Victoria Bekiempis
Less than two weeks before Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail, his lawyers and Manhattan federal prosecutors met and discussed his potential cooperation, several documents within a cache of newly released investigative files state.
“On July 29, 2019, FBI and [prosecutors] met with Epstein’s attorneys, who, in very general terms, discussed the possibility of a resolution of the case, and the possibility of the defendant’s cooperation,” an FBI document titled “Epstein Investigation Summary & Timeline” stated.
Another document titled “Jeffrey Epstein Significant Case Notification”, which was not attributed to a specific agency, closely resembled this FBI memo, and provided several more details.
“Defense Counsel did not make a specific proposal, and they did not indicate what the nature of Epstein’s cooperation might be, if any,” this document stated. “It was suggested that Defense Counsel contact SDNY if Epstein was prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct and/or they had a specific proposal for a resolution of this case.”
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Key events
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer released the following statement today condemning the Trump administration’s handling of the release of the Epstein files:
“The Justice Department needs to get its story straight. It announced collecting 6 million pages of Epstein files. But then yesterday said it was only releasing 3 million pages. I looked, and even that number is inflated. All told, across four new datasets released throughout the day yesterday, the Justice Department only released less than 2.7 million pages.
The law required all the Epstein files to be released on December 19, 2025. For forty-three days, the Justice Department delayed release, cherry-picked documents—many were heavily redacted—all to obscure the truth and delay justice for the survivors.
Until yesterday, the Justice Department admitted to having released less than 1 percent of all documents. Now it’s saying the work is done. Americans are very dubious.
The American people want the complete truth on the Epstein files, not puffed-up statistics. AG Bondi thinks she can dupe the American people. But we see right through her lies. Stop the cover-up and follow the law.”
Nellie Bowles, journalist and wife of CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, is reportedly included among the numerous emails released in the latest Epstein file drop. In the emails, Bowles appears to be in correspondence with an assistant to Epstein about meeting with the late sex offender.
In replies on social media, Bowles said that the meeting was not a secret and that she “wrote about the meeting and used the reporting from it” for articles later published in the New York Times.
House judiciary committee Democrats are requesting an “urgent” review of the unredacted Epstein files to evaluate compliance with federal law in a letter to the justice department.
Representative Jamie Raskin cited the department’s claims to have identified over 6m pages but only about half of those have been made public.
“We seek to ensure that your redactions comply with the act’s requirement that materials be withheld only in narrow circumstances, such as protecting victims’ personally identifiable information, and not on the basis of ‘embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary,’” the Maryland Democrat wrote in the letter.
Victoria Bekiempis
Less than two weeks before Jeffrey Epstein’s death in jail, his lawyers and Manhattan federal prosecutors met and discussed his potential cooperation, several documents within a cache of newly released investigative files state.
“On July 29, 2019, FBI and [prosecutors] met with Epstein’s attorneys, who, in very general terms, discussed the possibility of a resolution of the case, and the possibility of the defendant’s cooperation,” an FBI document titled “Epstein Investigation Summary & Timeline” stated.
Another document titled “Jeffrey Epstein Significant Case Notification”, which was not attributed to a specific agency, closely resembled this FBI memo, and provided several more details.
“Defense Counsel did not make a specific proposal, and they did not indicate what the nature of Epstein’s cooperation might be, if any,” this document stated. “It was suggested that Defense Counsel contact SDNY if Epstein was prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct and/or they had a specific proposal for a resolution of this case.”
Read more:
King Charles III made a surprise appearance at the UK’s Sandringham parkrun this morning at an event organized in partnership with the Move Against Cancer charity.
The public appearance is his first following new revelations about his brother, former prince Andrew’s inclusion in the latest batch of Epstein files.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was again engulfed by the Epstein scandal after newly released files included photos appearing to show him on his hands and knees crouching over what looks to be a woman lying on the floor.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has added her voice to those calling for a more complete release of the Epstein files following the latest batch to drop from the justice department.
“Even with everything in this Epstein drop, remember: this is a minority of the files,” she wrote on social media.
“This is STILL just what they were *willing* to release – in violation of the law, which requires release of all files. Pam Bondi’s DOJ is still hiding most of them. We need them all.”
Ocasio-Cortez has called for the impeachment of Bondi due not only to her handling of the Epstein files, but also yesterday’s arrest of ex-CNN journalist Don Lemon as well as the “attempted extortion” of voter files from Minnesota.
Epstein gave millions of dollars to research projects associated with Martin Nowak, a Harvard University math professor. In a 2018 email, Epstein assistant Lesley Groff asked someone about a missing key card for Nowak’s office, according to the newly released documents.
“We can’t find it … it is kept in my office drawer and it is not there … do you happen to know where it is?” Groff asked in an email, the Associated Press reported. The email recipient is redacted.
In 2021, Harvard barred Nowak from starting new research or advising students for at least two years because of his ties to Epstein after the financier’s 2008 sex crimes conviction. An investigation determined that Nowak gave Epstein an office in his campus research center, along with a building key card.
At the time, Nowak said he regretted the connection between Harvard and Epstein “and the hurt that it has caused”.
The latest release of documents includes emails between investigators about Epstein’s death, including an investigator’s observation that his final communication doesn’t look like a suicide note, according to the Associated Press. Investigations have determined that Epstein’s death was a suicide.
The records also describe a scheme that staff at the jail used to fool the media gathered outside while Epstein’s body was removed. Staffers used boxes and sheets to create what appeared to be a body and loaded it into a white van labeled as belonging to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
The reporters followed the van once it left the jail, not knowing that Epstein’s actual body was loaded into a black vehicle, which departed “unnoticed,” according to the interview notes.
Lawyers representing Epstein’s victims release statements: ‘This fight isn’t over’
Multiple lawyers representing Epstein’s victims have released statements following the release of the latest batch of Epstein files by the justice department.
Sigrid McCawley, managing partner at Boies Schiller Flexner and longtime lawyer representing Epstein survivors, released the following statement:
“It is without question that a significant piece of Epstein and Maxwell’s vast sex trafficking operation was to provide young women and girls to other wealthy and powerful individuals. This practice gave Epstein and Maxwell control and power over individuals who were implicated in the sex trafficking. Those who find themselves entangled in the mire of newly released information, no doubt, will play the deny and distance card, but that doesn’t change the fact that this is exactly how the sex trafficking operation worked.”
Jennifer Freeman, lawyer for Maria Farmer, said:
“The DOJ’s handling of the Epstein files has been a mess from the start, filled with missed deadlines and ham-fisted redactions, while exposing the identities of survivors. This fight isn’t over – we won’t allow the federal government to simply dump a couple million documents and wash their hands of one of the largest law enforcement failures in U.S. history. At this point, we have more questions than answers. Where is the rest of Maria Farmer’s FBI file? Where are the records of complaints that so many other women made to FBI and how the FBI investigated those complaints? And why is the DOJ hiding the names of perpetrators while exposing survivors?”
Spencer Kuvin of Goldlaw, who has also represented many of Epstein’s victims, said the following:
“We know for certain from direct testimony of victims that Epstein provided girls to other famous and notable people. Usually these were favors with the hope that he would get something in return from these people. The recent documents only confirm what the victims have been saying all along. The absence of a formal ‘client list’ is not the same thing as proof that no third parties participated.”
Elon Musk has responded to a post about his inclusion in the latest Epstein file release on his social media platform X.
Emails in the files reportedly reveal exchanges between Epstein and Elon Musk. They appear to show the pair messaging each other about potential plans for the Tesla CEO to visit Epstein’s island. It is unclear from the messaging if the two actually met up on the island.
“No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened,” Musk wrote.
“I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express’, but was well aware that some email correspondence with him could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name,” he continued. “I don’t care about that, but what I do care about is that we at least attempt to prosecute those who committed serious crimes with Epstein, especially regarding heinous exploitation of underage girls.”
Here are some images of the email exchanges released by the US justice department that apparently relate to Sarah Ferguson. Some of those exchanges show Epstein sending an email to Mike Sitrick, thought to be the publicist of crisis management PR firm Sitrick and Company.
Summary of events so far
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was again engulfed by the Epstein scandal after newly released files included photos appearing to show him on his hands and knees crouching over what looks to be a female lying on the floor. The images, which do not show the female’s face, were among millions of documents released by the US justice department related to the late sex offender.
Documents also suggest that the former prince invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace shortly after he was released from house arrest in 2010. Epstein served almost 13 months in a Florida prison, which he was allowed to leave during the day to work in his West Palm Beach office, for soliciting prostitution from underage girls.
Epstein reportedly asked his publicist in 2011 for Sarah Ferguson to release a statement saying he was “not a pedo”, according to email exchanges that make reference to a person called “Fergie”. Other exchanges between Epstein and a person named only as “Sarah”, whose email address is redacted, appears to show “Sarah” thanking Epstein for “being the brother I have always wished for”.
The files also shed new light on how Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s coconspirator, manipulated victims by being playful and treating them “like they were sisters”. Maxwell was convicted in 2021 of recruiting and grooming vulnerable teenage girls to be sexually abused by her then-boyfriend Epstein between 1994 and 2004.
Epstein is also said to have sent thousands of pounds in bank transfers after his release from prison in 2009 to Peter Mandelson’s husband, according to emails released in the files. It raises fresh questions about Epstein’s relationship with Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington when details of his support for the disgraced financier emerged in September.
Emails in the files reportedly reveal the exchanges between Epstein and Elon Musk. They appear to show the pair messaging each other about potential plans for the world’s richest person to visit Epstein’s island.
If you’re just joining us, millions of files related to the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been released by the US justice department, the largest disclosure by the government since a law passed last year ruled that the documents should be published.
The disgraced financier was convicted of child sex offences in 2008 but the files indicate that many high-profile figures, including the former prince, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, continued friendships with him after this point.
Epstein killed himself in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on new child abuse charges. His accomplice, the British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year sentence in the US for child sex trafficking.
My colleague Geraldine McKelvie has written this explainer on what what we have learned from the latest Epstein files release:
Epstein wanted Ferguson to release a statement saying he was ‘not a pedo’, documents show
Epstein wanted Sarah Ferguson to release a statement saying he was “not a pedo” and she had been “duped” into believing false allegations about him, newly released emails appear to show.
PA reports files showing that in March 2011, the Epstein asked publicist Mike Sitrick to “draft a statement that in an ideal world Fergie would put out”.
Epstein wrote:
I think that Fergie can now say, I am not a pedo.. She was DUPED into believeing false stories, by Civil Plaintiffs Attorneys from Florida.
They represented themselves as law enforcment (fisten), and she was told horrible things and she reacted.
She now knows that what she was told was based on false hoods, and fabrications desiened to enhance their civill suit. She should out the newspaperes on the offering of money for stories.
Sarah Ferguson thanked Epstein for ‘being the brother’ she always wished for, according to files
The PA news agency has reported an email exchange included in the millions of released documents in which Sarah Ferguson appeared to thank Epstein for “being the brother I have always wished for”.
The file that the report refers to can be found here. The email exchange, dated 3 August 2009, is between Epstein and a person referred to as “Sarah”. The sender’s email address is redacted.
This is what the email to Epstein from “Sarah” says:
Thank you so much Jeffrey. I had the best discussion with Target on Friday, and they want desperately the whole Mothers Army project. They also want to get behind my entire Sarah Ferguson brand, books etc.
Tommy Hilfiger wants to build my entire apparel, Fragrance etc etc brand, and sell it on QVC. NBC want my Mothers Army TV Show
Ben Silverman wants it
So too does Ryan Seacrest.
In just one week, after your lunch, it seems the energy has lifted.
I have never been more touched by a friends kindness than your compliment to me infront [sic] of my girls.
Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for
The documents released by the US justice department also show Epstein received and sent multiple news articles related to the former duchess regarding her divorce from Mountbatten-Windsor and her finances, PA reported. The news agency contacted Ferguson for comment.
Multiple charities severed ties with Ferguson in September last year after it emerged she had described Epstein as a “supreme friend”. Her spokesperson said at the time that the comments were made in a letter of apology to Epstein that was written in 2011 to head off threats of legal action after she had linked him to paedophilia in a newspaper interview.
Democrats accuse DoJ of not releasing millions of Epstein files despite legal requirement
Lauren Gambino
Survivors, lawmakers and watchdog groups accused Donald Trump’s justice department of withholding records it is legally required to release following the disclosure of millions of files from the investigation into the disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The justice department on Friday released 3m pages of documents from its investigation into the millionaire financier’s sexual abuse of young girls and his interactions with wealthy and powerful figures, including Trump and former president Bill Clinton. The release was an effort to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and, according to US deputy attorney general, Todd Blanche, includes more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, all subject to “extensive redactions”.
In a letter to Congress, the attorney general, Pam Bondi, and Blanche indicated that Friday’s document “marks the end” of the government’s efforts to comply with the law, drawing sharp condemnation from Democrats and the bill’s authors.
Robert Garcia, the Democratic ranking member on the House oversight committee, which has taken a lead role in investigating the government’s handling of the files release, accused Bondi of breaking the law.
“Donald Trump and his Department of Justice have now made it clear that they intend to withhold roughly 50% of the Epstein files, while claiming to have fully complied with the law. This is outrageous and incredibly concerning,” Garcia said in a statement.
Emails reportedly show Epstein scouted women for New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch
New York Giants chairman and co-owner Steve Tisch appeared throughout a newly released trove of emails related to Epstein, including communications in which the late sex offender arranged for Tisch to meet specific women.
The emails, dated 2013, were released on Friday by the US justice department among the millions of documents related to Epstein’s sex trafficking case and were first reported on by the Athletic.
One communication from May 2013 appeared to show Epstein offering to connect Tisch with a Russian woman. The document suggests Tisch replied a minute later to ask: “Is she fun?”
The next month, Tisch appeared to asked Epstein multiple questions about a different woman from Tahiti, including if she was a “working girl”. To that, Epstein replied: “Never.”
The Athletic published the following statement from Tisch that was issued by the Giants:
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.
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