2026-02-03T11:43:43.730Z / https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/03/politics/epstein-files-musk-lutnick-branson-emails
与被判犯有性犯罪的杰弗里·爱泼斯坦相关的最新一批文件的主要头条新闻聚焦于唐纳德·特朗普总统、比尔·克林顿前总统、比尔·盖茨、埃隆·马斯克以及前安德鲁王子等人。这是理所当然的，这些名字散布在文件中。
与此同时，据《纽约时报》首次报道，司法部在删除这些未脱敏的裸照之前，爱泼斯坦的所谓受害者们对此感到震惊。
与被判有罪的儿童性犯罪者杰弗里·爱泼斯坦相关的文件发布这一迟迟未决的事件将继续。数百万份文件现已发布，预计还会有更多文件被释放。
爱泼斯坦文件中的重要人物
在到目前为止发布的数百万份文件中，有许多重要人物的名字被提及。一些提及似乎与之前的说法相矛盾，例如埃隆·马斯克在一封电子邮件中似乎表示希望参加爱泼斯坦岛上的一场“狂野”派对。马斯克否认曾去过该岛或参加过此类派对。
文件中充斥着无数令人尴尬的揭露，包括玛莎·斯图尔特试图获取爱泼斯坦的手机号码，以及凯蒂·库里克称赞在他派对上吃到的“摇滚”千层面。挪威王储妃发表了一些关于不忠的奇怪言论。名人医生彼得·阿提亚说了粗鄙的笑话。纽约巨人队联合所有者史蒂夫· Tisch显然在追求女性。
这些只是爱泼斯坦所涉足的精英圈子的一些片段，即使在2008年备受争议的认罪协议（他因涉及引诱未成年人的指控被定罪）之后。
文件中提及某人的名字并不表明他们参与或知晓爱泼斯坦的罪行，尽管以下大部分交流发生在他首次定罪之后。
盖茨与爱泼斯坦的长期关系有充分记录。最新的文件发布仅引发了新的疑问。目前尚不清楚是谁在2013年保存于爱泼斯坦电子邮件账户中的草稿消息中写了这些内容。但这些草稿似乎以意识流的风格记录了针对这位微软联合创始人的背叛情绪。草稿中提到了盖茨与其当时的妻子梅琳达之间的婚姻不和。还讨论了商业交易、盖茨对性传播疾病的担忧以及失败的商业投资。草稿消息表达了对比尔和梅琳达·盖茨公开离婚将损害其基金会的担忧。后来，那场离婚经历了长达数年的过程。
盖茨的一位代表向《纽约时报》表示：
“这些来自一个被证实心怀不满的骗子的指控，绝对荒谬且完全虚假。这些文件唯一证明的是爱泼斯坦对自己与盖茨没有持续关系感到的失望，以及他为了陷害和诽谤而采取的极端手段。”
马斯克并非“拒绝”邀请，而是试图协调前往爱泼斯坦岛屿的行程
埃隆·马斯克此前曾表示，他拒绝了爱泼斯坦试图邀请这位特斯拉和SpaceX亿万富翁前往其私人岛屿的尝试。但在发布的文件中，试图安排访问的是马斯克。
在2012年的一封电子邮件中，爱泼斯坦询问马斯克需要多少人乘坐直升机前往岛屿。马斯克回复称只有他和当时的妻子塔露拉·莱莉，还询问哪个夜晚会有“最狂野的派对”。
两人之间的详细电子邮件与马斯克去年声称他“拒绝”参加爱泼斯坦岛上派对的说法相悖。
在周五的文件发布后，马斯克在X平台上表示：
我从未参加过任何爱泼斯坦的派对，并且多次呼吁起诉那些与爱泼斯坦一起犯罪的人。正义的试金石不是文件的发布，而是起诉那些与爱泼斯坦一起犯下滔天罪行的人。
卢特尼克想要其船长找到爱泼斯坦私人岛屿的坐标
2012年12月，特朗普现任商务部长试图获取其船长的坐标，以便在爱泼斯坦的私人加勒比海岛屿与爱泼斯坦共进晚餐。卢特尼克当时正与妻子、另一对夫妇和各自的四个孩子在船上。他们后来讨论了午餐会面的事宜。卢特尼克向一位身份不明的收件人发送了如下指示：
来自杰弗里：周六或周日午餐？地图上的小圣詹姆斯，在圣诞湾后面
几年后的2015年，卢特尼克试图邀请爱泼斯坦参加希拉里·克林顿的政治筹款活动。
商务部发言人向CNN表示：
卢特尼克部长在其妻子在场的情况下与爱泼斯坦先生仅有有限的互动，并且从未被指控有不当行为。
维珍集团创始人在文件发布前就是爱泼斯坦的熟人。在司法部发布的2013年的一封电子邮件中，布兰森告诉爱泼斯坦，只要两人在同一地区，他很乐意随时见面“只要你带上你的后宫！”
布兰森还建议爱泼斯坦在被要求注册为性犯罪者后，让比尔·盖茨为他担保。
维珍集团发言人在向《纽约时报》的声明中表示，“后宫”评论指的是陪同爱泼斯坦与布兰森会面的成年女性。
理查德和琼·布兰森与爱泼斯坦的任何接触都发生在十二年前的几次场合，仅限于小组或商业场合。理查德认为爱泼斯坦的行为令人憎恶，并支持为其众多受害者寻求正义的权利。
此外，在与布兰森的电子邮件交流中，爱泼斯坦提到了诺贝尔和平奖委员会负责人、前挪威首相托尔比约恩·亚格兰曾住在他的纽约住所。
亚格兰与爱泼斯坦交换了许多电子邮件；同样，挪威王储妃梅特-玛丽特也单独与爱泼斯坦交换过电子邮件。两人都表示，他们在与爱泼斯坦的关系中表现出了糟糕的判断力。
纽约巨人队联合所有者是文件中的新面孔。他给爱泼斯坦发电子邮件询问他在爱泼斯坦家中遇到的一位女性，想知道她是专业人士还是“平民”。在另一次交流中，爱泼斯坦说他会给Tisch一个“礼物”。几天后，爱泼斯坦描述了一位他将介绍给Tisch的女性，称她“塔希提语主要说法语，很有异国情调”。
Tisch问她是否是“应召女郎”。爱泼斯坦回答“不是”。
Tisch在给CNN的声明中表示：
“我们有过短暂的联系，交换过关于成年女性的电子邮件，此外还讨论了电影、慈善事业和投资。我没有接受他的任何邀请，也从未去过他的岛屿。众所周知，他是个糟糕的人，我对与他的这种联系深表遗憾。”
美国国家橄榄球联盟周一表示将调查Tisch与爱泼斯坦的关联。
前哈佛大学校长、财政部长以及比尔·克林顿和巴拉克·奥巴马前总统的经济顾问，长期以来一直被认为是爱泼斯坦的熟人。在第一批爱泼斯坦文件发布后，萨默斯离开了OpenAI公司董事会，并停止在哈佛任教。在2017年新发布的电子邮件中，萨默斯和爱泼斯坦就唐纳德·特朗普总统在其第一任期内进行了八卦并侮辱了特朗普的智商。
爱泼斯坦在一封电子邮件中对萨默斯说：“你的世界不了解他实际上有多蠢。”
正如之前报道的那样，萨默斯还被指定为爱泼斯坦早期遗嘱版本中的执行人。
萨默斯的一位发言人在12月向CNN表示：
“萨默斯先生完全不知道自己被列入爱泼斯坦早期遗嘱的版本中，并且从未参与过他的财务事务或遗产管理。”
萨默斯此前曾表示，他“深感羞愧”，并对自己“继续与爱泼斯坦先生交流的错误决定承担全部责任”。
这位有影响力的抗衰老网红与爱泼斯坦关系密切。两人交换了数百封电子邮件。阿提亚承认，与爱泼斯坦成为朋友是他无法公开分享的事情。他们讨论了2018年《迈阿密先驱报》一篇指出爱泼斯坦受害者的文章。
阿提亚还开了关于性行为和女性解剖结构的玩笑。
阿提亚在一份声明中表示，虽然他没有参与任何犯罪活动，但“我道歉并后悔让自己处于这样一种境地，即一些令人尴尬、低俗且站不住脚的电子邮件现在被公开。”
电视主持人兼记者凯蒂·库里克在2010年发电子邮件提到想去爱泼斯坦家，并感谢他的晚餐以及显然是美味的千层面，提到“形形色色的人”包括她和她称之为“布鲁克斯”的人。库里克当时正在与布鲁克斯·佩林约会。
有一次，当库里克拒绝了喝茶的邀请时，爱泼斯坦说他和一个叫安德鲁的人对不能见到她感到失望。
2011年，库里克给公关 Peggy Siegal 发了一封可能带有讽刺意味的电子邮件，感谢她收到的爱泼斯坦邀请。库里克写道：
哦，谢谢杰弗里·爱泼斯坦的邀请……这给我带来了无尽的麻烦！
西格尔将这条消息转发给了爱泼斯坦，作为对针对他和安德鲁的“猎巫行动”的证据，并表示愿意提供帮助。
库里克在她2021年的回忆录中描述了与其他名人及安德鲁一起在爱泼斯坦家中的晚餐，称那里的氛围“令人毛骨悚然”，并承认她“本应该对爱泼斯坦做更多的调查”。周一通过短信联系时，她拒绝进一步置评。
爱泼斯坦的助手莱斯利·格罗夫在2013年询问爱泼斯坦是否可以将他的手机号码给斯图尔特的助手。格罗夫还在电子邮件中附上了斯图尔特的手机号码，并表示斯图尔特将于当年12月23日从圣克罗伊岛出发。
12月26日，一个标有“玛莎·斯图尔特 圣克罗伊岛”的日历条目在12月26日上午预留了一小时。
几年后，格罗夫在她的通讯录中给一个“玛莎·斯图尔特”联系人发电子邮件，邀请斯图尔特参加与爱泼斯坦、伍迪·艾伦及其妻子Soon Yi的晚餐。格罗夫附上了爱泼斯坦的纽约地址，并表示派对将于7点或7点30分开始，但时间仍在确定中。目前尚不清楚她是否接受了邀请。
斯图尔特的发言人未立即回应置评请求。
2016年，爱泼斯坦给Deepak Chopra的联系人发电子邮件，询问“莱昂纳多是否想和伍迪共进晚餐”。
“我当然可以问他是否有空，”乔普拉回复道。
目前尚不清楚这个想法是否有任何进展。
2017年，有电子邮件邀请电视名人迪克·卡维特和他的妻子玛莎参加另一场与伍迪·艾伦和Soon Yi的晚餐。卡维特无法参加。
一位有权势的律师布拉德·卡尔普联系爱泼斯坦，希望为他当时还是康奈尔大学学生的儿子争取在艾伦电影中工作的机会。
爱泼斯坦回复道：“我当然会问。”
爱泼斯坦与乔普拉经常通信。他们交换新闻文章并安排会面。2017年，乔普拉因在华盛顿特区被耽搁而无法参加与爱泼斯坦、艾伦和当时的斯洛伐克外交部长米罗斯拉夫·莱恰克的晚餐。
在2016年的一次交流中，乔普拉问爱泼斯坦是否认识马拉·梅普尔斯，特朗普的前妻、蒂芙尼·特朗普的母亲。爱泼斯坦说，当特朗普发现梅普尔斯怀孕时，他输掉了1万美元的赌注，他说他用一卡车婴儿食品向特朗普支付了这笔钱。
莱恰克在计划与乔普拉、爱泼斯坦和艾伦共进晚餐时，是联合国大会主席。据路透社报道，在最新的爱泼斯坦文件发布后，他辞去了现任斯洛伐克政府顾问的职务。
亿万富翁、美国国家橄榄球联盟华盛顿指挥官队、美国职业篮球联赛费城76人队和美国职业曲棍球联赛新泽西魔鬼队的联合所有者乔希·哈里斯也在文件中多次出现。
9月发布的文件显示，爱泼斯坦在2014年邀请哈里斯到他纽约庄园参加一场“私密”早餐会，“比尔·盖茨也会出席”。
虽然此前不清楚哈里斯是否接受了邀请，但周五的新文件表明哈里斯确实与爱泼斯坦会面。在预定会面日期一周后，爱泼斯坦问哈里斯“早餐好玩吗”，哈里斯回复“非常好，谢谢你的邀请”。
哈里斯的一位发言人向WJLA-TV表示：
乔希·哈里斯从未与杰弗里·爱泼斯坦建立独立关系。哈里斯试图阻止爱泼斯坦与阿波罗建立企业关系。正如这些电子邮件所示，哈里斯试图避免与爱泼斯坦会面，取消了会面并让其他人回电话。
新发布的文件中包括布雷特·拉特纳（梅拉尼娅·特朗普新亚马逊电影的导演）躺在沙发上与爱泼斯坦一起拥抱年轻女性的照片。司法部发布这些照片的前一天，拉特纳出席了他的电影《梅拉尼娅》的红毯活动，亚马逊为此支付了4000万美元的版权费和3500万美元的营销费用。
2017年，有六名女性指控拉特纳存在不当性行为，他否认所有指控。拉特纳告诉福克斯新闻，他与照片中沙发上的女性之一订婚，当时照片拍摄时他并不认识爱泼斯坦。
新的短信揭示了爱泼斯坦与史蒂夫·班农（民粹主义战略家，也是特朗普第一任期内最亲密的顾问之一）之间关系的深度。
爱泼斯坦和班农经常就特朗普展开交流，包括取笑总统以及班农对他的影响力。
在提到Axios关于总统日程的一篇文章时，班农写道：“兄弟已经耗尽精力。”班农还讽刺地称特朗普为“‘稳定天才’正在把自己搞垮”。
在提到班农试图在得克萨斯州埃尔帕索外建造私人边境墙的努力时，班农给爱泼斯坦写道：“我似乎无法让特朗普意识到他自己的无能。”这一边境墙建设导致班农面临联邦欺诈指控，涉案金额超过100万美元，特朗普在其第一任期的最后几个小时赦免了他。
在另一条消息中，班农写道：“伙计：我刚刚让他批准了对中国4000亿美元的关税。”
新发布的文件中包括近两小时的班农与爱泼斯坦的采访视频，其中讨论了爱泼斯坦作为性犯罪者的分类。班农问爱泼斯坦他是什么级别的掠食者，爱泼斯坦回答“一级”或“最低级别”。
班农未立即回应CNN的置评请求。
谷歌联合创始人谢尔盖·布林在文件中多次出现。布林与吉斯莱恩·麦克斯韦交换了多条信息，包括提出带谷歌当时的首席执行官埃里克·施密特参加在爱泼斯坦纽约住所的晚餐。该交流发生在2003年，远在爱泼斯坦被定罪为性犯罪者之前。麦克斯韦告诉布林：“在杰弗里家的晚餐总是轻松愉快的。”
爱泼斯坦指控者莎拉·兰索姆此前在2024年的法庭文件中声称，她在爱泼斯坦的私人岛屿上见到了布林和他当时的未婚妻安妮·沃西基。
布林未立即回应发送给谷歌的置评请求。
https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01600824.mov
Breaking down some boldface names in the Epstein files
2026-02-03T11:43:43.730Z / https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/03/politics/epstein-files-musk-lutnick-branson-emails
The major headlines from the latest dump of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein focus on President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Elon Musk and the former Prince Andrew, among others. And rightly so. Those names are sprinkled throughout the documents.
Epstein’s alleged victims, meanwhile, were horrified that the Department of Justice posted unredacted nude images before taking them down, according to reporting that first appeared in The New York Times.
The overdue saga of releasing files related to the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will continue. Millions of files have now been released; more are expected.
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There are many boldface names sprinkled throughout the millions of documents released so far. Some mentions seem to contradict previous statements, such as Elon Musk’s apparent desire in an email to attend a “wild” party on Epstein’s island. Musk denies ever going to the island or attending such a party.
There are countless awkward revelations in the files, including Martha Stewart trying to get Epstein’s cell phone number and Katie Couric commending a “ROCKIN” lasagna she had at his party. The crown princess of Norway offered some strange comments about infidelity. The celebrity doctor Peter Attia made crass jokes. New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch was apparently in pursuit of women.
These are some of the glimpses of the rarefied air in which Epstein traveled, even after the controversial 2008 plea deal in which he was convicted on charges related to the solicitation of a minor.
The inclusion of a person’s name in the file release does not indicate they participated in or were aware of Epstein’s crimes, although most of the exchanges below occurred after his initial conviction.
The long relationship between Gates and Epstein is well documented. The latest document release only raises new questions. It’s not clear who wrote what look to be draft messages from 2013 saved in Epstein’s email account. But they appear to document, in stream-of-consciousness style, feelings of betrayal aimed at the Microsoft co-founder. The drafts mention marital discord between Gates and his then-wife Melinda. There is discussion of business deals, the idea of Gates having concerns about a sexually transmitted disease, and soured business ventures. The draft message expresses concern that a public divorce between Bill and Melinda Gates would hurt their foundation. Later, that divorce would be a yearslong process.
“These claims — from a proven, disgruntled liar — are absolutely absurd and completely false. The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame,” a Gates representative told the New York Times.
Musk, rather than ‘REFUSE’ an invite, tried to coordinate trip to Epstein’s island
Elon Musk has previously said he rebuffed Epstein’s attempts to invite the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire to his private island. But in released documents, it is Musk who appears to be involved in trying to set up a visit.
In a 2012 email, Epstein asked Musk how many people will need a helicopter ride to the island. Musk wrote back that it would be only him and his then-wife Talulah Riley, and wondered what night would yield the “wildest party.”
The detailed emails between the two men run counter to Musk’s claim last year that he’d “REFUSED” to attend a party on Epstein’s island.
After Friday’s files release, Musk said this on X:
I have never been to any Epstein parties ever and have many times call for the prosecution of those who have committed crimes with Epstein. The acid test for justice is not the release of the files, but rather the prosecution of those who committed heinous crimes with Epstein.
Lutnick wanted coordinates for his boat captain to find Epstein’s private island
In December 2012, Trump’s now-secretary of commerce was trying to get coordinates for his boat captain in order to link up with Epstein, presumably at Epstein’s private Caribbean island, for dinner. Lutnick was on his boat with his wife, another couple, and each family’s four children. They later discussed meeting for lunch. Lutnick sent a message to an unidentified recipient with directions:
Below from Jeffrey: come sat or sunday lunch? little st jamcs on the map, behind christmans cove
Years later, in 2015, Lutnick tried to invite Epstein to a political fundraiser for Hillary Clinton.
“Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing,” a Commerce Department spokesperson told CNN.
The Virgin Group founder was a known Epstein acquaintance before the release of documents. In one 2013 email released by the Department of Justice, Branson told Epstein he’d be happy to meet any time the two are in the same area “as long as you bring your harem!”
Branson also counseled Epstein to get Bill Gates to vouch for him after Epstein was required to register as a sex offender.
In a statement to the New York Times, a Virgin Group spokesperson said the “harem” comment referred to adult women who accompanied Epstein during a meeting with Branson.
“Any contact Richard and Joan Branson had with Epstein took place on only a few occasions more than twelve years ago, and was limited to group or business settings,” the Virgin Group spokesperson told The Times. “Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.”
Separately in that email exchange with Branson, Epstein referred to the head of the committee that awards the Nobel Peace Prize, former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland, staying at his New York house.
Jagland exchanged many emails with Epstein; so too, separately, did Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit. Both have said they showed poor judgment in their relationship with Epstein
The New York Giants co-owner is a new face in the documents. He emailed Epstein asking about a woman he met at Epstein’s house and wondered if she was a professional or a “civilian.” In another exchange, Epstein said he would have a “present” for Tisch. Days later, Epstein described a woman he would introduce Tisch to as “tahitian speaks mostly french, exotic.”
Tisch asked if she was a “working girl.” Epstein said “Nwver.”
In a statement to CNN, Tisch said this:
“We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments. I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”
The NFL said Monday it will look into Tisch’s association with Epstein.
The former Harvard president, treasury secretary and economic adviser to former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama has long been known as an acquaintance of Epstein’s. After a first tranche of Epstein files was released, Summers left the board of the firm OpenAI and stopped teaching at Harvard. In newly released emails from 2017, Summers and Epstein gossiped about President Donald Trump during his first term and insulted Trump’s intelligence.
“Your world does not understand how dumb he really is,” Epstein told Summers in one email.
Summers was also, as previously reported, named as executor in an early version of Epstein’s will.
“Mr. Summers had absolutely no knowledge that he was included in an early version of Epstein’s will and had no involvement in his financial matters or the administration of his estate,” a Summers spokesperson told CNN back in December.
Summers had previously said he is “deeply ashamed” and takes “full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.”
The viral anti-aging influencer had a chummy relationship with Epstein. The men exchanged hundreds of emails. Attia acknowledged that being friends with Epstein was not something he could share publicly. They discussed a 2018 Miami Herald story that identified Epstein victims.
Attia also made jokes about sex acts and the female anatomy.
Attia said in a statement that while he was not involved in any criminal activity, “I apologize and regret putting myself in a position where emails, some of them embarrassing, tasteless, and indefensible, are now public.”
The TV host and journalist Katie Couric emailed about stopping by Epstein’s house in 2010 and thanked him for dinner and what was apparently a tasty lasagna, for an “eclectic crowd” that included her and someone she refers to as “Brooks.” Couric at the time was dating Brooks Perlin.
At one point, when Couric declined an invitation for tea, Epstein said he and someone named Andrew were disappointed they wouldn’t see her.
In 2011, Couric emailed the publicist Peggy Siegal perhaps ironically thanking her for an Epstein invite. Couric wrote:
Oy, thanks for the Jeffrey Epstein invite… it’s brought me a world of trouble!
Siegal forwarded the message to Epstein as evidence of a “witch hunt” against him and Andrew and offered her services to help.
Couric recounted the dinner, alongside other celebrities and Andrew, in her 2021 memoir. She described the atmosphere at Epstein’s home as “creepy” and conceded she “should have done a little more research” into Epstein. Reached by text on Monday, she declined further comment.
Epstein’s assistant Lesley Groff asked Epstein if it was okay to give his cell number to Stewart’s assistant in 2013. Groff also included Stewart’s cell number in the email and said Stewart would be on St. Croix starting December 23 that year.
On December 26, a calendar entry for “martha stewart st. croix” blocks off an hour on the morning of December 26.
A few years later, Groff emailed a “Martha Stewart” contact in her address book to invite Stewart to a dinner with Epstein, Woody Allen and Allen’s wife Soon Yi. Groff included Epstein’s New York address and said the party would start at 7 or 7:30, but she was still working on the time. It’s unclear whether she accepted the invitation.
A spokesperson for Stewart did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In 2016, Epstein emailed a contact for Deepak Chopra wondering if “l=o dicaprio would want to have dinner with Woody.”
“I can certainly ask him if he is around,” Chopra replied.
It’s not clear what, if anything, came of the idea.
In 2017, there are emails inviting the TV personality Dick Cavett and his wife Martha to another dinner with Woody Allen and Soon Yi. Cavett was unable to attend.
A powerful lawyer, Brad Karp, contacted Epstein about getting his son, then a Cornell student, work on an Allen film.
“i will ask, of course,” Epstein responded.
Epstein corresponded frequently with Chopra. They exchanged news articles and set up meetings. Chopra was unable to make one 2017 dinner with Epstein, Allen and Slovakian then- Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák, due to being delayed in Washington, DC.
In a 2016 exchange, Chopra asks Epstein if he knows Marla Maples, Trump’s former wife and the mother of Tiffany Trump. Epstein says that when Trump found out Maples was pregnant, Epstein lost a $10,000 bet, which he said he paid to Trump with a truck full of baby food.
Lajčák was, at the time of the planned dinner with Chopra, Epstein and Allen, President of the UN General Assembly. He resigned from his position as an adviser to the current Slovakian government after the latest Epstein release, according to Reuters.
Josh Harris, the billionaire co-owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, and NHL’s New Jersey Devils, also appears several times in the files.
The files released in September revealed that Epstein invited Harris to an “intimate” breakfast at his estate in New York in 2014, where “Bill Gates will be in attendance.”
While it was previously unclear whether Harris accepted the invitation, Friday’s new files indicate Harris did meet with Epstein. Epstein asked Harris about a week after the intended meeting date “did you hve fun at breakfast,” to which Harris responded, “Yes very much. Thank you for inviting me.”
In a statement to WJLA-TV, a spokesperson for Harris said, “Josh Harris never had an independent relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Harris sought to prevent Epstein’s attempts to develop a corporate relationship with Apollo. As these emails indicate, Harris sought to avoid meeting with Epstein, canceling meetings and having others return his calls.”
The newly released files include photos of Bret Ratner, the director of Melania Trump’s new Amazon film, lying on a sofa with Epstein as they both embrace young women. The release by the Justice Department came one day after Ratner appeared on the red carpet for his film Melania,” for which Amazon paid $40 million in rights and another $35 million in marketing.
Ratner was accused of sexual impropriety by six women in 2017. He has denied any wrongdoing. Ratner told Fox News he did not have a personal relationship with Ratner and that he was engaged to one of the women pictured on the sofa at the time the photo was taken.
New text messages reveal the depth of the relationship between Epstein and Steve Bannon, the populist strategist and one of Trump’s closest advisers in his first term.
Epstein and Bannon frequently messaged about Trump, including poking fun at the president and Bannon’s influence over him
In reference to an Axios post about the president’s schedule, Bannon wrote: “Brother is out of gas.” Bannon also referred to Trump sarcastically as a “‘Stable Genius’ bringing himself down.”
In reference to Bannon’s efforts to start building a private border wall outside El Paso, Texas, Bannon wrote to Epstein “I can’t seem like I’m running trump’s nose in his own incompetence.” This border wall construction led to Bannon facing federal charges for defrauding donors of more than a million dollars, for which Trump pardoned him in the final hours of his first administration
In another message, Bannon wrote “Dude: I just got him to pull the trigger on $400 billion in tariffs on china.”
Among the newly released files is nearly two hours of video of an interview between Bannon and Epstein, including discussion of Epstein’s classification as a sex offender. Bannon asks Epstein what class of predator he is, to which Epstein responds, “Tier one,” or “the lowest.”
Bannon did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Sergey Brin, the billionaire co-founder of Google, appears multiple times in the files. Brin exchanged multiple messages with Ghislaine Maxwell, including offering to bring along Google’s then-CEO, Eric Schmidt, to a dinner at Epstein’s residence in New York. That exchange occurred in 2003, long before Epstein’s conviction as a sex offender. Maxwell told Brin, “Dinners at Jeffrey’s are always happily casual and relaxed.”
Epstein accuser Sarah Ransome had previously claimed in court documents in 2024 that she met Brin and his then-fiancée, Anne Wojcicki, on Epstein’s private island.
Brin did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to Google.
https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA01600824.mov
