27.jpg|thumb|165px|Epstein in 1980]]
[[File:Epstein house interior Palm Beach 02.jpg|thumb|165px|Epstein's bookshelves at his Palm Beach estate]]
Though initially a teacher in [[New York City]] at a private college preparatory school, he would leave that for a ''seemingly'' much more lucrative career in the finance sector. The word "seemingly" is invoked because, well, it's a bit of a mystery where his billions actually came from or if he was a billionaire at all.<ref>[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/how-did-jeffrey-epstein-make-his-fortune.html How Jeffrey Epstein Made His Money: Four Wild Theories] by Matt Stieb (July 9, 2019) ''New York Magazine''.</ref> As much of his wealth came from a money management firm in the [[tax haven]] of the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]], which has never released any public records. How rich he was and how he got the money remain currently unknown, although he was definitely rich enough to afford the private island of Little Saint James, where he committed many of his crimes against girls and which was also [https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Category:Misnomers in the US Virgin Islands]. Theories as to the origin of his fortune range from money laundering to work in espionage. A likely source of his initial wealth was his first employer as a wealth manager, Leslie Wexner, which was from 1987-2007. Wexner, years later in 2019, accused Epstein of misappropriating (i.e. stealing) "vast sums of money" from himself and his family.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/07/business/wexner-epstein.html Leslie Wexner Accuses Jeffrey Epstein of Misappropriating ‘Vast Sums of Money’] by Steve Eder and Emily Steel (Aug. 7, 2019) ''The New York Times''.</ref> A team at the ''New York Times'' believes this was typical of Epstein's career: {{quotebox|A relentless scammer, he abused expense accounts, engineered inside deals and demonstrated a remarkable knack for separating seemingly sophisticated investors and businessmen from their money. He started small, testing his tactics and seeing what he could get away with. His early successes laid the foundation for more ambitious ploys down the road.<ref>David Enrich, Steve Eder, Jessica Silver-Greenberg, and Matthew Goldstein, [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/16/magazine/jeffrey-epstein-money-scams-investigation.html Scams, Schemes, Ruthless Cons: The Untold Story of How Jeffrey Epstein Got Rich], ''The New York Times Magazine'', December 16, 2025</ref>}} He was also a notorious womanizer who used girlfriends and exes to make business connections. This does not imply that he did not also work for an intelligence service or blackmail people, and both victims and associates claim they were threatened by him.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/23/jeffrey-epstein-threatened-destroy-sarah-ferguson-before-her-apology Jeffrey Epstein ‘threatened to destroy’ Sarah Ferguson before her apology: Duchess’s then spokesperson recalls disgraced financier’s ‘Hannibal Lecter-style’ phone call after she disowned him] by Caroline Davies (23 Sep 2025 13.47 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref>

Dodgy conduct was associated with him from fairly early on&nbsp;—&nbsp;he was fired from both {{wpl|Bear Stearns}} and his teaching position, and indeed he only got the job at Bear Stearns because he had befriended their CEO, Alan Greenberg. He nonetheless managed to achieve acceptance among the American [[aristocracy]] and even made contacts abroad! Some prominent acquaintances of his (who have since had to make some really embarrassing denials) included [[Bill Clinton]],<ref name="courtdocnpr">[https://www.npr.org/2024/01/03/1222130537/jeffrey-epstein-court-records-reveal-men-clinton-prince-andrew Court documents reveal names of powerful men allegedly linked to Jeffrey Epstein"] by Brian Mann & Jaclyn Diaz (January 1, 2024) ''NPR''.</ref> former prince Andrew,<ref name="courtdocnpr"/> {{wpl|Ehud Barak||,}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ehud-barak-met-with-jeffrey-epstein-dozens-of-times-flew-on-private-plane-report/|title=Ehud Barak met with Jeffrey Epstein dozens of times, flew on private plane — report|publisher=Times of Israel|date=May 4, 2024}}</ref> [[Donald Trump]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/donald-trump-doe-jeffrey-epstein-documents-unsealed-2024-1|title=The newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein documents have Donald Trump's name all over them. He had been secretly disguised as 'Doe 174.'|last=Shamsian|first=Jacob|date=January 9, 2024|publisher=Business Insider}}</ref> [[Steven Pinker]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/07/17/steven-pinkers-aid-jeffrey-epsteins-legal-defense-renews-criticism-increasingly|title=Pinker, Epstein, Soldier, Spy|last=Flaherty|first=Colleen|date=July 19, 2019|publisher=Inside Higher Ed}}</ref> and [[Bill Gates]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-jeffrey-epstein-ties-melinda-divorce-2021-5|title=Melinda Gates reportedly sought out divorce lawyers in 2019 when news of Bill Gates's ties to Jeffrey Epstein surfaced. Here's how the two men were connected.|last=Canales|first=Katie|date=May 12, 2021|publisher=Business Insider}}</ref>

===Eugenics, cryonics and transhumanism===
There have been claims that Epstein was planning to create a master-race based on his own [[DNA]], a scheme which matches the definition of [[eugenics]]. The ''New York Times'' cited associates of Epstein, saying: "Epstein told scientists and businessmen about his ambitions to use his [[New Mexico]] ranch as a base where women would be inseminated with his sperm and would give birth to his babies … Mr Epstein’s goal was to have 20 women at a time impregnated at his 33,000-sq-ft Zorro Ranch in a tiny town outside Santa Fe." Creepy. This reflected Epstein's more general interest in [[transhumanism]], including giving $20,000 to the Worldwide Transhumanist Association (now Humanity Plus) in 2011. His former lawyer [[Alan Dershowitz]] claimed to have been concerned by Epstein's fascination with eugenics, given Dershowitz's and Epstein's [[Jewish]] heritage and the [[Nazi]]s' interest in eugenics.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/business/jeffrey-epstein-eugenics.html Jeffrey Epstein Hoped to Seed Human Race With His DNA], New York Times, July 31, 2019</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/01/jeffrey-epstein-seed-human-race-report Epstein reportedly hoped to develop super-race of humans with his DNA], The Guardian, Aug 1, 2019</ref> Epstein also had an interest in [[cryonics]], and more specifically "wanted his head and penis to be frozen."<ref>Marie Lodi (August 1, 2019). [http://archive.today/2023.04.11-072729/https://www.thecut.com/2019/08/jeffrey-epstein-freeze-penis-cryonics.html "Jeffrey Epstein Just Wanted to Freeze His Penis"]. ''The Cut''.</ref> In the end though, his body was ultimately buried in an unmarked grave in [[Florida]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200629214755/https://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Jeffery-Epstein-buried-in-unmarked-grave-with-family-names-removed-600753 Jeffery Epstein buried in unmarked grave with family names removed], ''Jerusalem Post'' 5 September 2019</ref>

Epstein's interest in eugenics and transhumanism dovetailed with those of [[LessWrong]], and in 2009 after he had plead guilty to solicitation of [[prostitution]] [[Pedophilia|with a minor]], he donated $50,000 to LessWrong's MIRI (then known as the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence).<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/nx-s1-5478620/jeffrey-epstein-crimes-timeline-legal-case Jeffrey Epstein files: Tracing the legal cases that led to sex-trafficking charges] by Bill Chappell (July 25, 202512:38 PM ET) ''NPR''.</ref><ref name=becker>''More Everything Forever: AI Overlords, Space Empires, and Silicon Valley's Crusade to Control the Fate of Humanity'' by Adam Becker (2025) Basic Books. ISBN 1541619595.</ref>{{rp|141}}

===Online and gaming activity===
US government disclosures reveal Epstein's top bookmarks in his Mac computer's Web browser included Google News, [[4chan]], Web of Stories, Big Think, and ''Haaretz''.<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01637470.pdf EFTA / Data Set 10"], p. 40. US Department of Justice.</ref>{{rp|40}} In one email, Epstein also sent, and endorsed, [[racialist]] blog posts from ''[[The Right Stuff]]'', an [[alt-right]] blog, to [[Noam Chomsky]].<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02474209.pdf EFTA / Data Set 11 / "EFTA02474209"]. US Department of Justice.</ref>

Epstein was himself at least a casual [[video game]] player, albeit it's not evident that he was a very active gamer. He was familiar with ''[[Pokémon|Pokémon GO]]'',<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02457734.pdf EFTA / Data Set 11 / "EFTA02457734"]. US Department of Justice.</ref> and ''{{w|World of Warcraft}}'', at least in passing.<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02414991.pdf "EFTA / Data Set 11 / "EFTA02414991"]. US Department of Justice.</ref> He was banned from {{w|Xbox Live}} in 2013, due to an agreement between Microsoft and the Attorney General of New York to ban all registered sex offenders from the service.<ref>Jesse 'Doncabesa' Norris (January 2026). [https://xboxera.com/2026/01/30/jeffrey-epstein-was-banned-on-xbox-live/ "Jeffrey Epstein was banned on Xbox Live"]. ''XboxEra''.</ref><ref>Tyler Wilde (January 2026). [https://www.pcgamer.com/games/jeffrey-epstein-banned-xbox-live/ "Jeffrey Epstein was banned from Xbox Live"]. ''PC Gamer''.</ref> This context was important to discern; he was not banned for screeching into his microphone.

Incidentally, Epstein came to be in significant personal contact with [[Steve Bannon]], with whom he reportedly discussed potential ideas for thwarting the #[[MeToo]] movement. Bannon was the one-time editor of [[Breitbart]], which is a right-wing news site that was supportive of [[Gamergate]]<ref name="GDbroke"/> (There is no direct evidence that Epstein himself supported Gamergate ''per se'', as surreal as it is to have to say it).

====Activision and ''Call of Duty'' microtransactions====
A disclosed email chain includes Epstein and one then-executive ({{w|Bobby Kotick}}) for ''{{w|Call of Duty|Call of Duty's}}'' then-owner, Activision. In which, Pablos Holman is shown writing that video game [[microtransaction]]s are a method for "indoctrinating kids into an economy".<ref>James Lucas (February 1, 2026). [https://www.thegamer.com/jeffrey-epstein-call-of-duty-microtransactions/ "Jeffrey Epstein Advisors Helped Push Microtransactions In Call Of Duty, 'I'm All For Indoctrinating Kids Into An Economy'"]. ''TheGamer''.</ref><ref>[https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01762201.pdf "EFTA /Data Set 10 / EFTA01762201"]. US Department of Justice.</ref> Players of ''Call of Duty'' have hence made the leap to blame Epstein as somehow responsible for microtransactions in the series.<ref>Olivia Richman (February 1, 2026). [https://www.escapistmagazine.com/news-call-of-duty-jeffrey-epstein-microtransactions/ "Call of Duty players are blaming Jeffrey Epstein for franchise's microtransactions after seeing emails in Epstein Files"]. ''The Escapist''.</ref>

====4chan====
Epstein was a prolific enough 4chan user to have shared ''Five Nights at Freddy's''-themed [[porn]] from the website with others via email.<ref>Zack Zwiezen (January 30, 2026). [https://kotaku.com/jeffrey-epstein-five-nights-at-freddys-porn-via-4chan-links-emails-show-2000664667 "Jeffrey Epstein Sent Five Nights At Freddy’s Porn Via 4Chan Links, Emails Show"]. ''Kotaku''.</ref> Emails also allege that Epstein personally met Christopher "moot" Poole, the creator of 4chan, within a day of the site's [[/pol/]] board being founded.<ref name="mootpol">Kat Tenbarge (February 12, 2026). [http://archive.today/2026.02.13-204524/https://www.theverge.com/tech/877903/jeffrey-epstein-4chan-pol-moot "Jeffrey Epstein might not have created /pol/, but he helped carry out its mission"]. ''The Verge''.</ref><ref name="GDbroke">Ryan Broderick (February 2, 2026). [https://www.garbageday.email/p/here-s-how-epstein-broke-the-internet "Here's how Epstein broke the internet"]. ''Garbage Day''.</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Barry |first1=Lauren |title=From 4chan to Elon Musk, what's in the latest Epstein file dump? |url=https://www.audacy.com/wwjnewsradio/news/national/from-4chan-to-musk-whats-in-the-latest-epstein-file-dump |work=Audacy |publisher=Audacy, Inc. |date=30 January 2026}}</ref> Poole denies there is any connection between his meeting with Epstein and the board's creation.<ref name="mootpol"/>

===Cryptocurrency===
{{main|Cryptocurrency}}
Epstein was a key early funder for the development of the cryptocurrency industry, which makes sense given his financial and sexual crimes, and how much he wanted to hide his transactions and assets. Epstein anonymously donated substantial funding to the MIT Media Lab in 2015 at the time that it was headed by {{wpl|Joi Ito}} and was researching cryptocurrency.<ref>[https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-an-elite-university-research-center-concealed-its-relationship-with-jeffrey-epstein How an Élite University Research Center Concealed Its Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. New documents show that the M.I.T. Media Lab was aware of Epstein’s status as a convicted sex offender, and that Epstein directed contributions to the lab far exceeding the amounts M.I.T. has publicly admitted.] by Ronan Farrow (September 6, 2019) ''The New Yorker''.</ref><ref name=cryptadamus>[https://cryptadamus.substack.com/p/i-made-epsteins-text-messages-great I Made Epstein's Text Messages Great Again (And You Should Read Them)] by Michel de Cryptadamus (Nov 18, 2025) ''The Cryptocalypse Chronicles'' (Substack).</ref><ref>[https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1989396026734907689.html The Crypto of It All] by Michel de Cryptadamus (November 14, 2025) ''Thread reader''.</ref> According to crypto critic Michel de Cryptadamus, "Epstein might have been bitcoin’s first 'VC' [venture capitalist]."<ref name=cryptadamus/>

==The infamous part==
[[File:Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem - The Massacre of the Innocents - 22 - Rijksmuseum.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Epstein commissioned a reproduction of Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem's 1590 painting "The Massacre of the Innocents" for his New Mexico ranch<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/08/epstein-files-new-mexico-ranch From New York to New Mexico: new Epstein files shed light on his sprawling ranch outside Santa Fe] by Anna Betts & Victoria Bekiempis (8 Feb 2026 09.22 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>]]
In the 1980s, Epstein began performing financial services for Leslie Wexner, the CEO of the Victoria's Secret lingerie company.  Wexner was the primary client of Epstein for quite some time, without which Epstein's business likely wouldn't have taken off. Abusing this connection, in the 1990s Epstein began posing as a "model scout" to lure prospective Victoria Secret models to hotel rooms and his home in a Manhattan mansion, because there's absolutely nothing skeevy about a middle-aged man pretending to be a "model scout" to get women into his bedroom. Wexner was made aware, but did not suspend his connections with Epstein until around the time of Epstein's first conviction. In what is now alarming in hindsight, in the early 2000s Wexner would market his line of lingerie towards 15-year-old girls.<ref>[https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/08/victorias-secret-epstein/595507/ Victoria's Secret: Epstein, The Atlantic]</ref>

Epstein had officially been accused of sex-related crimes since 2005, and was even convicted in [[Florida]] in 2008 (though his sentence was a mere 13 months), but this really only caught up with him in 2018 and 2019.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-florida-e2a4431f7319afd037023d9a586aa291 Justice Dept.: ‘Poor judgment’ used in Epstein plea deal] by Michael Balsamo & Eric Tucker (7:07 PM PDT, November 12, 2020) ''AP''.</ref> After numerous accusers came forward influenced by similar events, such as the fall of [[Harvey Weinstein]], numerous vile details were brought to the public eye and he was arrested on federal charges of sex trafficking. Whilst awaiting trial, he was found [[dead]] in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. How did he die? How could the guards have let this happen? Who did the deed? What secrets did he take to the grave about his rich and powerful clientele? Such questions gripped the popular consciousness, and in many ways Epstein is more remembered for his mysterious death than for the horrible things he did.

===Alexander Acosta and the plea deal===
[[File:Epstein Non-Prosecution Agreement and Addendum.pdf|thumb|165px|Acosta's 2007 non-prosecution agreement (PDF)]]
Epstein was indicted on sex trafficking charges in 2007 after a long [[FBI]] investigation. Agents found 34 children with credible accusations against him. {{w|Alexander Acosta||,}} then federal prosecutor and later Donald Trump's Secretary of Labor (2017-2019), made a sweetheart plea deal with Epstein which included the right to leave prison for 12 hours a day on work release. He used this period to abuse at least one victim.<ref name=raymond>{{cite web | last=Raymond | first=Adam K. | title=Lawyer: Epstein’s Abuse Continued While He Was on Work Release From Jail | website=Intelligencer | date=2019-07-16 | url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/lawyer-epsteins-abuse-continued-while-on-work-release.html | access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>

In addition to being morally sketchy, this deal was also illegal under a federal law that says Acosta was required to tell the alleged victims about such plea deals.<ref>{{cite web | last=Brown | first=Julie K. | title=Federal prosecutors broke law in Jeffrey Epstein case, judge rules | website=Miami Herald | date=2019-02-21 | url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article226577419.html | access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>

The plea deal came up during Acosta's confirmation hearing, but it wasn't until 2019 (after Epstein's final arrest put the case back in the spotlight) that Acosta resigned.<ref>{{cite web | last=Karni | first=Annie | last2=Sullivan | first2=Eileen | last3=Scheiber | first3=Noam | title=Acosta to Resign as Labor Secretary Over Jeffrey Epstein Plea Deal | website=The New York Times | date=2019-07-12 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/us/politics/acosta-resigns-trump.html | access-date=2025-04-30}}</ref>

==="Epstein didn't kill himself"===
[[File:Epstein Bridge Nov2019 2 (cropped).jpg|165px|thumb|right|Bridge graffitied with the famous phrase.]]
His death was officially ruled as a suicide, specifically saying that he had hanged himself with his bed sheet. Naturally scores of people in the perpetually [[paranoid]] American body politic believe that Epstein was killed, usually by some powerful person who did not want their connection with his crimes revealed. The Clintons are common "suspects" because [[Clinton body count|of course they are]]. This is encapsulated in the phrase "Epstein didn't kill himself," which went viral very quickly, and unlike Epstein this [[meme]] has refused to die. Such widespread acceptance can be traced to three things&nbsp;— procedural fuck-ups that the prison staff made in regards to him, mass resentment of the well-off elite that he was intricately linked with, and some supposed discrepancies in the autopsy.

It's not ''impossible'' that Epstein was murdered, but it's likely he did commit suicide and the guards utterly screwed up.  One simple reason is that there's far, far easier ways to kill someone like Epstein. For example, nothing outright says that Epstein is required to be separated from the general population of inmates, many of whom would have ''very'' strong reasons to resent Epstein, and just letting things happen.

====Malfunctioning cameras====
Not one but ''two'' cameras malfunctioned in front of Epstein's cell when he died.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jeffrey-epstein-cameras/fbi-studies-two-broken-cameras-outside-cell-where-epstein-died-source-idUSKCN1VI2LC FBI studies two broken cameras outside cell where Epstein died - source] by Mark Hosenball (August 28, 2019) ''Reuters''.</ref> It's possible for a camera to have a fault due to poor maintenance, but two cameras having a fault at the same time is pretty much announcing that the cameras were tampered with. However, this is not proof of an assassination (though video evidence would be helpful disproving it), as there is actually a more plausible reason why someone would tamper with the security footage…

====Sleeping guards====
During the night of Epstein's death, two guards assigned to him were allegedly both asleep.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/nyregion/jeffrey-epstein-jail-officers.html Jeffrey Epstein Death: 2 Guards Slept Through Checks and Falsified Records. The guards did not check on him for three hours, officials said. The disclosures came as the guards and the warden at the jail were removed.] by Katie Benner & Danielle Ivory (Aug. 13, 2019) ''The New York Times''.</ref> This is a colossal screw-up, of course, but never ascribe to malice what can be explained by incompetence. Anyone who's worked in the prison system could tell you, there's a good chance that the guard in the tower is busy playing a handheld game or reading [[RationalWiki|some internet site]] dedicated to debunking [[spiritualist]] [[woo]], unlike our readers who never stop work to goof off. That both did so simultaneously for such a long time is much more suspicious, of course, but not impossible. At the same time, combined with the "malfunctioning" video cameras, they were charged with falsifying records.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-people-jeffrey-epstein-guards-idUSKBN1XT1VY Epstein guards charged with falsifying records]</ref> 

Had there been an actual assassination, well, this is where a real conspiracy would begin to unravel.<ref group=note>[[Watergate]] was just one of many examples of real world conspiracies undone by a bumbling idiot making a mess of things.</ref>  Prison guards are less "Jason Bourne" and more "Paul Blart, Mall Cop."  Charging someone with serious crimes is not a good way to ensure they stay quiet, and bribery is a tool best used to keep people ''out'' of the spotlight.  Given the high profile nature of the case, if one of the guards suddenly buys a Lamborghini or a beachfront mansion in Boca, that's going to attract questions, and it's hard to believe someone could be bribed with money that they couldn't ever spend.

However, the charges made against the guards were dropped in 2021.<ref> [https://abcnews.go.com/US/prosecutors-drop-charges-correctional-officers-connection-jeffrey-epstein/story?id=82018907 Prosecutors drop charges against 2 correctional officers in connection with Jeffrey Epstein] </ref>

====Hyoid bone====
Epstein's death involved a broken hyoid bone. It's actually unclear how often a broken hyoid bone occurs in a suicide by hanging,<ref>Jeremy Samuel Faust (August 15, 2019). [https://slate.com/technology/2019/08/epstein-broken-hyoid-bone-suicide-murder.html "Epstein’s Broken Hyoid Bone Doesn’t Tell Us Much"]. ''Slate''.</ref> but it is more likely to happen in strangulations than in suicides, due to the angle of the choking pressure.  The older the suicide victim is, however, the more likely the hyoid bone is to break. Epstein was hardly a young man, so a broken hyoid bone is not all that unusual, and by itself doesn't really provide much evidence for his death being a murder. Nevertheless, a forensic pathologist hired by Epstein's family was convinced this indicated homicide rather than suicide, disagreeing with New York City's chief medical examiner.<ref>Laurel Wamsley (October 30, 2019). [https://www.npr.org/2019/10/30/774838950/jeffrey-epstein-case-expert-hired-by-his-family-suggests-doubt-on-suicide-findin "Jeffrey Epstein Case: Expert Hired By His Family Suggests Doubt On Suicide Finding"]. ''NPR''.</ref>

====Prior suicide attempt====
There was a prior suicide attempt by Epstein, allegedly.  Epstein himself claimed that another inmate tried to murder him, though the guards believed that he either attempted suicide or was trying to frame another inmate for assault in order to be transferred to another, better facility, which actually raises the possibility of another explanation for everything that happened.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/jeffrey-epstein-found-injured-marks-his-neck-new-york-jail-n1034301 Epstein found injured]</ref>  The person Epstein accused of attempted murder was Nicholas Tartaglione (who in turn claims he saved Epstein's life), an ex-cop who allegedly murdered 4 people, including one by strangulation.<ref>[https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/ex-cop-accused-of-hurting-jeffrey-epstein-killed-a-guy-with-zip-ties-feds/ NY post, exp cop accused of hurting Jeffrey Epstein]</ref>  The video for this attempt was initially missing, but was eventually located.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2019/12/20/video-of-jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-attempt-is-found.html CNBC]</ref>

There is also the possibility he simply did not want to be put on suicide watch, which in jail is a humiliating experience. According to the Justice Department in 2019, Epstein was originally placed on suicide watch, but "was later removed from suicide watch after being evaluated by a doctoral-level psychologist who determined that a suicide watch was no longer warranted."<ref>Pete Williams and Minyvonne Burke (August 24, 2019). [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/jeffrey-epstein-was-taken-suicide-watch-high-level-psychologist-n1046071 "Jeffrey Epstein was taken off suicide watch by high-level psychologist"]. ''NBC''.</ref> Just two days before his death, Epstein signed his will.<ref>(August 19, 2019). [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49402526 "Jeffrey Epstein 'signed will two days before death'"]. ''BBC News''.</ref>

====Screaming (or not)====
It was reported by CBS in 2019 that prison guards heard screaming (or "shouting and shrieking", to be precise) from Epstein's cell the morning he died, though it's unclear who was supposedly screaming.<ref>(August 13, 2019). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-death-shrieking-heard-jail-cell-morning-he-died-metropolitan-correctional-center/ "Shrieking heard from Jeffrey Epstein's jail cell the morning he died"]. ''CBS''.</ref><ref>Kelly McLaughlin (August 13, 2019). [https://www.businessinsider.com/mcc-guards-say-they-attempted-to-revive-jeffrey-epstein-2019-8 "'Breathe, Epstein, breathe': Guards say they attempted to revive incarcerated sex offender Jeffrey Epstein before he died by apparent suicide"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> In contradiction to this, inmates in neighboring cells said they heard absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.<ref>Rich Schapiro (August 12, 2019). [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nearby-inmate-heard-nothing-when-jeffrey-epstein-died-lawyer-says-n1041646 "Nearby inmate heard nothing when Jeffrey Epstein died, lawyer says"]. ''NBC''.</ref>

====Suicide note (or not)====
In December 2025, the Department of Justice (DOJ) was forced by [[Congress]] to release documents from the files pertaining to Epstein investigations. One document that was released was an apparent Epstein letter from prison to convicted serial pedophile and sex offender {{wpl|Larry Nassar||.}} The letter was postmarked three days after Epstein's death.{{efn|It's not usual for mail delays coming or going to prisons.<ref>[https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/why-mail-service-so-important-people-prison Why Mail Service Is So Important to People in Prison] by Alia Nahra & Leily Arzy (September 29, 2020) ''Brennan Center for Justice''.</ref>}} The letter uses [[euphemism]]s to refer to Epstein's imminent suicide ("I have taken the 'short route' home.") and his shared desire to commit sex crimes and grooming by himself, Nassar and Trump:<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/us/justice-department-releases-card-mentioning-trump-purportedly-sent-epstein-2025-12-23/ Justice Department releases card mentioning Trump, purportedly sent from Epstein to Nassar] (23, 20259:15 AM PST) ''Reuters''.</ref>
{{cquote|We shared one thing…&nbsp;our love & caring for young ladies and the hope they'd reach their full potential. Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls. When a young lady walked by he loved to "grab snatch," whereas we ended up snatching grub in the mess halls of the system.}}

According to the FBI and DOJ, the letter was a fake; it was apparently "sent from a Virginia prison", while Epstein was held in a New York prison.<ref>Rebecca Beitsch (December 23, 2025). [https://thehill.com/homenews/5661621-fake-epstein-postcard-nassar/ "FBI says Epstein letter to Larry Nassar was a fake"]. ''The Hill''.</ref> The FBI ordered a lab to "perform a handwriting analysis" and determine whether it was Epstein's handwriting, though it's not clear this analysis ever actually took place since no contemporary documents pertaining to it have been released.<ref>Ty Roush (December 23, 2025). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2025/12/23/major-epstein-files-release-doj-says-letter-to-larry-nassar-mentioning-trump-is-fake/ "Major Epstein Files Release: DOJ Says Letter To Larry Nassar Mentioning Trump Is 'Fake'"]. ''Forbes''.</ref> Epstein and Nassar had no apparent prior contact, though if such a letter had been sent it was conceivable he may have heard about Nassar from news reports.

====FBI tip submitted by Epstein's brother====
In February 2023, Epstein's brother, Mark Epstein, submitted a tip to the FBI claiming:
{{cquote|Jeffrey Epstein was murdered in his jail cell. I have reason to believe he was killed because he was about to name names. I believe Presient {{sic}} Trump authorized is murder. … feel free to contact me.|||<ref name="IndyME">Erin Keller (February 7, 2026). [https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/trump-epstein-death-emails-fbi-b2916010.html "Trump accused of role in Epstein’s death in explosive email sent to FBI, documents reveal"]. ''The Independent''.</ref>}}
Mark Epstein stated in 2026 that the FBI never contacted him about the tip.<ref name="IndyME"/>

====Motive====
Now moving into the conspiracy theorist's realm, the entire reason to kill Epstein is because some of his friends were also in on the molestation, and dead men tell no tales.  However, this falls apart for a simple reason; at least 80 victims came forward against Epstein ''before'' he died,<ref>[https://www.thecut.com/2019/07/how-many-jeffrey-epstein-victims-are-there.html how many victims were there]</ref> and if another powerful person was in on the raping, many of the victims who came forward against Epstein would still come forward against Epstein's partners whether or not Epstein was alive.  So far, there hasn't been a rash of Epstein accusers slipping down the stairs onto some bullets.  Given that Epstein's friend Bill Gates ''also'' ended up involved in numerous sex scandals that he couldn't keep those under wraps forever (or even remain CEO of his own company!),<ref>[https://www.businessinsider.com/bill-gates-harassment-inappropriate-conduct-women-microsoft-jeffrey-epstein-2021-5 All the times Bill Gates reportedly engaged in questionable conduct before he and Melinda Gates announced their divorce, insider]</ref> if Gates was in cahoots with Epstein there's no reason to believe that any of the victims who came out against one wouldn't come out against the other.  So far, the only one of Epstein's famous associates to have related rape allegations is Prince Andrew, and if the British Royal Family wasn't able to make an accusation quietly disappear, it's unlikely anyone else would've been able to keep all of their victims quiet.  Furthermore, if one or more of Epstein's clients arranged an assassination to silence him, it is inexplicable that they would not do the same to Epstein's partner Ghislaine Maxwell, who also had full knowledge of their crimes. As of 2025, Maxwell is still alive and serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison.

====Suicide of Jean-Luc Brunel====
{{wpl|Jean-Luc Brunel}} was a fashion mogul and associate of Epstein who was accused of aiding in his sex trafficking business. When he was arrested for the sexual abuse of minors, Brunel was ''also'' found dead in his cell after seemingly hanging himself.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/19/jean-luc-brunel-held-on-suspicion-of-supplying-girls-to-epstein-found-hanged Jean-Luc Brunel, held on suspicion of supplying girls to Epstein, found hanged], The Guardian</ref> Conspiracy theorists like [[Ted Cruz]] suggested that Brunel, like Epstein, had been murdered, [[Clinton body count|possibly by the Clintons]].<ref>[https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/ted-cruz-hilary-clinton-epstein-b2019497.html Ted Cruz under fire for attempt to link Hillary Clinton to Epstein associate found dead in cell], The Independent</ref> No evidence of murder has ever been presented, though, and Brunel was reportedly suicidal.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/02/20/jeffrey-epsteins-former-friend-jean-luc-brunel-made-numerous/ Jeffrey Epstein's former friend Jean-Luc Brunel made numerous suicide attempts before his death], The Telegraph</ref>

====Suicide of Virginia Giuffre====
[[File:Blå Sommerfugl.jpg|thumb|165px|Virginia Giuffre and her organizations used a blue butterfly as a symbol for sex abuse survivors]]
In April 2025, the family of {{w|Virginia Giuffre||,}} who was "one of the first and most prominent accusers of Epstein,"<ref name="TPC"/> announced that she had died by suicide.<ref>Sarah Fitzpatrick and Rich Schapiro (April 25, 2025). [https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/virginia-giuffre-one-jeffrey-epsteins-prominent-abuse-survivors-dies-s-rcna203027 "Virginia Giuffre, one of Jeffrey Epstein's most prominent abuse survivors, dies by suicide"]. ''NBC''.</ref><ref>Riley Hoffman (April 25, 2025). [https://abcnews.go.com/US/virginia-giuffre-accuser-jeffrey-epstein-prince-andrew-dies/story?id=121181622 "Virginia Giuffre, accuser of Jeffrey Epstein and Prince Andrew, dies by suicide: Family"]. ''ABC''.</ref> Giuffre previously stated in December 2019:

{{quotebox|I am making it publicy {{sic}} known that in no way, shape or form am I sucidal. I have made this known to my therapist and GP- If something happens to me- in the sake of my family do not let this go away and help me to protect them. Too many evil people want to see me quiteted."<ref>Virginia Giuffre (December 10, 2019). [https://x.com/VRSVirginia/status/1204620018035462144 "I am making it publicy known that in no way, shape or form am I sucidal. I have made this known to my therapist and GP- If something happens to me- in the sake of my family do not let this go away and help me to protect them. Too many evil people want to see me quiteted 🦋"]. Twitter.</ref><ref name="TPC">Taija PerryCook (April 28, 2025). [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/virginia-giuffre-not-suicidal-in-2019/ "Yes, Virginia Giuffre, Jeffrey Epstein accuser, posted she was not suicidal in 2019"]. ''Snopes''.</ref>}} 

In the immediate weeks prior to the announcement of her suicide, Giuffre had also survived a car crash and alleged her husband was violently abusive to her.<ref>(April 9, 2025). [https://news.sky.com/story/prince-andrew-accuser-virginia-giuffre-leaves-hospital-after-saying-she-had-four-days-to-live-following-car-crash-13345161 "Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre leaves hospital after saying she had 'four days to live' following car crash"]. ''Sky News''.</ref><ref>Elizabeth Gulino (April 8, 2025). [https://www.thecut.com/article/virginia-giuffre-says-husband-abused-her-epstein.html "Virginia Giuffre Says Her Husband Abused Her"]. ''The Cut''.</ref>

====Bill and Donald Barr====
U.S. Attorney General [[Bill Barr]] said Epstein's death was a "perfect storm of screw-ups".<ref>Michael Balsamo (November 22, 2019). [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/epsteins-death-was-a-perfect-storm-of-screw-ups-says-ag-barr "Epstein’s death was a ‘perfect storm of screw-ups,’ says AG Barr"]. ''PBS''.</ref> Barr recused himself from an investigation into the prior Florida case because he believed his former law firm had been involved, but did not recuse himself from the SDNY case. Another connection that became topical was the fact Barr's father, {{w|Donald Barr||,}} had been the headmaster of the school where Epstein was employed as a math and science teacher in the 1970s; Donald Barr reportedly hired Epstein, whose qualifications were not compelling (he dropped out of New York University without a degree).<ref>Joyce White Vance (August 13, 2019). [https://time.com/5650974/william-barr-jeffrey-epstein/ "William Barr Is the Wrong Person to Lead the Jeffrey Epstein Investigation"]. ''TIME''.</ref><ref>Calder McHugh (July 13, 2019). [https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-dalton-school-math-teacher-yearbook-photos-125122535.html "Jeffrey Epstein's prep-school students remember their 'flamboyantly' dressed teacher"]. ''Yahoo! Finance''.</ref> (''[[Snopes]]'', unlike some other media, said it was "not clear whether Donald Barr played any part in hiring Epstein to work at Dalton School."<ref name="SnopesBarr"/>) Some conspiracy theorists noted that around this time, Donald Barr also wrote a [[science fiction]] novel, ''{{w|Space Relations||'',}} which contains some themes about child sex slavery committed by oligarchs.<ref>Becky Ferreira (August 16, 2019). [https://www.vice.com/en/article/epstein-truthers-are-obsessed-with-a-sci-fi-book-about-child-sex-slavery-written-by-bill-barrs-dad/ "Epstein Truthers Are Obsessed With a Sci-Fi Book About Child Sex Slavery Written by Bill Barr’s Dad"]. ''Vice''.</ref> According to ''Snopes'', this isn't particularly central to the book's plot, and isn't glorified, but rather presents an interplanetary satire of real-life international relations.<ref name="SnopesBarr">Dan MacGuill (October 21, 2020). [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bill-barr-jeffrey-epstein-book/ "Did Bill Barr's Father 'Mentor' Jeffrey Epstein and Write a 'Bizarre' Novel?"]. ''Snopes''.</ref>

==People associated with Epstein==
[[File:Little St James Island (9165947585).jpg|thumb|165px|Epstein's private island]]
Contrary to what Trump Jr. and 2025 FBI have claimed, the FBI did have such a list in 2009 according to a sworn affidavit by FBI Special Agent Christina J. Pryor.<ref name=pryor>[https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1508099-rodriguez-fbi-affidavit.html Rodriguez FBI Affidavit] (12/09/2009) Case9:09-mj-08308-LRJ, Document 3.</ref> ''Gawker'', Peter Thiel's most hated news site, published a redacted copy of this memo in 2015,<ref name=bryant>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150124104133/https:/gawker.com/here-is-pedophile-billionaire-jeffrey-epsteins-little-b-1681383992 Here Is Pedophile Billionaire Jeffrey Epstein's Little Black Book] by Nick Bryant (Yesterday 3:45pm) ''Gawker'' (archived from January 24, 2015).</ref> which was described by the agent as the "Holy Grail or Golden Nugget" to unraveling Epstein's sprawling child-sex network.<ref name=bryant/><ref name=pryor/>{{rp|2}}

By no means an exhaustive list, but he did have a lot of friends who would become hated by the far-right for different reasons, many of whom actually do deserve a bit of scorn. Ninety names of his contacts were released during the trial of his associate, including many famous ones (e.g., [[Stephen Hawking]] and [[Al Gore]]), and at least two who had their own separate sexual assault accusations (David Copperfield and Michael Jackson).<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/jeffrey-epstein-case-details-released-2037216 Jeffrey Epstein Files: Names Released So Far] by Sean O'Driscoll (Updated Mar 07, 2025 at 11:47 AM EST) ''Newsweek''.</ref>

*'''[[Steve Bannon]]''', while not directly known to be implicated in the Epstein scandal, filmed 15 hours of interviews with Epstein as recently as 2019, just before Epstein's second and final arrest.<ref name=kiefer/> Prior to the filming, starting in June 2018, he and Epstein exchanged hundreds of emails regarding how to rehabilitate his image and how to protect Epstein from further legal problems. At one point, Bannon seemed to think that renewed interested in Epstein's crimes was part of a conspiracy (a "sophisticated op").<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/15/steve-bannon-jeffrey-epstein-text-messages-publicity Steve Bannon advised Jeffrey Epstein for years on how to rehab his reputation, texts show. Pair devised responses to public outrage about Epstein’s criminal history, his treatment by the justice system and his friendships with powerful people] by Jason Wilson (15 Nov 2025 06.00 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref> The footage was at least initially intended to be a [[PR]] rehabilitation of Epstein. Bannon has so far refused to release his own footage of Epstein or to even say whether he still has access to it.<ref name=kiefer>[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/jeffrey-epstein-steve-bannon-1236325072/ Steve Bannon’s Secret Epstein Videos: The Tale of the Tapes: He says it’s a documentary. But the 15 hours of footage Bannon shot with Jeffrey Epstein were reportedly training for a '60 Minutes'-style redemption tour that never happened — and paid for by Epstein himself.] by Peter Kiefer (July 22, 2025 6:05am) ''The Hollywood Reporter''.</ref>
*'''Ehud Barak''', former Prime Minister of Israel. After Epstein's criminal activity was revealed, Barak called Epstein "a terrible version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde".<ref name="ReasonLeak2025"/>
*{{wpl|Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem|'''Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem'''|,}} a [[UAE]]-based businessman who is the CEO of {{wpl|DP World}} and comes from a prominent family with links to the {{wpl|House of Maktoum||,}} the current rulers of Dubai.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/feb/17/2 Dubai Ports boss with a P&O boarding pass], ''The Guardian'' 16 February 2006</ref> In the files, he talked about having sex with an American university student as well as receiving an email from Epstein that said "I loved the torture video".<ref name=6unredactednames>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/six-men-epstein-files-unredacted Who are the six men named in the unredacted Epstein files?], Joseph Gedeon, ''The Guardian'' 10 February 2026</ref>
*'''[[Noam Chomsky]]''' received a $270,000 payment from an Epstein-linked account (post-2008). Chomsky at one point wrote a glowing letter of support for Epstein that may have never been sent. In 2015, Chomsky was offered the use of two of Epstein's residences, in New York and New Mexico.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/22/noam-chomsky-jeffrey-epstein-ties-emails Chomsky had deeper ties with Epstein than previously known, documents reveal. The philosopher and the sex trafficker were in contact long after Epstein was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor, documents reveal] by Ramon Antonio Vargas (22 Nov 2025 08.00 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*{{w|David_Copperfield_(illusionist)|'''David Copperfield'''}} {{lived|1956}}, the famous magician, was accused separately by 16 women of sexual misconduct including [[rape]] from the 1980s to 2014.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/15/david-copperfield-investigation Revealed: Magician David Copperfield accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women] by Lucy Osborne & Stephanie Kirchgaessner (15 May 2024 10.00 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref> One of the 16 women claimed that she had met Copperfield at an Epstein dinner in Florida. Copperfield met with Epstein at least three times, and he called and left messages Epstein 16 times between 2004 and 2005.<ref name=magicdavid>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/17/david-copperfield-jeffrey-epstein ‘Magic David called’: David Copperfield repeatedly contacted Jeffrey Epstein. Phone messages and meetings suggest a friendship between Copperfield and the disgraced financier. His lawyers deny it] by Stephanie Kirchgaessner & Lucy Osborne (17 May 2024 07.06 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref> Though Copperfield denied that he was friends with Epstein,<ref name=magicdavid/> he was photographed with his legs wrapped around Maxwell (both wearing bathrobes).<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/gallery/2025/dec/19/new-photos-from-epstein-files-release Photos from the first batch of the Jeffrey Epstein files] (19 Dec 2025 18.58 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*{{Anchor|Dershowitz}}'''[[Alan Dershowitz]]''', already hated for either being pro-Israel or for defending O. J. Simpson, was one of Epstein's lawyers.<ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/26/jeffrey-epstein-netflix-series-former-trump-lawyer-alan-dershowitz-sues.html Alan Dershowitz not happy about documentary, CNBC]</ref> Would later work as a lawyer for Trump.<ref>Aamer Madhani (January 24, 2020). [https://apnews.com/2-lawyers-on-trump-defense-team-shared-epstein-as-a-client-005baf1972164c49924f787c08f985ae "2 lawyers on Trump defense team shared Epstein as a client"]. ''The Associated Press''.</ref>
*'''[[Bill Gates]]''', billionaire software magnate, now hated for his pro-vaccine stance.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/12/business/jeffrey-epstein-bill-gates.html Epstein and Gates, NYT]</ref> Also had sex scandals that only became public during his divorce, probably deserves a bit of scorn for that. In conversations about the divorce, his ex-wife, Melinda, said she "did not like" his "meetings with Jeffrey Epstein".<ref>Mia Mercado (March 3, 2022). [http://archive.today/2022.03.03-175416/https://www.thecut.com/2022/03/melinda-french-gates-cbs-news-interview.html "Melinda French Gates Calls Out Bill’s Ties to Epstein"]. ''The Cut''.</ref> She had also cited her one-time meeting of Epstein as a factor in her divorce from Bill,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/20/nobodys-girl-by-virginia-roberts-giuffre-review-a-devastating-expose-of-power-corruption-and-abuse Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre review – a devastating exposé of power, corruption and abuse. Giuffre’s posthumously published memoir lays bare the life-wrecking impact of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes – but it is also the story of how a young woman becomes a hero] by Emma Brockes (20 Oct 2025 06.18 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref> apparently she had recognized the abhorrent nature of Epstein but Bill had not.
*'''[[Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.]]''' (listed as "Bobby Kennedy Jr.") appears in Epstein's flight logs at least twice.<ref name="MHflightlogs"/>
*{{wpl|Howard Lutnick|'''Howard Lutnick'''|,}} a billionaire [[crank]] [[economist]] who likely visited Epstein's private island with his wife and children in 2012, ''after'' Epstein's conviction.<ref>[https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/in-the-latest-epstein-files-are-famous-names-and-21326077.php In the latest Epstein files are famous names and new details about an earlier investigation] by Eric Tucker et al. (Jan 31, 2026 9:31 a.m.) ''Associated Press via ''SFGate''.</ref> Lutnick later became Trump's Secretary of Commerce and became the cheerleader for Trump's erratic tariff wars.
*{{Anchor|Mandelson}}UK’s ambassador to the US in 2025 (briefly), {{wpl|Peter Mandelson|'''Peter Mandelson'''|,}} who also previously held numerous government posts was fired shortly after the public release of Epstein's birthday book. He had written that Epstein was his "best pal" in Epstein's notorious book. In 2025, Mandelson said that there were many more "very embarrassing" details to come out about his relationship with Epstein, but that he had not seen any wrongdoing and that he had not been offered any women by Epstein, likely because he is an out [[gay]] man.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/sep/10/mandelson-more-very-embarrassing-details-of-epstein-friendship-to-come Mandelson: more ‘very embarrassing’ details of Epstein friendship to come. UK ambassador to US says he regrets continuing his association with paedophile financier ‘far longer than I should have done’] by Aletha Adu (10 Sep 2025 06.01 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref> Mandelson was part of the Epstein wealth production conduit, having steered a $1 billion banking deal to Epstein. Perhaps worst of all of what is known of Mandelson's behavior was that had expressed sympathy for Epstein after Epstein's 2008 conviction in what was a sweetheart plea deal,<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/13/jeffrey-epstein-emails-wealth Jeffrey Epstein was linked to the upper echelons of wealth and politics&nbsp;– but where did he get his fortune? The sex offender was worth $600m when he died, but exactly how he acquired his wealth remains a mystery] by Edward Helmore (13 Sep 2025 10.00 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref><ref name=raymond/> and that he has refused to apologize for his association with Epstein.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jan/11/peter-mandelson-declines-to-apologise-for-association-with-jeffrey-epstein Peter Mandelson declines to apologise for association with Jeffrey Epstein. Former UK ambassador tries to distance himself from financier and says he knew nothing of his sex life] by Rowena Mason (11 Jan 2026 14.04 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*'''[[Elon Musk]]''' had a tentatively scheduled visit to Epstein's private island on December 6, 2014 according to Epstein's meeting schedule.<ref>[https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/news/press-releases/oversight-democrats-release-third-batch-documents-jeffrey-epstein-estate Oversight Democrats Release Third Batch of Documents from Jeffrey Epstein Estate, Includes Elon Musk, Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, Prince Andrew Mentions] (September 26, 2025) ''House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Democrats''.</ref><ref>[https://oversightdemocrats.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-oversight.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/epstein-production-3rd-tranch_456.pdf Epstein production: 3<sup>rd</sup> tranch] ''House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Democrats''.</ref> Despite Epstein already being a convicted sex offender involving a minor, Musk again discussed visiting Epstein on his notorious private island, asking Epstein, "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?"<ref name=venkatraman>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevnmxyy4wjo Takeaways from the millions of newly released Epstein files] by Sakshi Venkatraman & Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu (January 31, 2026) ''BBC''.</ref> It is unknown whether Musk ever visited the island.
**Elon's brother {{wpl|Kimbal Musk|'''Kimbal Musk'''}} was set up on 'dates' with one of Epstein's victims. Evidence released so far does not indicate that Kimbal was aware of her relationship to Epstein.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/10/jeffrey-epstein-tesla-kimbal-musk Epstein engineered intimate relationship for Tesla’s Kimbal Musk, emails show. Elon Musk’s younger brother and the woman were involved for about six months between 2012 and 2013] by Nick Robins-Early (Tue 10 Feb 2026 16.57 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*{{wpl|Jes Staley|'''Jes Staley'''|,}} former CEO of Barclays bank was in Epstein's black book and had a "fairly close professional relationship" with Epstein. He was named as an executor of Epstein's 2012,<ref name= name=makortoff1>[https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jun/26/high-flyer-to-pariah-saga-jeffrey-epstein-banker-jes-staley High flyer to pariah: the saga of Epstein-linked banker Jes Staley. How a relationship with a billionaire child sex offender brought down the CEO of Barclays bank] by Kalyeena Makortoff (26 Jun 2025 13.54 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref> but was not named in the final will.<ref name=makortoff2/>
*{{wpl|Lawrence Summers|'''Larry Summers'''|,}} former President of Harvard University and former White House Economic Council under Obama, used Epstein as his 'wing man' to try to seduce a college student while he was still married. Since the revelation, he resigned as board member of [[OpenAI]] and other organizations.<ref>[https://www.sfgate.com/tech/article/openai-board-member-quits-epstein-21197111.php?utm_content=hed&sid=57f2d62b1acbcdb5538b4a4e&utm_source=newsletter OpenAI board member Summers quits after email shows Epstein was 'wing man'] by Stephen Council (Nov 19, 2025) ''SFGate''.</ref> In 2012, Summers was named executor of Epstein's will, though he was not named on the final will.<ref name=makortoff2>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/23/jes-staley-larry-summers-made-executors-will-jeffrey-esptein-estate-files-reveal Jes Staley and Larry Summers made executors of Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, files reveal. Former Barclays boss and ex-US Treasury secretary named in versions of will of convicted child sex offender] by Kalyeena Makortoff (23 Dec 2025 11.02 EST) ''The Guardian''.</ref>
*'''[[Peter Thiel]]''', a fellow billionaire and GOP megadonor, may have met with Epstein at least 3 times, although the exact number of meetings which came to fruition is unclear.<ref>Chas Danner, Benjamin Hart, and Matt Stieb (December 19, 2023). [https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/who-are-the-newly-revealed-jeffrey-epstein-associates.html "Who Are the Newly Revealed Jeffrey Epstein Associates?"]. ''Intelligencer'' (''New York'').</ref><ref>Matthew Goldstein and Ryan Mac (May 18, 2023). [https://web.archive.org/web/20231020094007/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/18/business/jeffrey-epstein-peter-thiel.html Peter Thiel Is Latest Billionaire Said to Have Met With Jeffrey Epstein]. ''The New York Times''.</ref> According to a 2025 ''New York Times'' report, Epstein invested with Thiel, and the Epstein estate yielded great returns from this investment.<ref>Matthew Goldstein (June 4, 2025). [http://archive.today/2025.07.19-182224/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/04/business/jeffrey-epstein-peter-thiel-estate.html "Jeffrey Epstein Invested With Peter Thiel, and His Estate Is Reaping Millions"]. ''The New York Times''.</ref> Some of Epstein's emails that leaked in 2025 suggest he did meet with Thiel, and contain discussion about Thiel between Epstein and Ehud Barak. These discussions reportedly regarded Epstein's interest in investment into the mass surveillance industry.<ref name="ReasonLeak2025"/>
*'''[[Harvey Weinstein]]''', a fellow sex pest, showed up to some of his parties<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g7d39n6vgo Prince Andrew hosted Epstein, Maxwell and Weinstein at Royal Lodge], Joe Pike, ''BBC'' 27 October 2025</ref> and they also had some business connections.<ref>[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/07/jeffrey-epsteins-rolodex-famous-friends-and-acquaintances.html Jeffrey Epstein’s Rolodex: A Guide to His Famous Friends and Acquaintances], Adam K. Raymond and Matt Stieb, ''Intelligencer'' 10 July 2019</ref> Their friendship didn't last however, apparently due to Weinstein getting too aggressive to one of Epstein's "favorite" girls.<ref>[https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/jeffrey-epstein-harvey-weinstein-sex-abuse-favourite-girl-lawyer-a9437111.html Jeffrey Epstein kicked Harvey Weinstein out of his house after mogul’s ‘aggressive treatment’ of his ‘favourite girl’], Ellie Harrison, ''The Independent'' 31 March 2020</ref>
*{{wpl|Bari Weiss|'''Bari Weiss'''|,}} is not known to be directly mentioned in the Epstein files, but her wife, {{wpl|Nellie Bowles}} is mentioned.<ref name=schulze>[https://jenniferschulze.substack.com/p/cbs-boss-bari-weiss-has-a-jeffrey CBS Boss Bari Weiss has a Jeffrey Epstein Problem: Turns out one of Weiss' new hires was one of Epstein's biggest pen pals, sending him cringey and disturbing emails.] by Jennifer Schulze (Feb 02, 2026) ''Indistinct Chatter'' (Substack).</ref> Weiss started her career as a hack opinion columnist for ''The New York Times'', but is now well known for being made head of CBS as a ''quid pro quo'' to Trump to allow {{w|Skydance Media|Skydance}} (owned by Trump supporter and [[Nepotism|nepobaby]] {{wpl|David Ellison}} (son of {{wpl|Larry Ellison|Larry}}) to acquire CBS News as part of their expansive media empire.<ref>[https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/bari-weiss-cbs-news-21309912.php Bari Weiss suuuuuuuuuuuuucks] by Drew Magary (Jan 23, 2026) ''SFGate''.</ref> Bowles set up a meeting with Epstein long after Epstein was convicted and engaged in witty banter with him by email, likely referring to her future wife at one point. To make matters worse, Weiss hired medical doctor {{wpl|Peter Attia}} to be an on-air contributor for '[[wellness]]' at CBS. Attia, as it turns out had extensive connections with Epstein, both social and medical. The connections were so close between the two that Attia chose to be with Epstein rather than return to California to be with his infant son who has having a medical emergency (Thanks, doc!).<ref name=schulze/>
*{{Anchor|Wexner}}{{wpl|Les Wexner|'''Les Wexner'''|,}} CEO of Victoria's Secret, recently pissed off the far-right by promoting LGBT issues.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/business/jeffrey-epstein-wexner-victorias-secret.html Les Wexner's connection to Epstein, NYT]</ref>  He ''probably'' should be hated regardless for the ''very existence'' of the brand {{w|Pink (Victoria's Secret)|"Pink"|,}} a line of lingerie whose target is girls as young as '''13'''.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/25/business/a-lingerie-maker-returns-to-its-racier-past.html Archived from 2002]</ref> Plus as mentioned earlier, the whole "talent scout" thing. He was officially labeled a co-conspirator by the FBI.<ref name=6unredactednames />
In 2025, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in the US House of Representatives released to the public the long-rumored Epstein "birthday book" (titled, ''The First Fifty Years'') after the committee had subpoenaed the Epstein's estate, which was in possession of it. The lengthy, privately-printed book contains many photos and messages from his friends, including some that indicated at least some of his friends knew what Epstein was up to, statutory rape and sex trafficking.<ref>[https://www.thebulwark.com/p/donald-trump-hearts-jeffrey-epstein Donald ❤️ Jeffrey. The NSFW version of the Epstein book proves that Trump knew exactly who and what his buddy was.] by Jonathan V. Last (Sep 09, 2025) ''The Bulwark''.</ref> Trump made a crude drawing of a headless, limbless female torso with text indicating that he and Epstein were alike ("We have certain things in common, Jeffrey" and their "wonderful secret").<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/08/us/politics/epstein-trump-birthday-book.html House Panel Releases Drawing for Epstein Apparently Signed by Trump. The Oversight Committee released files turned over by Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, including a copy of a sexually suggestive note apparently signed by President Trump.] by Michael Gold (Sept. 8, 2025) ''The New York Times''.</ref>{{efn|{{blockquote|'''Voice Over''': There must be more to life than having everything,” the note reportedly began.

'''Donald''': Yes, there is, but I won’t tell you what it is.

'''Jeffrey''': Nor will I, since I also know what it is.

'''Donald''': We have certain things in common, Jeffrey.

'''Jeffrey''': Yes, we do, come to think of it.

'''Donald''': Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?

'''Jeffrey''': As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you.

'''Donald''': A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday – and may every day be another wonderful secret<ref name=birthday/>}}}} Unlike many others, political cartoonist Ann Telnaes described Trump's contribution for what it was, violence-themed [[misogyny]].<ref>[https://anntelnaes.substack.com/p/another-trump-drawing Another Trump drawing] by Ann Telnaes (Sep 09, 2025) ''Open Windows, Substack''.</ref> The list of Epstein's friends who contributed to the book is listed in the table of contents:<ref name=birthday>[https://archive.org/details/the-first-fifty-years-of-jeffrey-epstein/page/n159/mode/2up The First Fifty Years of Jeffrey Epstein] (2003) preface by Ghislaine Maxwell (archived on September 10, 2025).</ref><ref>Searchable transcription of the book in five parts by Ellie Leonard: [https://ellieleonard.substack.com/p/the-epstein-birthday-book-transcribed Part 1], [https://ellieleonard.substack.com/p/the-epstein-birthday-book-transcribed-020 The Part 2], [https://ellieleonard.substack.com/p/the-epstein-birthday-book-transcribed-b2b Part 3], [https://ellieleonard.substack.com/p/the-epstein-birthday-book-transcribed-5a2 Part 4], [https://ellieleonard.substack.com/p/the-epstein-birthday-book-transcribed-371 Part 5]</ref>
{{collist|2|
*Ron Altbach, appears in an old photo with Epstein dressed as masked criminals with Epstein holding a pistol and Altbach holding a knife with the text indicating that they would be raping, robbing and murdering a victim, and implying that Epstein had subsequently become a [[Organized crime|mob]] boss ("industry leader" of "the life").{{efn|{{cquote|Finally, at the home of our friend, let's call him Mr. Brown, Jeffrey unveiled his plan. To some it may have seemed a get-rich-quick scheme, but to me it was pure genius: Rob and Kill was the name of the plan. The first victim, [redacted] to be attacked and brutally plundered (would she want more than that?) on the boardwalk in Venice Beach. Broad daylight. The dastardly thieves were never caught.

Postscript: I retired from "the life", but I recently read an article in New York which led me to believe that my old friend Mr. E had continued on and become an industry leader.}}}}
*{{wpl|Leon Black}} {{lived|1951}}
*{{wpl|Jean Luc Brunel}} {{lived|1946|2022}}, a modelling agency scout
*{{sl|Bill Clinton}} (see {{sl|Clinton|below}})
*Alan Dershowitz (also, see {{sl|above}}), contributed a short letter, in which he says he convinced ''Vanity Fair'' into writing a puff piece rather than an "unfair" article titled "Who Was Jack the Ripper? Was It Jeffry Epstein?"<ref name=ward/>
*Bill Elkus, Utah venture capitalist, described a purported occurrence of Epstein's [[pick-up artist]] skills<ref>[https://archive.ph/yjR7n 'Birthday book' recounts Jeffrey Epstein alleged encounter during trip to Iowa] by William Morris (Sept. 10, 2025, 6:40 a.m. CT) ''Des Moines Register'' (archived from 11 Sep 2025 02:08:50 UTC)</ref>
*Bran Ferren {{lived|1953}}<ref>[https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Bran_Ferren Bran Ferren] ''WikiSpooks''.</ref>
*{{wpl|Henry Jarecki}} {{lived|1933}}, psychiatrist, owner of brokerage firms
*Nick Leese, also listed in Epstein's "black book"<ref>[https://epsteinsblackbook.com/names/nick-leese Nick Leese] ''The Digital Epstein's Little Black Book''.</ref>
*Peter Mandelson ({{sl|Mandelson|see above}}), describes Epstein as his "best pal" in the book.
*{{wpl|George J. Mitchell|George Mitchel[l]}} {{lived|1933}}, former US Senator from Maine<ref>[https://www.centralmaine.com/2025/09/09/epsteins-birthday-book-includes-letter-believed-to-be-signed-by-george-mitchell/ Epstein’s birthday book includes letter believed to be signed by George Mitchell] by Randy Billings (September 9, 2025) ''Central Maine''.</ref>
*{{wpl|Nathan Myhrvold}} {{lived|1959}}, former chief technology officer at [[Microsoft]]. He sent photos that were included in the book ("They seemed more appropriate than anything I could put in words."), of lions having sex and of a zebra displaying its penis.
*Joel Pashcow, Florida real estate developer, contributed a photo in which he is holding a large mock check with Epstein and a redacted image of a woman (redacted in publicly-released copy). The check is from Trump to Epstein for the amount of $22,500. The handwritten text under the photo makes light of sex trafficking ("Jeffrey showing early talents with money and women! Sells "fully depreciated" [redacted in publicly-released copy] to Donald Trump for $22,500. Showed early 'people skills' too. Even though I handled the deal I didn't get any of the money or the girl!").  ''[[The New York Times]]'' identified the unnamed woman as the object of the mock(?) financial transaction.<ref>[https://archive.ph/NviTx#selection-711.64-711.69 A Phony Trump Check and a ‘Depreciated’ Woman in Epstein’s Birthday Book. An entry in Jeffrey Epstein’s birthday book shows the disgraced financier holding a novelty check with a signature of “DJ TRUMP.” It makes reference to a woman who dated both men in the 1990s.] by Matthew Goldstein et al. (Sept. 9, 2025) ''The New York Times'' (archived from 13 Sep 2025 18:51:09 UTC).</ref> 
*Jo[e] Pagano, venture capitalist,<ref>[https://www.aspentimes.com/news/a-closer-look-at-one-of-the-aspen-connections-in-epsteins-black-book/ A closer look at one of the Aspen connections in Epstein’s black book] by Lucy Peterson (Jan 11, 2024) ''The Aspen Times''.</ref> but oddly listed as "chef" in the "black book"<ref>[https://www.aspentimes.com/news/a-closer-look-at-one-of-the-aspen-connections-in-epsteins-black-book/ Joe Pagano] ''The Digital Epstein's Little Black Book''.</ref>
*{{wpl|Alberto Pinto (interior designer)|Alberto Pinto}} {{lived|1943|2012}}, interior designer<ref name=ward>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250805175216/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2003/03/jeffrey-epstein-200303 The Talented Mr. Epstein] by Vicky Ward (Vicky Ward) ''Vanity Fair'' (archived from August 5, 2025).</ref>
*{{wpl|Stuart Pivar}} {{lived|1930}}, [[chemist]] and promoter of [[non-Darwinian evolution]]
*{{sl|Donald Trump}} ({{sl|Donald Trump|see way below}})
*{{wpl|Henry Rosovsky}} {{lived|1927|2022}}, economist and dean at Harvard University, commissioned one Sprinkle's "tit prints"
*[redacted in the publicly-released book]
*{{wpl|Les Wexner|Lesley{{sic}} Wexner}} {{lived|1937}} ({{sl|Wexner|see above}}), drew a line drawing of a pair of breasts with the text "I wanted to get you want you want… so here it is"
*{{wpl|Mort Zuckerman}} {{lived|1937}}, billionaire media company owner
*"Unknown"
}}

Other contributors to the book not mentioned in the table of contents:
*{{wpl|Annie Sprinkle}} {{lived|1954}}, [[porn]] star and performance artist, contributed two "tit prints" (the contribution may have been unknown to her)
*A crayon drawing that implies either pedophilia or grooming of girls by Epstein by an unknown person
*A photo of Epstein with some unknown friends holding a large fake check and a caption implying that Trump purchased a female from him.

===Royalty===
* Crown Princess '''{{w|Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway|Mette-Marit}}''' of [[Norway]] met with Epstein several times between 2011 and 2013. Her son from a previous marriage, {{w|Marius Borg Høiby||,}} has been accused of raping multiple women.<ref>[https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/a66128934/norway-royal-family-scandals-netflix-royal-rebels/ Netflix’s ‘Royal Rebels’ Romance and 6 Other Major Royal Scandals to Hit the Norwegian Crown], Jennifer Savin, ''Cosmopolitan'' 16 September 2025</ref>
*'''[[Mohammad bin Salman]]''', crown prince of [[Saudi Arabia]], gave Epstein a lavish gift of a tent, which in Arabian culture is a symbol of hospitality, as revealed by some released emails. Also, apparently they hung out at the Louvre.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-saudi-arabia/ Inside Jeffrey Epstein's relationship with Saudi Arabia], Daniel Ruetenick, ''CBS News'' 18 November 2025</ref>

====Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor====
ex-'''Prince Andrew''' (as of 2025), a member of the Royal family even the British were unaware existed before Epstein's death, but if you need some random world leader to be included in your conspiracy, there you go.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58866108 Epstein: Met to take no action after Prince Andrew review] (11 October 2021) ''BBC''.</ref> After previously claiming that he had ceased contact with Epstein following the 2011 publication of a 2001 photo of Andrew with his arm around one of the victims, it was revealed in 2025 that Andrew had had contact with Epstein as late as 2011, stating to by-then-convicted Epstein "We are in this together and will have to rise above it. Otherwise keep in close touch and we'll play some more soon!!!!" in an email.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/oct/12/prince-andrew-told-jeffrey-epstein-were-in-this-together-in-2011-email Prince Andrew told Jeffrey Epstein ‘we’re in this together’ in 2011 email. Royal sent email after Virginia Giuffre photo emerged but later claimed he had ceased contact with Epstein in 2010] by Robert Booth (12 Oct 2025 10.29 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref>

The awfulness of Andrew's connection to Epstein is so bad that in 2025, [[King Charles III]] demoted his brother on two separate occasions in 2025, once to remove his title as Duke of York, and once removing his title as prince. He is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to anyone daring enough to be seen with him, or by jokers as "The Scoundrel Formerly Known as Prince".<ref>[https://archive.ph/wip/CBluQ THE SCOUNDREL formerly known as Prince. Britain’s King Charles has 86’d his younger brother, Andrew. Stripped of all his honorifics, including his title as Prince, he’s  being kicked out of the 30-room Windsor mansion he called home. Andrew’s a civilian now.] by Chuck Pfarrer (8:11 PM · Oct 30, 2025) ''Twitter'' (archived from 1 Nov 2025 06:48:38 UTC).</ref>{{efn|The joke is a riff the musician {{wpl|Prince (musician)|Prince||,}} who at one point changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol, and was at times called "The Artist Formerly Known as Prince".}} The king will still keep him on the royal dole.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prince-andrew-royal-title-virginia-giuffre-epstein-latest-news-b2855816.html Prince Andrew latest: New Epstein emails released day after Andrew stripped of titles by King. The former prince will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, effectively having the status of a commoner] by Nicole Wootton-Cane et al. (01 November 2025 06:00 GMT) ''Independent''.</ref>

*{{wpl|Sarah Ferguson|'''Sarah Ferguson'''|,}} formerly Duchess of York, formerly married to Prince Andrew, wrote a sympathetic email in 2011 to Epstein after his conviction in 2008. She wrote in the email that he was a "supreme friend" after she had publicly disowned him. According to Ferguson, Epstein had threatened her whole family after she had disowned him.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/23/jeffrey-epstein-threatened-destroy-sarah-ferguson-before-her-apology Jeffrey Epstein ‘threatened to destroy’ Sarah Ferguson before her apology: Duchess’s then spokesperson recalls disgraced financier’s ‘Hannibal Lecter-style’ phone call after she disowned him] by Caroline Davies (23 Sep 2025 13.47 EDT) ''The Guardian''.</ref>

===U.S. Presidents===
====Bill Clinton====
{{Anchor|Clinton}}
[[File:Maxwell Epstein Clinton 1993 2.jpg|thumb|165px|Clinton with Epstein in 1993]]
{{main|Bill Clinton}}
Bill Clinton, U.S. President and utterly loathed by the far-right,<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/08/18/photos-allegedly-show-bill-clinton-receiving-massage-from-jeffrey-epstein-accuser/ Photos allegedly show Clinton received massage from Epstein accuser, Forbes]</ref> disliked by many others for more legitimate reasons such as allegedly abusing his power to make rape accusations disappear.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/broaddrick022599.htm Juanita Broadrick tells her story] by Howard Kurtz (February 25, 1999) ''The Washington Post''.</ref> He was in Epstein's flight logs at least nine times.<ref name="MHflightlogs"/> Epstein made donations to politicians of both major parties in the United States, and this included thousands of dollars both to the political campaigns of Bill Clinton and his wife [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>Soo Rin Kim (July 12, 2019). [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jeffrey-epstein-donated-democrats-1990s-early-2000s/story?id=64255485 "Jeffrey Epstein donated to several Democrats throughout 1990s and early 2000s"]. ''ABC''.</ref> Epstein also donated to the Clinton family's nonprofit organization, the {{w|Clinton Foundation||.}}<ref>Taylor Nicole Rogers (July 11, 2019). [https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-politicians-connections-donations-2019-7 "Here are all the politicians Jeffrey Epstein, the money manager arrested on charges of sex trafficking, has donated to"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> The legal team of Epstein's collaborator, Ghislaine Maxwell, claimed that Maxwell had been "helping develop the Clinton Global Initiative" (a program of the Clinton Foundation), which they said should be a reason to reduce her prison sentence.<ref name="KABCClinton">[https://abc7.com/post/jeffrey-epstein-list-island-bill-clinton/14254325/ "Court documents naming Jeffrey Epstein's associates to be unsealed this week: What to know"]. ''ABC7 KABC''.</ref>

Bill Clinton received a massage from Epstein accuser Chauntae Davies, who stated she personally{{efn|Given the massive amount of Epstein victims, it is probably impossible to rule anything out with only these sorts of singular eyewitness accounts, other than about their own personal experiences. Clinton, however, has never been formally accused of criminal wrongdoing regarding the Epstein case(s).}} "saw absolutely no foul play involving him."<ref>Taija PerryCook (August 3, 2025). [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/photo-massage-epstein-bill-clinton-chauntae-davies/ "Real photo shows Epstein accuser Chauntae Davies giving Bill Clinton shoulder massage in 2002"]. ''Snopes''.</ref> A separate Epstein accuser, Virginia Giuffre, once stated that she believed Clinton would have been aware of Epstein's sexual abuse, on the grounds he was at least basically acquainted with Epstein and with the belief that Epstein spoke relatively freely about his actions, but Giuffre made no specific allegations of abuse against Clinton. Giuffre said Clinton had visited Epstein's Little St. James private island, but Clinton's legal team denied he ever had.<ref>Brian Mann (January 13, 2024). [https://www.npr.org/2024/01/13/1224147251/epstein-jeffrey-documents-ghislane-maxwell-giuffre-dershowitz-clinton-trump "Epstein papers leave questions about what powerful men knew about his crimes"]. ''NPR''.</ref><ref name="KABCClinton"/> Bill Clinton says his travels on Epstein's jet were humanitarian missions, that he had no awareness of Epstein's criminal activity, and that he was accompanied by Secret Service and Clinton Foundation staff during the flights.<ref>Max Matza and Bernd Debusmann Jr. (January 4, 2024). [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67865190 "Jeffrey Epstein: Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton named in court files"]. ''BBC News''.</ref>

====Donald Trump====
[[File:Mar-A-Lago, Palm Beach, Florida, United States - Exterior, March 1999.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Mar-a-Lago, Trump's estate in Palm Beach, Florida]]
[[File:2003 birthday letter to Epstein.png|thumb|right|165px|Trump's lewd and suggestive birthday letter to Epstein]]
{{main|Donald Trump}}
{{cquote|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<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-called-epstein-a-terrific-guy-before-denying-relationship-with-him/2019/07/08/a01e0f00-a1be-11e9-bd56-eac6bb02d01d_story.html Trump and Epstein]</ref>}}
{{cquote|Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?|||Trump<ref>(July 8, 2025). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE-b4_QkF64 "Trump on Epstein: 'Are people still talking about this creep?'"]. ''FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth'' (via YouTube).</ref>}}
Trump appears in the Department of Justice's Epstein Files '''more than a million times''', according to Representative Jamie Raskin, vastly more often than anyone else.<ref>[https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/trump-epstein-files-jamie-raskin-unredacted What Jamie Raskin saw in the unredacted Epstein files] by Andrew Solender (Feb 10, 2026) ''Axios''.</ref> Trump admitted in 2002 that he had known Epstein for 15 years.<ref name=bolton>[https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5409002-trump-epstein-files-ag-bondi-patel-bongino-fbi-agents-durbin-wall-street-journal/ Durbin: FBI agents were told to ‘flag’ Epstein records that mentioned Trump] by Alexander Bolton (07/18/25 2:57 PM ET) ''The Hill''.</ref><ref>John Haltiwanger (July 6, 2020). [https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-says-mistakenly-edited-trump-out-epstein-maxwell-photo-2020-7 "Fox News says it 'mistakenly' edited Trump out of a photo with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> Epstein was a regular at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate,<ref name="JGpo"/><ref>(July 17, 2019). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUDr_c2PalI "New Tape Shows Donald Trump And Jeffrey Epstein At Mar-A-Lago Party In 1992"]. ''TODAY''.</ref> and Virginia Giuffre alleged she was lured into Epstein's trafficking ring from there,<ref name="JGpo">Josh Gerstein (May 4, 2017). [https://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/04/jeffrey-epstein-trump-lawsuit-sex-trafficking-237983 "The one weird court case linking Trump, Clinton, and a billionaire pedophile"]. ''Politico''.</ref> which Trump appeared to confirm in 2025.<ref>Chris Megerian and Eric Tucker (July 29, 2025). [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-says-epstein-stole-young-women-from-mar-a-lago-spa-including-virginia-giuffre "Trump says Epstein 'stole' Virginia Giuffre and other young women from Mar-a-Lago spa"]. ''PBS''.</ref> (Giuffre once stated she did not recall personally witnessing any abuses committed by Trump against the girls who Epstein abused.<ref>Aaron Keller (August 9, 2019). [https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/virginia-giuffre-jeffrey-epstein-accuser-claims-reporter-embellished-many-donald-trump-connections/ "Epstein Accuser's Deposition Accuses Reporter of Embellishing Trump Sleaziness"]. ''Law & Crime''.</ref>) Trump was on Epstein's flight logs at least seven times,<ref name="MHflightlogs">Ben Wieder and Julie K. Brown (December 21, 2021). [https://archive.md/Iq0sT "Maxwell case logs show how frequently Trump flew on Epstein jets; Bill Clinton, too"]. ''Miami Herald''.</ref> not counting when he flew Epstein's former jet to campaign events.<ref>Jacob Shamsian and Graham Rapier (August 12, 2024). [https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-jeffrey-epstein-private-jet-weekend-campaign-2024-8 "Trump spent the weekend flying around America on a plane previously owned by Jeffrey Epstein"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> Fourteen phone numbers connected to Trump (including and other than his own, e.g. Ivanka Trump) were in Epstein's "little black book."<ref>Nicole Einbinder (July 10, 2019). [https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-14-phone-numbers-connected-trump-black-book-2019-7 "Jeffrey Epstein had 14 phone numbers connected to Trump in his contacts"]. ''Business Insider''.</ref> Arguably the two had a falling out over time,<ref name="MHflightlogs"/> but still... 

In a 2010 video testimony, Epstein was asked whether he had ever "socialized with Donald Trump in the presence of females under the age of 18." Epstein plead the fifth, sixth and fourteenth amendments in response.<ref>(July 25, 2025). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmrTZi_Ia28 "Epstein pleads fifth in 2010 testimony on Trump question | FOX 11 LA"]. ''FOX 11 Los Angeles'' (via YouTube).</ref> In a 2016 lawsuit, Trump was alleged to have raped a 13-year old girl with Epstein in the 1990s.<ref>Josh Russell (September 30, 2016). [https://www.courthousenews.com/rape-allegations-refiled-against-trump/ "Rape Allegations Refiled Against Trump"]. ''Courthouse News Service''.</ref> The plaintiff dropped the suit, with her lawyer saying she "had received threats and was too frightened to show up."<ref>Josh Gerstein (November 4, 2016). [https://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/donald-trump-rape-lawsuit-dropped-230770 "Woman suing Trump over alleged teen rape drops suit, again"]. ''Politico''.</ref>

Then elected, Trump appointed Alexander Acosta to be Labor Secretary, but he resigned because of controversy over a legal deal he cut with Epstein years earlier.<ref>Ayesha Rascoe (July 12, 2019). [https://www.npr.org/2019/07/12/739881163/alexander-acosta-steps-down-as-labor-secretary-amid-epstein-controversy "Alexander Acosta Steps Down As Labor Secretary Amid Epstein Controversy"]. ''NPR''.</ref> When Epstein was arrested in 2019, Trump said he was not a "fan."<ref name="Hutzler"/> Trump said in 2020 of Ghislaine Maxwell, then charged for conspiring with Epstein: "I've met her numerous times over the years, especially since I lived in Palm Beach. I just wish her well, frankly. I wish her well, whatever it is."<ref>Andrew Solender (July 21, 2020). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewsolender/2020/07/21/trump-on-jeffrey-epstein-associate-ghislaine-maxwell-i-wish-her-well-frankly/ "Trump On Jeffrey Epstein Associate Ghislaine Maxwell: 'I Wish Her Well, Frankly'"]. ''Forbes''.</ref> Bradley Edwards, an attorney for Epstein victims, originally praised Donald Trump for his forwardness in speaking to him about the matter in 2009, but in his 2020 book, Edwards wrote that he discovered Trump was actually closer friends with Epstein than he was made to think:
{{blockquote|Over the next few years, I spoke to several witnesses who told us that they had been introduced by Epstein to Trump. Some had seen him at Epstein's office, others at one of Epstein's homes, at parties or social events, and even on his plane. In fact, Epstein bragged to certain young women in his life about how he had bailed Trump out of bankruptcy and how he was indebted to him.<br><br>Last year, I saw a 1992 video of Epstein and Trump together, suggesting that they were closer social friends than I had been made to understand.<ref>James Bickerton (January 3, 2024). [https://www.newsweek.com/jeffrey-epstein-victims-attorney-talks-about-donald-trump-claims-1857298 "Jeffrey Epstein Victims' Attorney Talks About Donald Trump Claims"]. ''Newsweek''.</ref>}}

=====2025 transparency controversy=====
[[File:Epstein house interior 03.jpg|thumb|165px|Epstein's hard drives]]
[[File:Jeffrey Epstein's cell block CCTV footage (10hr) released by the US Department of Justice in July 2025.webm|thumb|165px|Footage from near Epstein's cell, released by the FBI in 2025]]
[[File:President Trump and Pam Bondi on Jeffrey Epstein, July 8th 2025.webm|thumb|165px|Trump and Bondi discuss Epstein in July 2025]]
{{cquote|Show us all the Epstein client list now!!! Why would anyone protect those scum bags? Ask yourselves this question daily and the answer becomes very apparent!!|||[[Donald Trump Jr.]] attacking the [[Biden]] administration's inaction in 2023<ref>[https://archive.ph/QkH5L#selection-807.0-807.160 Show us all the Epstein client list now!!! Why would anyone protect those scum bags? Ask yourselves this question daily and the answer becomes very apparent!!] by Donald Trump Jr. (2023) ''Twitter'' (archived from 12 Jul 2025 23:55:29 UTC).</ref>}}
{{cquote|It's sitting on my desk right now to review.|||Trump-appointed US Attorney General Pam Bondi in February 2025 regarding the alleged Epstein client list<ref>[https://archive.ph/tbC2a#selection-2513.1-2513.44 Bondi says Epstein client list 'sitting on my desk right now,' and is reviewing JFK, MLK files: Bondi herself advocated for the release of the Epstein list in 2024] by Haley Chi-Sing (February 21, 2025 3:07pm EST) ''Fox News'' (archived from 7 Jul 2025 05:11:02 UTC).</ref>{{efn|Four far-right conspiracy theorists (Rogan "DC Draino" O'Handley, [[Chaya Raichik]], Liz Wheeler, and [[Jack Posobiec]]) appeared outside the White House holding 3-ring binders labelled "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" for a photo op a few days after Bondi's announcement.<ref>[https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-pam-bondi-trump-1a6af3e9fa1cfb6d267985a971a4929a ] by Alanna Durkin Richer & Michael R. Sisak (February 27, 2025) ''AP''.</ref>}}}}
{{cquote|This systematic review revealed no incriminating "client list."|||[[FBI]] (headed by Trump appointee Kash Patel) memo in July 2025<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation] (untitled and undated memo released on July 7, 2025).</ref>}}

After being reelected President in 2025, Trump spent months refusing to release the FBI's Epstein files, including after the system review ordered by his FBI director. Trump's behavior was evidence of [[consciousness of guilt]] ([[Bad faith|misleading statements]] by his proxies followed by his demand for concealment). Eventually, Trump's hand was forced by [[Congress]] in November 2025, which voted 427-1 vote to have the files released.<ref>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fighting-it-for-months-trump-signs-bill-to-release-jeffrey-epstein-case-files Fighting it for months, Trump signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files] by Seung Min Kim (Nov 20, 2025 10:19 AM EST) ''Associated Press'' via ''PBS''.</ref>

======Prelude======
Asked in 2024 whether he would declassify files relating to the Epstein case, Trump gave a somewhat strange answer: "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 phony stuff in there, because it's a lot of phony stuff with that whole world. But I think I would."<ref>Max Tani (June 9, 2024). [https://www.semafor.com/article/06/09/2024/how-fox-news-massaged-a-trump-interview "How Fox News massaged a Trump interview"]. ''Semafor''.</ref>

After re-election in 2024, Trump appointed several individuals to his cabinet with some kind of proximity to Epstein or the handling of his case, though none who were accused of any particular criminality pertaining to it. Trump's Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, was Epstein's neighbor.<ref>Giacomo Tognini (July 22, 2025). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/giacomotognini/2025/07/22/epsteins-properties-were-allegedly-the-sites-of-sexual-exploitation-now-theyve-all-been-sold/ "The Selloff Of Jeffrey Epstein's Tainted Homes—And Where The Money Went"]. ''Forbes''.</ref> Trump's Secretary of Health and Human Services, [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]], flew on Epstein's jet twice and was photographed with him in 1994.<ref>Ryan Smith (November 1, 2023). [https://www.newsweek.com/robert-f-kennedy-jr-flying-jeffrey-epstein-lolita-express-private-jet-1839807 "Exclusive: Robert F. Kennedy Jr Says He Flew on Jeffrey Epstein's 'Lolita Express'"]. ''Newsweek''.</ref><ref>Robert McCoy (July 24, 2025). [https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/rfk-jr-captured-old-photos-213338230.html "RFK Jr. Captured in Old Photos Partying With Jeffrey Epstein"]. ''The New Republic''.</ref> Trump's U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, was previously the attorney general of Florida, and technically could have charged Epstein with additional crimes during her tenure in that position; Epstein had previously been sentenced at the time for county-level offenses, in Palm Beach, Florida.<ref>Holly Baltz (July 19, 2025). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/19/could-pam-bondi-have-prosecuted-jeffrey-epstein-as-florida-ag/85287815007/ "Could Pam Bondi have prosecuted Jeffrey Epstein when she was Florida's top legal officer?"]. ''USA Today''.</ref> To lead the {{w|U.S. International Development Finance Corporation||,}} Trump nominated the son of billionaire Leon Black. Leon had paid Epstein "$158 million for financial services". Leon Black "also agreed to pay the [[U.S. Virgin Islands]] $62.5 million in exchange for being excluded from potential claims linked to the territory’s investigation into Epstein."<ref>Antonio Pequeño IV (February 26, 2025). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/02/26/who-is-ben-black-trump-nominee-and-son-of-billionaire-wants-to-repurpose-usaid-funds/ "Who Is Ben Black? Trump Nominee—And Son Of Billionaire—Wants To Repurpose USAID Funds"]. ''Forbes''.</ref>

======Faceplant======
TL;DR — parts of the right-wing media sphere hyped up big, stunning revelations by the new Trump administration regarding the Epstein case. Two of their guys, Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, were even put in charge of the FBI. For about the first half-year of the administration, there's largely radio silence from Bondi, Patel, ''et al.'' about the case. Except, that is, for a so-called "Phase 1" release to internet influencers that consisted of already-public information, and the occasional re-assurance that further "transparency" is coming. Then summer comes. They proceed to announce there was no "Epstein client list", and that the conspiracy theories about Epstein were false. The response from the MAGA base is not a happy one.

The FBI has about "100,000 Epstein-related records," which Attorney General Pam Bondi pressured the FBI to put 1000 agents on 24-hour shifts to search for appearances of Trump's name, so as to send a summary to Trump in May 2025.<ref name=bolton/><ref>[https://www.wsj.com/politics/justice-department-told-trump-name-in-epstein-files-727a8038 Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files: Bondi also told president at the meeting that Justice decided to not release more Jeffrey Epstein documents because of the presence of child pornography and the need to protect victims] by Sadie Gurman et al. (July 23, 2025 3:08 pm ET) ''The Wall Street Journal''.</ref> These records are obviously massive, but there are also massive as yet non-public records from Epstein's 2007 Florida conviction, in which he received a {{wpl|Sweetheart deal|sweetheart plea deal}} for a single charge of the 60 that he had been charged with from then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/2025/07/25/nx-s1-5478620/jeffrey-epstein-crimes-timeline-legal-case Jeffrey Epstein files: Tracing the legal cases that led to sex-trafficking charges] by Bill Chappell (July 25, 202512:38 PM ET) ''NPR''.</ref><ref>[https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-grand-jury-records-florida-3254decc623fbf2a5ee2967c7adfa2e6 Judge rejects Trump administration effort to unseal Epstein grand jury records in Florida] by Ed White (4:07 PM PDT, July 23, 2025) ''Associated Press''.</ref> There are also unreleased records from the Maxwell conviction in New York,<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/judge-overseeing-doj-epstein-grand-jury-records-request/story?id=123964265 Judge overseeing DOJ Epstein grand jury records request asks for more information] by Alexander Mallin et al. (July 22, 2025, 4:05 PM) ''ABC News''.</ref> and unreleased records from a lawsuit in the US Virgin Islands.<ref name="courtdocnpr"/>

For what it's worth, Bradley Edwards, a lawyer for many Epstein victims, appeared to agree with the FBI that there was probably no "client list":
{{quotebox|Jeffrey Epstein was the pimp and the john. He was his own No. 1 client. Nearly all of the exploitation and abuse of all of the women was intended to benefit only Jeffrey Epstein and Jeffrey Epstein's sexual desires. … For the most part, those two worlds did not overlap. And where they overlapped, in the instances they overlapped, it seems to be a very small percentage. There were occasions where a select few of these men engaged in sexual acts with a select few of the girls that Jeffrey Epstein was exploiting or abusing -- primarily girls who were over the age of 18. That conduct was coercive, it was exploitative, and it was bad. But it's a small fraction of the men he was associated with. And he was abusing hundreds of women, if not a thousand. And it's a very small fraction of those women that he was sending to men. That conduct was secondary to his abusive conduct. [Epstein] abused all of these women.

It's difficult to even discern, when he would send a woman to one of his friends, whether that was even a motivation. What he was not is a person on the top of a sex trafficking operation that was sending women to powerful people around the world so that he could make money. It was not a business. And I think the few examples that we have, the known examples, have led to this belief that he must have been doing that with all of the women that he was abusing. That must have just been his gig. But that wasn't what he was doing on a daily basis. He's a sexual abuser and predator himself.

Did Jeffrey write the names of these people down? I've never seen that. I only know of certain of these individuals because of representing clients. I've never seen a list of people that Jeffrey Epstein kept that would say, 'Here's a list of men that I've sent women to,' or a mix-and-match where it's like, 'I sent this woman to this man.' That's just not something that he was keeping. And it would be highly, highly unlikely that Jeffrey Epstein would keep a list of the people that he sent these women to. I'd imagine he would just remember it. It isn't that many women, and it isn't that many men.

… But the story is not going to die off as long as there's this lack of transparency that is allowing for conspiracy theories to continue to fester and get out of hand. So the best thing would be: Protect the victims' names, release everything else, so that the world can see what is real, versus what is total fiction, and then everybody can move on.<ref>James Hill (July 16, 2025). [https://abcnews.go.com/US/jeffrey-epstein-key-victims-attorney/story?id=123805543 "What we know and don't know about Jeffrey Epstein, according to key victims' attorney"]. ''ABC''.</ref>}}

======"Hoax" declaration======
Interest in 2025 about the so-called "Epstein Files," or a supposed "Epstein list" resulted in a second-order surge of interest towards Donald Trump's past connections to Epstein. After spending years suggesting there was something nefarious about the Epstein situation and Trump would bring transparency about the files,<ref name="Hutzler">Alexandra Hutzler (July 16, 2025). [https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-years-including-2024-campaign-trail/story?id=123778541 "What Trump has said about Jeffrey Epstein over the years, including on 2024 campaign trail"]. ''ABC''.</ref><ref>Ali Swenson and Nicholas Riccardi (July 15, 2025). [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/how-trump-spent-years-stoking-dark-theories-and-why-hes-facing-epstein-case-blowback-now "How Trump spent years stoking dark theories, and why he’s facing Epstein case blowback now"]. ''PBS''.</ref> Trump and his team began branding it as the "Radical Left inspired" "Jeffrey Epstein Hoax" and denounced those of his "weakling" "PAST supporters" who continued talking about it after Trump said to quiet down.<ref>Stefan Becket (July 16, 2025). [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-jeffrey-epstein-hoax-republicans/ "Trump calls Epstein controversy a "Hoax" and "bulls***," denouncing "weaklings" in GOP"]. ''CBS''.</ref><ref>Francesca Chambers (July 12, 2025). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/12/trump-maga-bondi-doj-epstein-files/84856668007/ "Trump rips 'so-called' friends' attacks on Bondi, tells MAGA to move on from Epstein"]. ''USA Today''.</ref> After this signal hit the antenna in his head, one [[Newsmax]] host suddenly decided Epstein's collaborator Ghislaine Maxwell "just might be a victim" after all.<ref>(August 1, 2025). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCpqdIChLwU "Maxwell 'just might be a victim.' says Newsmax host"]. ''NBC'' (via YouTube).</ref><ref>(July 24, 2025). [https://www.mediamatters.org/greg-kelly/newsmaxs-greg-kelly-ghislaine-maxwell-she-just-might-be-victim-she-just-might-be-there "Newsmax's Greg Kelly on Ghislaine Maxwell: “She just might be a victim. She just might be. There was a rush to judgment.”"]. ''Media Matters for America''.</ref> [[Fox News]] reportedly got the call from Trump to stop talking about it — and they did.<ref>Brian Stelter and Andrew Kirell (July 15, 2025). [https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/15/media/trump-epstein-fox-news-maga-media-charlie-kirk "Fox News falls in line with Trump's Epstein plea — but will the rest of MAGA media comply? "]. ''CNN''.</ref> Fox News's cable wing decided it was time to report extensively on a social media debate about a blue jeans advertisement instead.<ref>Beth Cope & Lis Power (July 31, 2025). [https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-monday-85-minutes-talking-about-sydney-sweeney-3-minutes-talking-about-epstein "Fox News since Monday: 85 minutes talking about Sydney Sweeney, 3 minutes talking about Epstein"]. ''Media Matters for America''.</ref> The House of Representatives Speaker [[Mike Johnson]] shut down floor business to block a vote on releasing the files.<ref>Ana Faguy (July 22, 2025). [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjg9j0l7j9o "US House speaker shuts down chamber to block Epstein vote"]. ''BBC News''.</ref> When the ''[[Wall Street Journal]]'' ran a report on what they said was a birthday letter Trump sent to Epstein in 2003, Trump sued them for $10,000,000,000 in response.<ref>Nandita Bose and Jonathan Stempel (July 19, 2025). [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-sues-wall-street-journal-over-epstein-report-seeks-10-billion-2025-07-19/ "Trump sues Wall Street Journal over Epstein report, seeks $10 billion"]. ''Reuters''.</ref> Then ''[[South Park]]'' woke up and broke a ratings record by satirizing the situation, despite the White House's insistence they were irrelevant.<ref>Bryan Alexander (July 30, 2025). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/07/30/south-park-season-premiere-ratings-trump/85448760007/ "'South Park' sets ratings record with Trump-skewering premiere"]. ''USA Today''.</ref><ref>Brendan Morrow (July 24, 2025). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2025/07/24/south-park-new-episode-season-donald-trump-colbert/85353240007/ "White House: 'South Park' hasn't 'been relevant for over 20 years' after Trump parody"]. ''USA Today''.</ref>

======Return of Maxwell======
In response to the criticism, the Trump administration made a push to interview Ghislaine Maxwell (who Trump said he was "allowed" to pardon, thought he hadn't thought about doing so) for her testimony, despite the fact she was accused of [[perjury]] (and in general just of being a brazen liar trying to save her own ass) in 2020.<ref>Alison Durkee (July 25, 2025). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2025/07/25/trump-says-hes-allowed-to-pardon-ghislaine-maxwell-amid-epstein-files-controversy/ "Trump Says He’s ‘Allowed’ To Pardon Ghislaine Maxwell Amid Epstein Files Controversy"]. ''Forbes''.</ref><ref>Eric Tucker (July 22, 2025). [https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-c0131616f9d3c1f56a14bb7b9e863741 "Justice Department wants to interview Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell"]. ''The Associated Press''.</ref> Maxwell commented on a range of public figures,<ref>(August 22, 2025). [https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/ghislaine-maxwell-told-doj-she-did-not-see-trump-act-in-inappropriate-way-read-the-interview-transcripts "Read and listen to Ghislaine Maxwell’s interviews with the Justice Department"]. ''PBS''.</ref> including Trump — Maxwell said she "never witnessed the president in any inappropriate setting". ''Politico'' went with perhaps the best-fitting headline, "Ghislaine Maxwell, who wants a pardon, says she never saw Trump 'in any inappropriate setting'".<ref>(August 22, 2025). [https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/22/ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-donald-trump-interview-00520352 "Ghislaine Maxwell, who wants a pardon, says she never saw Trump 'in any inappropriate setting'"]. ''Politico''.</ref>

One of Epstein's first-ever accusers, Maria Farmer (who also spoke on an encounter she had with Trump and Epstein in 1995), commented on the choice to interview Maxwell instead of Epstein's victims:

{{blockquote|Republicans want to entertain Ghislaine Maxwell, like Tim Burchett wants to entertain her and flash her around and act like, we victims should not be heard from.

He didn’t want to speak to me. He wanted to speak Ghislaine and give her a voice and an audience.

And my little sister is one of her victims, and so am I. So. This is so damaging and yes, I’m fighting two cancers. So I would like to be able to retire and have my FBI reports so that I can help bring accountability to everyone. It’s not just me, I have the weight of all the young women on my shoulders right now.<ref>Tommy Christopher (July 25, 2025). [https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/really-insulting-epstein-victim-who-met-trump-hits-back-hard-at-white-house-on-msnbc/ "‘Really Insulting!’ Epstein Victim Who Met Trump Hits Back Hard at White House on MSNBC"]. ''Mediaite''.</ref>}}
Maxwell was transferred to a minimum-security prison. The Farmer sisters and the family of Virginia Giuffre released a statement in response:

{{blockquote|It is with horror and outrage that we object to the preferential treatment convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell has received. Ghislaine Maxwell is a sexual predator who physically assaulted minor children on multiple occasions, and she should never be shown any leniency. Yet, without any notification to the Maxwell victims, the government overnight has moved Maxwell to a minimum security luxury prison in Texas. This is the justice system failing victims right before our eyes. The American public should be enraged by the preferential treatment being given to a pedophile and a criminally charged child sex offender. The Trump administration should not credit a word Maxwell says, as the government itself sought charges against Maxwell for being a serial liar. This move smacks of a cover up. The victims deserve better.<ref>Dan Mangan (August 1, 2025). [https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/01/jeffrey-epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-prison-florida-texas.html "Jeffrey Epstein victims and family blast Trump for Ghislaine Maxwell prison transfer"]. ''CNBC''.</ref>}}
Right-wing agitator [[James O'Keefe]] then released a hidden-camera video of Joseph Schnitt, a deputy chief of staff at the US Department of Justice (DOJ), obtained apparently by sending someone who pretended to go on a date with this guy. Schnitt stated Maxwell was moved to a minimum-security prison to "keep her mouth shut", and that the government was going to "redact every Republican or conservative person" from the Epstein files before releasing them. Schnitt later said that his comments were his "own personal comments on what I've learned in the media and not from anything I've done at or learned via work." The DOJ said his comments "have absolutely zero bearing with reality and reflect a total lack of knowledge of the DOJ's review process."<ref>Laerke Christensen (September 5, 2025). [https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/epstein-files-doj-undercover-date/ "DOJ staffer told undercover date the department would 'redact every Republican' from Epstein files"]. ''Snopes''.</ref>

======Continued pressure======
In response to continued public pressure, the Republicans' House Oversight Committee released a batch of Epstein files in September 2025. Reportedly, 97 percent of this was already public information. Republican congressman Thomas Massie, who along with Democratic congressman Ro Khanna had been leading an effort for more extensive disclosure, stated, "My staff has done a quick look at it and it looks like a bunch of redacted documents and nothing new, so it's not going to suffice."<ref>(September 3, 2025). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/epstein-documents-files-trump-b2818881.html "Epstein accusers urge Trump to release all case files after document dump reveals tens of thousands of pages already made public"]. ''The Independent''.</ref>

Bradley Edwards spoke at a September 2025 press conference with Epstein victims as well as Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-LA), in support of their bill to release more Epstein files. Edwards there stated that Trump's attitude in 2025 towards the case was very different from when he spoke with him in 2009:

{{blockquote|He didn't think that it was a hoax then. In fact, he helped me. He got on the phone. He told me things that were helping our investigation. Now, our investigation wasn't looking into him, but he was helping us then. He didn't treat this as a hoax. …

At this point in time, I would hope that he would revert back to what he was saying to get elected, which is ‘I want transparency.’ This about face that occurred, none of us understand it. In fact, I don’t understand how this is an issue that’s even up for debate. …

I'm hoping he'll come back to where he was back in 2009 and be on the side of the victims and stand with us.<ref>Zachary Leeman (September 3, 2025). [https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/epstein-victims-lawyer-calls-out-trump-for-flip-flopping-after-helping-on-epstein-case-he-didnt-think-it-was-a-hoax-then/ "Epstein Victims' Lawyer Calls Out Trump for Flip Flopping After 'Helping' On Epstein Case: 'He Didn't Think It Was a Hoax Then!'"]. ''Mediaite''.</ref>}}
The Epstein victims at the press conference told their stories there and claimed that if the government didn't release more files they would "compile their own list of names to hold those in Epstein’s orbit accountable".<ref>(September 3, 2025). [https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/epstein-accusers-put-pressure-congress-release-files-rcna228762 "Epstein accusers put pressure on Congress to release the files"]. ''NBC''.</ref><ref>(September 3, 2025). [https://www.youtube.com/live/iWv46UXyvUc "Epstein survivors stand with Massie, Khanna to push for Epstein Files Transparency Act"]. ''PBS NewsHour''.</ref> Representatives Thomas Massie and [[Marjorie Taylor Greene]] offered to read such a list on the House floor, taking advantage of the constitutional {{w|Speech or Debate Clause}} ([[United States Constitution#Section 6|Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution]]). Massie claimed that the victims could "be sued into homelessness for naming names".<ref>(September 4, 2025). [https://www.newsweek.com/epstein-list-could-read-congress-house-floor-thomas-massie-marjorie-taylor-greene-2124273 "Epstein List Could Be Read On House Floor Under Constitutional Immunity"]. ''Newsweek''.</ref> ''Constitution Annotated'' provides a brief analysis of the Clause and its potential limitations.<ref>[https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S6-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013300/ "Overview of Speech or Debate Clause"]. ''Constitution Annotated''.</ref>

Massie said due to pushing for the bill, he was subject to an "immense pressure campaign" from Trump's White House and "$2.5 million of ads run against [him] by three billionaires who are mega-donors to the Republican Party."<ref>(September 4, 2025). [https://newrepublic.com/post/199982/massie-exposes-white-house-threats-epstein-petition "Massie Exposes White House Threats Against Him Over Epstein Petition"]. ''The New Republic''.</ref> Amidst this, the Speaker of the House of Representatives [[Mike Johnson]] randomly claimed Donald Trump was "an FBI informant to try to take this stuff down", in reference to Epstein's criminal activities.<ref>(September 6, 2025). [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-informant-fbi-b2821406.html "Donald Trump was an FBI 'informant' on Jeffrey Epstein, Republican Mike Johnson claims"]. ''The Independent''.</ref>

======Emails release======
In a January 31, 2019 email from Epstein to journalist Michael Wolff, Epstein said that Trump "knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop."<ref>[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZJA7E_YJ3BmUjf346L6ZDHl1xlTPTcEw Epstein Estate Documents - Seventh Production] ''House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform'' via Google Drive, document "HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030411.txt".</ref> In another email from Epstein to Maxwell, Epstein wrote to Maxwell, "i want you to realize that that dog that hasn't barked is trump.. virignia [Giuffre] spent hours at my house with him , he has never once been mentioned."<ref>[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZJA7E_YJ3BmUjf346L6ZDHl1xlTPTcEw Epstein Estate Documents - Seventh Production] ''House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform'' via Google Drive, document "HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031326.txt".</ref> Regarding emails between Epstein and Maxwell, former law professor, district attorney and federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah stated:<ref>[https://contrarian.substack.com/p/what-we-learned-from-newly-released What we learned from newly released Epstein emails. Trump might have done nothing wrong, but granting clemency to Ghislaine Maxwell could make it seem she is hiding something for him.] by Mimi Rocah (Nov 12, 2025) ''The Contrarian'' (Substack).</ref>
{{cquote|These email statements between Epstein and Maxwell are, in a prosecutor’s world, what we would call “co-conspirator’s statements” in furtherance of a conspiracy, under Federal Rule of Evidence 801(d)(2)(E). States have similar ones. Here, the conspiracy between Epstein and Maxwell is not necessarily to commit sex trafficking but, rather, to [[Coverup|cover it up]]. Why is that important? Because the whole basis of this rule&nbsp;— that statements between co-conspirators are admissible&nbsp;— exists because our judicial system and criminal laws recognize the reliability of such statements, i.e., the likelihood that co-conspirators in a crime are going to talk honestly with each other about other people’s involvement. Here, when they knew no one else was listening/reading, when they had no reason to suspect these would ever become public, Epstein and Maxwell talked about Trump being present in his house with a known sex trafficking victim, Giuffre; they stated “of course he knew” about the “girls.”}}

======Further disclosures======
In (~) January 2026, the Department of Justice disclosed ~2.7 million documents, a significant amount, albeit this number includes many duplicates and already-released documents. This still left ~3.5 million documents unreleased, though efforts have continued to release any remaining information.<ref>William D. Cohan (February 1, 2026). [http://archive.today/2026.02.02-042438/https://puck.news/why-are-millions-of-epstein-files-still-hidden/ "The Final Epstein Bank Shot"]. ''Puck''.</ref>

The DoJ, which has continued to illegally make excessive redactions in this disclosure, presumably to protect perpetrators and to further torment victims.<ref name=venkatraman/><ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/US/epsteins-alleged-victims-accuse-doj-legal-violations-state/story?id=128612219 Epstein's alleged victims accuse DOJ of legal violations over state of files released: The DOJ failed to fully release all the files by last Friday.] by James Hill et al. (December 22, 2025, 6:49 AM) ''ABC News''.</ref> The DoJ also released unredacted nude photos of victims, until ''[[The New York Times]]'' informed the DoJ of what they had done.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/us/nude-photos-epstein-files.html The Government Published Dozens of Nude Photos in the Epstein Files. The photos, which showed young women or possibly teenagers with their faces visible, were largely removed after The New York Times began notifying the Justice Department.] by Mike Baker and Julie Tate (Feb. 1, 2026) ''The New York Times''.</ref> This is the level of criminality and malice at the Trump-controlled DoJ.

Brittany Henderson and Brad Edwards, two lawyers for the victims, blasted the DoJ for failing to even redact the names of known victims:
{{cquote|Henderson and Edwards, who represent over 200 alleged victims of Epstein, blasted the Justice Department for its failure, considering that protecting victims of Epstein is required by law.

“There is no conceivable degree of institutional incompetence sufficient to explain the scale, consistency, and persistence of the failures that occurred—particularly where the sole task ordered by the Court and repeatedly emphasized by DOJ was simple: redact known victim names before publication,” Henderson and Edwards wrote.

“DOJ cannot plausibly characterize this as error, negligence, or bureaucratic failure. The task was straightforward: take the list of known victims and redact those names everywhere they appear,” the letter states. “When DOJ believed it was ready to publish, it needed only to type each victim’s name into its own search function. Any resulting hit should have been redacted before publication. Had DOJ done that, the harm would have been avoided.”

The lawyers mention multiple instances where victims’ names were left unredacted, including one minor’s name allegedly “revealed 20 times in a single document.” When those mistakes were flagged and told to the DOJ, the lawyers said, only three of the mentions were redacted, with the other 17 left untouched. In another instance, one email mentions 32 underage victims with only one of them redacted, while some FBI forms included in the file release left full names unredacted.

Some of the victims testified anonymously in the letter that they received death threats and harassment from the media since the files publicly identified them.|||<ref>Hafiz Rashid (February 2, 2026). [https://newrepublic.com/post/206026/epstein-survivors-doj-take-down-files-redaction-failures "Epstein Survivors Furious After DOJ Screws Up File Redactions"]. ''The New Republic''.</ref>}}

A government representative stated of the prospect of further prosecutions:
{{cquote|There's a lot of correspondence. There's a lot of emails. There's a lot of photographs. There's a lot of horrible photographs that appear to be taken by Mr. Epstein or people around him. But that doesn't allow us necessarily to prosecute somebody.|||Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche<ref>Eric Tucker (February 1, 2026). [https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/top-justice-department-official-plays-chance-charges-arising-129758082 "Top Justice Department official plays down chance for charges arising from Epstein files revelations"]. AP, via ABC.</ref>}}

==External links==
*[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article220097825.html "How a future Trump Cabinet member gave a serial sex abuser the deal of a lifetime"] — ''The Miami Herald'' (November 2018)
*[http://archive.today/2025.06.27-170027/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2019/07/when-jeffrey-epstein-joked-about-sex-abuse/593503/ "When Jeffrey Epstein Joked About Sex Abuse"] — ''The Atlantic'' (July 2019)
*[http://archive.today/2020.07.05-135954/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/07/women-who-flew-with-epstein-reveal-secrets-of-his-private-world "Two Women Who Knew Jeffrey Epstein Reveal Secrets of His Private World"] — ''Vanity Fair'' (July 2019)
*[http://archive.today/2020.06.09-045936/https://www.thecut.com/2019/07/how-many-jeffrey-epstein-victims-are-there.html "Will We Ever Know How Many Girls Jeffrey Epstein Abused?"] — ''The Cut'' (July 2019)
*[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/jeffrey-epstein-high-society-contacts.html "Jeffrey Epstein's High Society Contacts"] — ''Intelligencer'' (July 2019)
*[https://archive.today/20200116132403/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/31/business/jeffrey-epstein-eugenics.html "Jeffrey Epstein Hoped to Seed Human Race With His DNA"] — ''The New York Times'' (July 2019)
*[https://www.youtube.com/@darendaleintelligence/videos "Darendale Intelligence"] — YouTube channel with dozens of videos at Epstein's Little St. James private island (recorded by drone, July–September 2019)
*[http://archive.today/2019.08.10-161816/https://www.thecut.com/2019/08/jeffrey-epstein-used-coded-notes-to-schedule-sex-with-minors.html "Jeffrey Epstein Allegedly Used Coded Messages to Arrange Sex With Underage Girls"] — ''The Cut'' (August 2019)
*[http://archive.today/2024.07.11-225812/https://www.thecut.com/2019/08/jeffrey-epstein-virgin-islands-little-st-james-house.html "What We Know About Jeffrey Epstein's 'Pedophile Island'"] — ''The Cut'' (August 2019)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190816012236/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-08-14/the-epstein-tapes-unearthed-recordings-from-his-private-island-jzbmb3p1 "The Epstein Tapes: Unearthed Recordings From His Private Island"] — ''Bloomberg'' (August 2019)
*[https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/11/jeffrey-epstein-seen-with-young-girls-getting-off-his-plane-in-2018.html "Girls who appeared to be 11 to 12 seen with Jeffrey Epstein getting off his plane in 2018 as authorities eyed his travel abroad"] — ''CNBC'' (September 2019)
*[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-50296742 "Jeffrey Epstein: ABC stopped report 'amid Palace threats'"] — ''BBC News'' (November 2019)
*[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-autopsy-a-closer-look-60-minutes-2020-01-05/ "Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy: A closer look"] — ''60 Minutes'' via CBS (January 2020)
*[https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2020/10/i-called-everyone-in-jeffrey-epsteins-little-black-book/ "I Called Everyone in Jeffrey Epstein’s Little Black Book"] — ''Mother Jones'' (October 2020)
*[https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article252529123.html "Jeffrey Epstein's notorious 'Zorro Ranch' lists in New Mexico for $27M. Take a look"] — ''The Miami Herald'' (July 2021)
*[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59736227 "Ghislaine Maxwell: The harrowing testimony that brought her down"] — ''BBC News'' (December 2021)
*[https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/lolita-express-jeffrey-epstein-maxwell-b1984416.html "What was Jeffrey Epstein's 'Lolita Express'?"] — ''The Independent'' (December 2021)
*[https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/who-are-the-newly-revealed-jeffrey-epstein-associates.html "Who Are the Newly Revealed Jeffrey Epstein Associates?"] — ''Intelligencer'' (June 2024)
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjPHq-Ez0nc "We Tracked Every Visitor to Epstein Island"] — ''WIRED'' via YouTube (November 2024)
*[https://time.com/6552063/jeffrey-epsteins-unsealed-court-documents/ "The Biggest Names from Jeffrey Epstein's Unsealed Court Documents"] — ''TIME'' (February 2025)
*[https://www.businessinsider.com/jeffrey-epstein-files-records-trump-admin-keeping-secret-may-release-2025-6 "The DOJ says it won't release any more 'Epstein Files.' Here's what the government is still keeping secret."] — ''Business Insider'' (July 2025)
*[https://www.wired.com/story/metadata-shows-the-dojs-raw-jeffrey-epstein-prison-video-was-likely-modified/ "Metadata Shows the FBI's 'Raw' Jeffrey Epstein Prison Video Was Likely Modified"] — ''WIRED'' (July 2025)
*[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jeffrey-epstein-jail-video-investigation/ "CBS News investigation of Jeffrey Epstein jail video reveals new discrepancies"] — ''CBS'' (July 2025)
*[https://archive.ph/2025.08.05-161230/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/05/us/jeffrey-epstein-mansion-photos.html "A Look Inside Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan Lair"] — ''The New York Times'' (August 2025)
*[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/never-before-seen-images-of-epsteins-private-island-released "Never-before-seen images of Epstein's private island released"] — ''PBS'' (December 2025)
*[https://epstein-docs.github.io/ Epstein Archive] —&nbsp;"An automatically processed, OCR'd, searchable archive of publicly released documents." Caution: the OCR transcription was [[large language model]]-powered.<ref>[https://www.404media.co/data-hoarder-uses-ai-to-create-searchable-database-of-epstein-files/ Data Hoarder Uses AI to Create Searchable Database of Epstein Files] by Jason Koebler (Oct 9, 2025 at 11:34 AM) ''404 Media''.</ref>
*[https://www.jmail.world Jmail] — A selection of publicly released photos, emails, flights and purchases pertaining to Epstein that can be browsed in a more natural way.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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