Jeffrey Epstein Files: On January 30, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) released the latest batch of documents related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The documents, believed to be the largest batch of files to date, contain over three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos, bringing the total output to nearly 3.5 million pages. The DOJ said in a statement that it released them in accordance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law by US President Donald Trump on November 19, 2025.
According to a DOJ report analyzed by LiveMint, the documents released on January 30 marked the end of a comprehensive document identification and review process designed to ensure transparency for the American people and compliance with the law.
Americans pressured the government to release all of Epstein’s writings. The Justice Department released millions of documents that drew intense public attention because they linked several household names, including Trump, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, tech billionaire Elon Musk and others.
Authorities have stressed that being named does not imply any wrongdoing, and many have denied any wrongdoing.
Here is a list of people mentioned in the Epstein files:
1. Donald Trump: Trump, who ordered the release of these documents, claimed he had a falling out with Epstein nearly two decades ago. Since the Justice Department released the Epstein files, Trump’s name has come up hundreds of times, often in unverified tips received by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that lack supporting evidence. In addition, the files also contain several allegations of sexual abuse made against Trump, Epstein and other high-profile figures, the BBC reported.
Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein, adding that he has not been accused of any crimes by Epstein’s victims. Speaking to reporters at the White House earlier this week, Trump said he thought it was “really time for the country to do something else.” He added: “Nothing about me came out.”
2. Elon Musk: Musk’s email correspondence with Epstein was also released in the latest tranche of documents. Some of these were related to his travel plans, which Epstein apparently arranged. In a November 25, 2012 email, Musk asked Epstein, “Which day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”
In another email dated December 25, 2012, Musk asked Epstein, “Do you have any parties planned? I’ve been working to the limit of my sanity this year, so once my kids get home after Christmas, I really want to hit the party scene in St Barts or somewhere else and let it go. The invite is greatly appreciated, but a quiet island experience is the opposite of what I’m looking for.”
In response to his name being mentioned in Epstein’s files, Musk acknowledged in a post on X that the emails were meant to “tarnish my name”; however, he added that he was more concerned about prosecuting “those who committed serious crimes with Epstein.”
3. Bill Gates: According to the released emails, Epstein made remarks to and about Gates in 2013 that suggested he (Gates) had engaged in extramarital sex. In the email, Epstein allegedly wrote that he helped Gates get drugs “to deal with the consequences of having sex with Russian girls,” adding that he arranged for the Microsoft founder to meet married women.
In response to the allegations against Gates, his representative called the allegations “absolutely absurd and completely false”.
4. Howard Lutnick: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick reportedly planned to visit Epstein’s island, Little Saint James, with his family, according to released emails. In one of the December 2012 emails, Lutnick’s wife, Allison, wrote to Epstein’s assistant before the visit, saying, “We look forward to your visit” and “We’d like to join you for lunch.”
According to a BBC report, the US Commerce Department said “Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and was never charged with wrongdoing.”
5. Bill Clinton: The first release shared by the Justice Department featured several images of former US President Clinton, including a picture of him swimming in a pool and another picture of him lying on his back with his hands behind his head in what appears to be a hot tub. According to the BBC, Clinton was photographed with a sex offender several times between the 1990s and the early 2000s.
Responding to the allegations, Clinton’s spokesperson said in a social media post: “They can post as many grainy 20+ year old photos as they want, but this is not about Bill Clinton. Never has been, never will be.”
Other prominent names
1. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: Former Prince of the British Royal Family
2. Richard Branson: CEO of Virgin Group
3. Sarah Ferguson: Former wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
4. Lord Mandelson: Former Labor Party politician
5. Steve Bannon: Trump’s former top adviser
6. Sergey Brin: Co-founder of Google
7. Ehud Barak: Former Prime Minister of Israel
8. Noam Chomsky: American professor
9. Ariane de Rothschild: CEO of the Edmond de Rothschild Group
10. Larry Summers: Former Treasury Secretary of US President Bill Clinton
Also read: Epstein files: Document claims former US president George Bush ‘raped’ victim – what we know
The case of Jeffrey Epstein
In 2006, the parents of a 14-year-old girl accused the late wealthy financier Epstein of allegedly molesting their daughter at his Florida mansion. Many other underage girls accused Epstein of paying them to have sex with him. Epstein was arrested in 2019 and died in his cell while awaiting trial.
Reports suggest that several wealthy people have had ties to Epstein, with some charged with wrongdoing. Epstein’s associate and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell recruited and managed his stable of victims, according to media reports.
Key things
- The release of the Epstein files underscores the importance of transparency in high-profile legal cases.
- Being named in files does not imply wrongdoing, but highlights the interconnectedness of powerful individuals.
