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FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, files show
FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, files show
FILE - Documents that were included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files are photographed Friday, Jan. 2, 2026.
By Michael R. Sisak, David B. Caruso And Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press
Posted February 8, 2026 10:31 am.
Last Updated February 8, 2026 10:46 am.
By Michael R. Sisak, David B. Caruso And Larry Neumeister, The Associated Press
Posted February 8, 2026 10:31 am.
Last Updated February 8, 2026 10:46 am.
NEW YORK (AP) — The FBI pored over Jeffrey Epstein’s bank records and emails. It searched his homes. It spent years interviewing his victims and examining his connections to some of the world’s most influential people.
But while investigators collected ample proof that Epstein sexually abused underage girls, they found scant evidence the well-connected financier led a sex trafficking ring serving powerful men, an Associated Press review of internal Justice Department records shows.
Videos and photos seized from Epstein’s homes in New York, Florida and the Virgin Islands didn’t depict victims being abused or implicate anyone else in his crimes, a prosecutor wrote in one 2025 memo.
An examination of Epstein’s financial records, including payments he made to entities linked to influential figures in academia, finance and global diplomacy, found no connection to criminal activity, said another internal memo in 2019.
While one Epstein victim made highly public claims that he “lent her” to his rich friends, agents couldn’t confirm that and found no other victims telling a similar story, the records said.
Summarizing the investigation in an email last July, agents said “four or five” Epstein accusers claimed other men or women had sexually abused them. But, the agents said, there “was not enough evidence to federally charge these individuals, so the cases were referred to local law enforcement.”
The AP and other media organizations are still reviewing millions of pages of documents, many of them previously confidential, that the Justice Department released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act and it is possible those records contain evidence overlooked by investigators.
But the documents, which include police reports, FBI interview notes and prosecutor emails, provide the clearest picture to date of the investigation — and why U.S. authorities ultimately decided to close it without additional charges.
Dozens of victims come forward
The Epstein investigation began in 2005, when the parents of a 14-year-old girl reported she had been molested at the millionaire’s home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Police would identify at least 35 girls with similar stories: Epstein was paying high school age students $200 or $300 to give him sexualized messages.
After the FBI joined the probe, federal prosecutors drafted indictments to charge Epstein and some personal assistants who had arranged the girls’ visits and payments. But instead, then-Miami U.S. attorney Alexander Acosta struck a deal letting Epstein plead guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from an underage girl. Sentenced to 18 months in jail, Epstein was free by mid-2009.
In 2018, a series of Miami Herald stories about the plea deal prompted New York federal prosecutors to take a fresh look at the accusations.
Epstein was arrested in July of 2019. One month later, he killed himself in his jail cell.
A year later, prosecutors charged Epstein’s longtime confidant, Ghislaine Maxwell, saying she’d recruited several of his victims and sometimes joined the sexual abuse. Convicted in 2021, Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison term.
Prosecutors fail to find evidence backing most sensational claims
Prosecution memos, case summaries and other documents made public in the department’s latest release of Epstein-related records show that FBI agents and federal prosecutors diligently pursued potential coconspirators. Even seemingly outlandish and incomprehensible claims, called in to tip lines, were examined.
Some allegations couldn’t be verified, investigators wrote.
In 2011 and again in 2019, investigators interviewed Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who in lawsuits and news interviews had accused Epstein of arranging for her to have sexual encounters with numerous men, including Britain’s former Prince Andrew.
Investigators said they confirmed that Giuffre had been sexually abused by Epstein. But other parts of her story were problematic.
Two other Epstein victims who Giuffre had claimed were also “lent out” to powerful men told investigators they had no such experience, prosecutors wrote in a 2019 internal memo.
“No other victim has described being expressly directed by either Maxwell or Epstein to engage in sexual activity with other men,” the memo said.
Giuffre acknowledged writing a partly fictionalized memoir of her time with Epstein containing descriptions of things that didn’t take place. She had also offered shifting accounts in interviews with investigators, they wrote, and had “engaged in a continuous stream of public interviews about her allegations, many of which have included sensationalized if not demonstrably inaccurate characterizations of her experiences.” Those inaccuracies included false accounts of her interactions with the FBI, they said.
Still, U.S. prosecutors attempted to arrange an interview with Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He refused to make himself available. Giuffre settled a lawsuit with Mountbatten-Windsor in which she had accused him of sexual misconduct.
In a memoir published after she killed herself last year, Giuffre wrote that prosecutors told her they didn’t include her in the case against Maxwell because they didn’t want her allegations to distract the jury. She insisted her accounts of being trafficked to elite men were true.
Prosecutors say photos and videos don’t implicate others
Investigators seized a multitude of videos and photos from Epstein’s electronic devices and homes in New York, Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They found CDs, hard copy photographs and at least one videotape containing nude images of females, some of whom seemed as if they might be minors. One device contained 15 to 20 images depicting commercial child sex abuse material — pictures investigators said Epstein obtained on the internet.
No videos or photos showed Epstein victims being sexually abused, none showed any males with any of the nude females, and none contained evidence implicating anyone other than Epstein and Maxwell, then-Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey wrote in an email for FBI officials last year.
Had they existed, the government “would have pursued any leads they generated,” Comey wrote. “We did not, however, locate any such videos.”
Investigators who scoured Epstein’s bank records found payments to more than 25 women who appeared to be models — but no evidence that he was engaged in prostituting women to other men, prosecutors wrote.
Epstein’s close associates go uncharged
In 2019, prosecutors weighed the possibility of charging one of Epstein’s longtime assistants but decided against it.
Prosecutors concluded that while the assistant was involved in helping Epstein pay girls for sex and may have been aware that some were underage, she herself was a victim of his sexual abuse and manipulation.
Investigators examined Epstein’s relationship with the French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who once was involved in an agency with Epstein in the U.S., and who was accused in a separate case of sexually assaulting women in Europe. Brunel killed himself in jail while awaiting trial on a rape charge in France.
Prosecutors also weighed whether to charge one of Epstein’s girlfriends who had participated in sexual acts with some of his victims. Investigators interviewed the girlfriend, who was 18 to 20 years old at the time, “but it was determined there was not enough evidence,” according to a summary given to FBI Director Kash Patel last July.
Days before Epstein’s July 2019 arrest, the FBI strategized about sending agents to serve grand jury subpoenas on people close to Epstein, including his pilots and longtime business client, retail mogul Les Wexner.
Wexner’s lawyers told investigators that neither he nor his wife had knowledge of Epstein’s sexual misconduct. Epstein had managed Wexner’s finances, but the couple’s lawyers said they cut him off in 2007 after learning he’d stolen from them.
“There is limited evidence regarding his involvement,” an FBI agent wrote of Wexner in an Aug. 16, 2019, email.
In a statement to the AP, a legal representative for Wexner said prosecutors had informed him that he was “neither a co-conspirator nor target in any respect,” and that Wexner had cooperated with investigators.
Prosecutors also examined accounts from women who said they’d given massages at Epstein’s home to guests who’d tried to make the encounters sexual. One woman accused private equity investor Leon Black of initiating sexual contact during a massage in 2011 or 2012, causing her to flee the room.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office subsequently investigated, but no charges were filed.
Black’s lawyer, Susan Estrich, said he had paid Epstein for estate planning and tax advice. She said in a statement that Black didn’t engage in misconduct and had no awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities. Lawsuits by two women who accused Black of sexual misconduct were dismissed or withdrawn. One is pending.
No client list
Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News in February 2025 that Epstein’s never-before-seen “client list” was “sitting on my desk right now.” A few months later, she claimed the FBI was reviewing “tens of thousands of videos” of Epstein “with children or child porn.”
But FBI agents wrote superiors saying the client list didn’t exist.
On Dec. 30, 2024, about three weeks before President Joe Biden left office, then-FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate reached out through subordinates to ask “whether our investigation to date indicates the ‘client list,’ often referred to in the media, does or does not exist,” according to an email summarizing his query.
A day later, an FBI official replied that the case agent had confirmed no client list existed.
On Feb. 19, 2025, two days before Bondi’s Fox News appearance, an FBI supervisory special agent wrote: “While media coverage of the Jeffrey Epstein case references a ’client list,’ investigators did not locate such a list during the course of the investigation.”
___
Aaron Kessler in Washington contributed to this report.
___ The AP is reviewing the documents released by the Justice Department in collaboration with journalists from CBS, NBC, MS NOW and CNBC. Journalists from each newsroom are working together to examine the files and share information about what is in them. Each outlet is responsible for its own independent news coverage of the documents.
FBI concluded Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t running a sex trafficking ring for powerful men, files show
Justice Department Over 3 million pages of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation
In 2021 Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking of underage girls for the American financier Jeffrey Epstein. The two were romantically involved in the 1990s and remained close until Epstein's 2019 death
Today, the Department of Justice released over 3 million pages of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, including thousands of videos and images, as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Key Details of the Release
Jeffrey Epstein, 2004 In a Manhattan jail, facing a trial on federal charges of serial sex trafficking of women and girls, Jeffrey
Jeffrey Epstein
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Jeffrey Epstein (born January 20, 1953, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.—died August 10, 2019, Manhattan) was an American financier and convicted sex offender who was accused of serial sex trafficking of women and girls. Through his successful financial career, Epstein became a multimillionaire and developed a social circle that included extremely wealthy individuals, prominent politicians, and even royalty. While jailed and awaiting a federal sex-trafficking trial, Epstein killed himself by hanging.
In the wake of his 2019 death, the content of the so-called Epstein files—including who is named in them and in what context—became a topic that roiled both sides of the political aisle. During the second administration of U.S. Pres. Donald Trump, the call for the files to be made public became a national conversation, and the eventual release of thousands of documents only deepened the controversy around Epstein’s actions and his connections to powerful figures.
Early life
Epstein was the first of two children born to Paula Epstein (née Stolofsky) and Seymour Epstein, who were themselves children of Jewish immigrants. His mother was a homemaker, and his father worked as a groundskeeper and gardener for the New York City Parks Department. The family lived in a middle-class neighborhood of Brooklyn known as Sea Gate, situated on the western shore of Coney Island. Epstein was a talented student who excelled in mathematics. He was also a skilled pianist. He attended Lafayette High School in Gravesend, Brooklyn, whose student body was mostly Italian American. It is thought that Epstein may have faced some antisemitism during his time there. He graduated in 1969, having skipped two grades. Later that year he enrolled at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, where he studied until 1971, when he transferred to the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University (NYU). He studied at NYU for three years but did not graduate.
Where did Jeffrey Epstein get his money?
In 1974, despite not having a degree, Epstein began teaching physics and mathematics at the prestigious Dalton School in Manhattan, New York, many of whose students belonged to some of the wealthiest families in the country. Alumni include Anderson Cooper, comedian Chevy Chase, and actress Claire Danes. During his tenure at Dalton, Epstein was described by students as both a charismatic teacher and someone who did not adhere to normal student-teacher conventions. The New York Times reported that he was the only teacher to attend a party for high-school students at which they were drinking. Still, during a parent-teacher conference in 1976 Epstein so impressed a student’s father with his intelligence that the parent referred Epstein to Alan (“Ace”) Greenberg, then the CEO of the Wall Street investment firm Bear Stearns and also a Dalton parent. Following the 1975–76 school year, Epstein was dismissed from his position at Dalton after an evaluation found that his teaching skills were lacking. He began working at Bear Stearns soon afterward.
Career in finance and connections to the rich and powerful
Even as he was climbing the ladder at Bear Stearns and mingling with some of New York’s, and the world’s, wealthiest movers and shakers, there were warning signs of inappropriate behavior. According to The New York Times, on multiple occasions Bear Stearns questioned Epstein’s actions, including lying about his education on his résumé and charging expensive jewelry purchased for a girlfriend to the company. Still, in 1980 Epstein’s profile was riding high. He was 27 years old when Cosmopolitan magazine featured him as a “Bachelor of the Month” and Bear Stearns named him a limited partner. The next year, however, the company conducted an internal investigation to determine whether Epstein’s actions had violated Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. He was suspended and fined but denied wrongdoing, said he was “deeply offended” by the investigation, and ultimately quit the firm.
Throughout the early 1980s Epstein seems to have been what some associates described as a “bounty hunter” who recovered stolen money for the ultra-wealthy. It proved to be a lucrative enterprise, and by 1984 Epstein had become a millionaire. He was now a client of Bear Stearns and not one of its brokers. Throughout this time Epstein’s charisma continued to charm New York circles. New York art collector Stuart Pivar told The New York Times that Epstein’s “magnetism,” particularly when turned on the “beautiful daughters of famous, powerful men,” was inescapable. In 1987 Epstein joined the board of the New York Academy of Art founded by Pivar and Andy Warhol. He was moving in the circles of the very famous and about to land a client who would cement his personal fortune. In 1988 Epstein founded J. Epstein & Company, a consulting firm that provided money-management services to individuals with a net worth of more than $1 billion. His major client for some 20 years was the billionaire retail magnate Leslie H. Wexner, who founded a conglomerate that at various times owned retail companies including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Lane Bryant. Epstein came to manage much of Wexner’s holdings and benefited enormously as a result.
In the 1990s Epstein began running his business from the island of St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands—a tax haven—where he owned the nearby small island of Little St. James. (He later purchased another island in the same vicinity, Great St. James.) He also owned what was then the largest private mansion in Manhattan, which he purchased from Wexner, as well as properties in Palm Beach, Florida; Paris; and New Mexico. Testimony from an Epstein accuser and subsequent photographs revealed hidden cameras at the Manhattan residence, although their purpose has never fully been understood
It was during this time that Epstein began using his growing wealth to further expand his relationships with the rich and powerful. Over the years he developed friendships with the likes of Michael Jackson, Bill Gates, Harvard professors Alan Dershowitz and Larry Summers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Noam Chomsky, and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a prince whose titles were stripped by the British royal family in 2025 following revelations of his ties to Epstein and accusations that he participated in abuse of minors.
Perhaps the two most prominent relationships Epstein cultivated were with the U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Epstein and Trump’s relationship dates back to the late 1980s, and many have described the men as each other’s “best friend.” Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell attended a 1993 White House event and were photographed with Clinton. Both men signed a 2003 book for Epstein’s 50th birthday, and flight logs show that both traveled several times on Epstein’s plane, dubbed the “Lolita Express” for Vladimir Nabokov’s 1955 novel about a pedophile who repeatedly abuses his stepdaughter.
At the White HouseJeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell greeting U.S. Pres. Bill Clinton during a White House reception in 1993. Clinton signed the 2003 Epstein birthday book and travelled on Epstein's jet after leaving the White House.
Donald Trump, Melania Knauss (later Melania Trump), Jeffrey Epstein, and Ghislaine Maxwell at Donald Trump's Palm Beach resort in 2000. Associates described Trump and Epstein as close friends until they had a falling out in the mid-2000s.
In a 2002 New York magazine profile, Trump said of Epstein:
I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy. 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.
Trump and Epstein had a falling out shortly after that, however. Maxwell recruited 16-year-old Virginia Giuffre, who would later become one of the most vocal Epstein accusers, from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where she was working as a spa attendant. It was a move that angered Trump. “He hired help….He stole people that worked for me. I said, ‘Don’t ever do that again.’ He did it again, and I threw him out of the place, persona non grata,” Trump said of Epstein in 2025.
Other reports suggest the relationship fractured after Trump and Epstein battled over a $41 million Palm Beach property. (Trump won).
Conviction, sex-crime allegations, and death.
Epstein was first accused of sexually abusing girls in Palm Beach in 2005. Police were alerted by a woman who claimed that her 14-year-old stepdaughter had been molested by a wealthy man named Jeff. The FBI was soon involved. Further accusations began to surface, and, by the time the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida (and later secretary of labor during the first term of President Trump) Alexander Acosta began to put together a criminal case, the number of alleged victims had reached about 40. In 2008 the federal government entered a plea deal in which Epstein was not charged with federal crimes but pleaded guilty to two counts of violating state laws against soliciting prostitution and soliciting a minor for prostitution.
Epstein served 13 months in prison with a provision that allowed him to spend six days a week in his Palm Beach office. Acosta later stated that the deal was lenient because intelligence officials had told him to “back off” Epstein at the time, signaling that the money manager was of some importance to another federal case. A number of civil claims against Epstein were filed in the years after the plea deal. In 2023 the banks JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank AG were accused in civil suits of knowingly enabling Epstein to commit sex crimes.
In 2018 Julie K. Brown, an investigative reporter at the Miami Herald, identified some 80 alleged survivors of sexual abuse by Epstein or his associates. The report led to renewed examinations of sex-crime allegations against Epstein, and in 2019 a new federal criminal case was brought against him. He was arrested in July in New Jersey’s Teterboro Airport on charges of sex trafficking and held without bail. Later that month Epstein was found in his Manhattan jail cell with injuries indicating that he had attempted to kill himself by hanging. Less than a week later, however, he was taken off the jail’s suicide watch. On August 9, the day before Epstein’s death, his cellmate was removed but not replaced, and for approximately three hours that night Epstein was not checked on by guards, in violation of the jail’s protocol. In addition, cameras outside the cell malfunctioned. On the morning of August 10, Epstein was found dead in his cell after killing himself by hanging.
After Epstein’s death the so-called Epstein files, or documents related to the investigations into him, emerged as a topic of interest and became a talking point in the 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump, en route to his second election victory, ambivalently said in a Fox News interview that he would release the Epstein files. “I guess I would,” he said, before saying that he would not want people’s lives disrupted by “phony stuff in there.” He then ended with “but I think I would [release them].”
If Trump was half-hearted in his support of their release, other Republicans, including some who would serve in his administration, expressed more conviction in their calls. Dan Bongino, who served as deputy director of the FBI in Trump’s second term, said in September 2024 that the Epstein cache “speaks to an enormous problem we have in this country. It is that there is a connected class of insiders that feel that they can get away with anything, because they can.”
However, once in office, Trump was slow to take action on the release of the files. Despite Attorney General Pam Bondi saying in early 2025 that she was in possession of Epstein-related files, Trump balked at ordering their release. His hesitancy led to mounting pressure throughout the summer from Epstein survivors, leaders in both the Republican and Democratic parties, and even his own supporters. “Release the Epstein files” became a rallying cry on social media, as people across the political spectrum demanded transparency from the government.
Throughout the summer and fall of 2025, the call from survivors of Epstein’s abuse, estimated to number more than 1,000 girls and young women, to release the files also gained momentum. The publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir Nobody’s Girl in October led King Charles to strip Andrew of his prince title. Other survivors of Epstein’s abuse went public in appearances on television, in Washington, D.C., and in a public service announcement in which they held photographs of themselves at the time of their abuse. The media barrage served to squelch the argument that releasing the files would harm the survivors.
In November 2025 Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee released a set of emails written by or sent to Epstein and obtained through a subpoena of Epstein’s estate in August. Some of the emails indicated that Trump may have known about Epstein’s sex trafficking, and in one of them Epstein stated that Trump had “spent hours at my house” with one of Epstein’s victims. About two hours after the email release, Republican members of the committee made public some 20,000 documents also received from Epstein’s estate. Soon afterward, Trump publicly reversed his opposition to the passage of a bill called the Epstein Files Transparency Act by the House of Representatives that required the release of all of the Justice Department’s Epstein files, with exceptions for ongoing investigations, national security, and the protection of survivors’ identities. The bill was passed by the House and Senate on November 18 and signed into law by Trump the next day.
The transparency act called for a release of documents by December 19, and hundreds of thousands of pages of documents were released on that day. They included never-before-seen photographs of Bill Clinton as well as other celebrities, including Michael Jackson. They also included some previously released material and hundreds of pages that were completely black, having been redacted. Almost immediately, some lawmakers and Epstein survivors decried the release as incomplete.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, one of the legislators who wrote the transparency act, said the release “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law.” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged that the Justice Department had not completed its review of the files, saying he expected that review would take several more weeks.
On December 23, 2025, the Justice Department released another 30,000 pages of documents, including correspondence between Maxwell and then-Prince Andrew. Also included was a 2020 email from a prosecutor in New York to an unknown recipient noting that recently obtained flight records “reflect that Donald Trump traveled on Epstein’s private jet many more times than previously has been reported (or that we were aware).” As part of the release the Justice Department put out a statement saying, “Some of these documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump.”
On January 30, 2026, Deputy Attorney General Blanche announced what he described as the last material release of items from the files. It was the largest release to date, including some 3,000,000 pages, 2,000 videos, and about 180,000 images. U.S. Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, the bipartisan authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, formally requested to review all the unredacted files to ensure that the government was in compliance with the law.
Epstein survivors expressed outrage and frustration at the latest release. In a statement a group of 18 women said: “Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected.”
The release again included prominent names in the world of business, politics, and society. Being named in the documents does not imply wrongdoing. Some of those featured in the latest release include:
- Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: The former prince is shown in a new photograph kneeling over a fully clothed woman who is lying on the ground. Her face has been obscured to protect her identity. The latest revelation led to the highly unusual act of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling on Mountbatten-Windsor to appear before Congress.
- U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick: The files show that Lutnick, who has been associated with Epstein before, had planned a visit to Epstein’s island in 2012. Previously, Lutnick said that he had no contact with Epstein after about 2005.
- Former Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler: The files include emails from Ruemmler, now an attorney at Goldman Sachs, thanking “Uncle Jeffrey” for gifts, including a $9,000 purse.
- New York Giants co-owner Steven Tisch: The release shows email exchanges between Tisch and Epstein in 2013. In a statement Tisch acknowledged that they sometimes discussed “adult women.”
- Federal Reserve chair nominee Kevin Warsh: Warsh’s name appears on a guest list for an event titled “St. Barth’s Christmas 2010.”
- Google cofounder Sergey Brin: The documents show Brin, one of the richest men in the world, corresponding with Ghislaine Maxwell. Multiple people had previously claimed that Brin had visited Epstein’s island.
Earlier in January Bill and Hillary Clinton refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee about what they knew about Epstein. The Clintons sent an eight-page letter to the committee chair, Republican Rep. James Comer, saying that they considered the subpoenas “invalid and legally unenforceable.”
The committee voted to hold the Clintons in contempt of Congress. Then, in early February, just days before the full House would have voted to hold them in contempt, the Clintons relented and agreed to testify.
Conspiracy theories around Epstein’s death
In the wake of Epstein’s suicide, his family questioned New York state’s official autopsy, suggesting instead that he had been murdered. Their speculation drew public attention and resulted in widespread conspiracy theories—especially among members of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement, the most ardent supporters of Trump. MAGA members believed that Epstein’s death was related to his connections with billionaires and elite public figures and that Epstein had kept a secret “client list” of men for whom he had trafficked young women and girls.
These suspicions often dovetailed with other far-right conspiracy theories, including the Pizzagate case, in which allegations that a popular Washington, D.C., pizza parlor was being used to traffic children led a man to open fire there with a high-powered rifle.
Regarding the murder accusation, however, no credible evidence was ever produced. To the contrary, later in August 2019 it was reported that Epstein had signed a redrafted final will and testament two days before his death. In June 2023 a report by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Justice agreed with the state’s autopsy and noted that the OIG’s investigators “did not uncover evidence contradicting…the absence of criminality in connection with how Epstein died.”
Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files: 10 key takeaways so far
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Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files: 10 key takeaways so far
Mandelson, Musk and Mountbatten-Windsor among the names to surface in vivid emails
Documents that were included in the US department of justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Anna BettsTue Feb 03 2026
A new trove of about 3 million files related to the financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was released on Friday, offering new details about his network and interactions with wealthy and powerful figures and the federal investigations into his crimes.
The release follows legislation passed in November by US lawmakers that mandated the disclosure of all Epstein-related documents.
Here are some of the key findings so far:
Files shed new light on relationship between Epstein and Peter Mandelson
Mandelson’s relationship with the financier was professional and personal – intimate even – with the boundaries between the two blurred to the point of being non-existent.
When the Labour peer seemingly believed that his then-partner, now husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva had gained access to his text messages in March 2010, it was to Epstein that he turned for help.
“I have had v bad setback with R who has somehow got into my texts,” wrote Mandelson, who by then was already number two in the UK government. “What shall I do? You may need to help. How does he see them?”
Epstein responded: “This email is probably compromised as well, lets talk.”
On buying a new house and wondering whether he should borrow £4 million at a 3 per cent interest rate, it was again Epstein’s advice that he sought.
Then there were consultations about how to build his business career when Labour lost the 2010 election. Would taking a place on the board Facebook be a good move, he asked. Got me any “deal(s) yet” he wondered in July 2011.
Epstein responded: “Spent the day with Gates, in Seattle, having monstrous fun.”
It was, by any measure, an intense friendship.
“Need to talk, feeling confused,” Mandelson wrote in April 2009. “Where r u? I miss you”, he emailed on December 22nd, 2010.
The drip-feed of revelations in recent months about the extent of this relationship has cost Mandelson the job he loved and the status he craves. On Monday, the most damning email yet became public.
Handout image issued by the US department of justice which appears to show Peter Mandelson in his underwear speaking to an unknown person wearing a bathrobe. Photograph: US Department of Justice/PA Wire
Mandelson appears to have leaked a sensitive Whitehall document to Epstein, who was still under house arrest at the time, detailing the UK government’s tax plans and intention to sell £20 billion in assets.
He forwarded the document in June 2009 with the comment: “Interesting note that’s gone to the PM.”
Emails had already emerged over the weekend that suggested Mandelson had received three payments of $25,000 each from Epstein when he was a backbench MP in 2003 and 2004. Others showed that his partner had received thousands of pounds in 2009 and 2010 when he was business secretary.
In a statement, Mandelson reiterated that he had been wrong to believe Epstein and continue his association with him, adding: “I deeply regret doing so and apologise unequivocally to the women and girls who suffered.”
Epstein lawyers discussed possibility of co-operation days before his death
Less than two weeks before Epstein died in jail in 2019, the files show that his attorneys met with Manhattan federal prosecutors and discussed Epstein’s potential co-operation.
A FBI document titled Epstein Investigation Summary & Timeline states: “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 co-operation.”
Another document titled Jeffrey Epstein Significant Case Notification, which closely resembles the FBI memo but is not attributed to a specific agency, notes that “defense counsel did not make a specific proposal, and they did not indicate what the nature of Epstein’s co-operation might be, if any.”
“It was suggested that defense counsel contact SDNY [southern district of New York] if Epstein was prepared to accept responsibility for his conduct and/or they had a specific proposal for a resolution of this case,” it added.
FBI received allegations about Trump
One document in the newly released tranche is a summary that FBI officials appear to have compiled last summer, of more than a dozen tips received by the agency involving Trump and Epstein.
It is unclear why the investigators put together the summary, and it does not say when the tips, which include unsubstantiated claims of sexual abuse, were received. The document also does not include any corroborating evidence or indication that the tips were verified.
Trump has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. In response to a request for comment from the New York Times, the White House referred to a statement from the justice department on Friday, which stated that the new tranche of documents “may include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos”.
The US Justice Department looked into sexual misconduct allegations against president Trump in connection with the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein but said it did not find credible information to merit further investigation, Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general. Photograph: Eric Lee/The New York Times
“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election,” the DoJ statement added. “To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponised against President Trump already.”
Musk had more extensive ties to Epstein than previously known
Emails show Musk and Epstein exchanging cordial messages, and on two separate occasions, in 2012 and 2013, the two making plans for Musk to visit Epstein’s private island. The communications suggest that the trips did not occur due to logistical issues.
Musk told Vanity Fair in 2019 that Epstein was “obviously a creep” and claimed that Epstein “tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island” but that he had “declined”.
A representative for Musk and his artificial intelligence company, xAI, did not return a request for comment about the emails. On Friday night, Musk repeated his previous claim on social media, and stated that he had “very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island”.
Emails show Musk and Epstein exchanging cordial messages. Photograph: Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times
Howard Lutnick made plans to visit Epstein’s island
The files show that Lutnick, now serving as US secretary of commerce under Trump, arranged to visit Jeffrey Epstein’s island in 2012.
Last year Lutnick said in an interview that he had been neighbours with Epstein in New York, and that he had cut ties with Epstein around 2005, calling him “disgusting”.
A spokesperson for the commerce department told the Wall Street Journal that Lutnick had limited interactions with Epstein and has never been accused of wrongdoing.
Mountbatten-Windsor invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace
Emails suggest that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor invited Epstein to Buckingham Palace following Epstein’s release from house arrest in 2010.
In 2008, as part of a negotiated deal, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida of solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution with a minor, and served 13 months of an 18-month sentence. He was released in July 2009, and began serving a house arrest sentence, which ended in August 2010.
In a September 2010 email exchange between Epstein and “the Duke” – believed to be Mountbatten-Windsor, then the Duke of York – Epstein said he was in London and requested “private time”.
Mountbatten-Windsor appears to have replied: “We could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy.” Two days later, he followed up by saying: “Delighted for you to come here to BP [Buckingham Palace]. Come with whomever and I’ll be here free from 1600ish.”
A photograph appearing to show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor crouched over an unidentified woman which has been released in the latest disclosure of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein. Photograph: US Department of Justice/PA Wire
It is unclear if the meeting took place. But three months later, the pair were pictured walking together in New York’s Central Park. Mountbatten-Windsor has previously claimed he had travelled to the US to end his friendship with Epstein in light of his conviction.
The documents also show that days after Epstein’s house arrest ended, Epstein offered to arrange for Mountbatten-Windsor to have dinner with a “clevere [sic], beautiful and trustworthy” 26-year-old Russian woman. Mountbatten-Windsor apparently responded that he would be “delighted” to meet the woman. In that email exchange, he also asked Epstein if it was “good to be free?”
Additional files include photos showing Andrew appearing to be crouching over an unidentified woman who is lying on the floor.
Richard Branson and Epstein exchanged emails
The files show an email exchange from 2013 between Branson, the British billionaire and founder of the Virgin Group, and Epstein.
In an email on September 11th, 2013, Branson wrote to Epstein, “It was really nice seeing you yesterday” and added: “Any time you’re in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!”
A representative for Virgin group told the New York Times that Branson had sent the email shortly after hosting Epstein at a group business meeting on the private island Branson owns in the British Virgin Islands.
The spokesperson said that Epstein arrived at the meeting with three adult women, whom he referred to as his “harem”, who did not attend the meeting.
“Any contact Richard and Joan Branson had with Epstein took place on only a few occasions more than 12 years ago, and was limited to group or business settings,” the representative said in a statement. “Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.”
Undated photo first issued by the US department of justice of Richard Branson and Jeffrey Epstein. Photograph: US Department of Justice/PA Wire
Files show emails between head of LA Olympics committee and Ghislaine Maxwell
Emails from 2003 between Casey Wasserman, head of the Los Angeles Olympics organising committee, and Ghislaine Maxwell – who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex-trafficking crimes – appeared in the files.
The exchanges include a message from Wasserman telling Maxwell: “I think of you all the time. So, what do I have to do to see you in a tight leather outfit?”
In an April 2003 email, sent to Wasserman, who was married at the time, Maxwell offered to give him a massage that can “drive a man wild”.
Wasserman said on Saturday he “deeply regrets” his “correspondence with Ghislaine Maxwell,” which he said took place “long before her horrific crimes came to light”.
“I never had a personal or business relationship with Jeffrey Epstein,” he added. “As is well documented, I went on a humanitarian trip as part of a delegation with the Clinton Foundation in 2002 on the Epstein plane. I am terribly sorry for having any association with either of them.”
New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch exchanged emails with Epstein
Tisch was mentioned several hundred times in files released on Friday, and in some emails exchanges from 2013 it appears that Epstein connected Tisch to several women.
In a statement, Tisch he said that he and Epstein 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,” he added. “As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”
Hollywood film-maker Brett Ratner appears in image with Epstein and two women
A newly released photo from the files shows Ratner, who directed the recently released Melania Trump documentary, sitting on a sofa hugging a woman, next to Epstein, who is sitting with another woman. Both women’s faces have been redacted.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the undated photo appears to have been taken in Epstein’s New York town house.
Ratner reportedly told the Journal in 2023 he did not know Epstein and had never met him. On Saturday, a spokeswoman for Ratner declined to comment to the Journal. – The Guardian
Newly released Jeffrey Epstein files: 10 key takeaways so far – The Irish Times
New bombshell claim Sarah Ferguson may have 'slept with Epstein
New bombshell claim Sarah Ferguson may have 'slept with Epstein
New bombshell claim Sarah Ferguson may have 'slept with Epstein and was madly in love'
The claim comes as emails released last week as part of the Epstein files
offer a glimpse into the pair's relationship
By Conor Wilson, News Reporter, Emma Mackenzie
Sun, Feb 8, 2026
The bombshell claim comes following the release of emails between the pair (Image: Getty)
Sarah Ferguson might have had a sexual relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, it has been alleged. The former Duchess of York has been a prominent name in the latest batch of files released about the sick financier, with emails possibly revealing feelings between the pair.
Epstein made chilling claim about Trump's health - Concerned about dementia'CNN delivers scathing response to 'moron' Trump jibe - and he won't be happy by Taboola
By Conor Wilson, News Reporter, Emma Mackenzie
Sun, Feb 8, 2026
The bombshell claim comes following the release of emails between the pair (Image: Getty)
DeeperDive
What did emails reveal about Sarah Ferguson and Epstein's relationship?
What did emails reveal about Sarah Ferguson and Epstein's relationship?
How have Epstein files impacted Sarah Ferguson's family ties?
What financial transactions were revealed in Epstein files?
Sarah Ferguson might have had a sexual relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, it has been alleged. The former Duchess of York has been a prominent name in the latest batch of files released about the sick financier, with emails possibly revealing feelings between the pair.
The emails may also have shed light on the relationships between the pair and their partners, with Epstein understood to have financially supported Ferguson at various points in the early 2000s. The exchanges appear to fritter between Ferguson berating the multi-millionaire for not reciprocating her feelings towards him and asking him to “marry me” in another. It has since been alleged that Ferguson and Epstein slept together whilst her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s partner, might also have been in a relationship.
By Conor Wilson, News Reporter, Emma Mackenzie Sun, Feb 8, 2026
The bombshell claim comes following the release of emails between the pair (Image: Getty)\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
How have Epstein files impacted Sarah Ferguson's family ties?
What did emails reveal about Sarah Ferguson and Epstein's relationship?
How have Epstein files impacted Sarah Ferguson's family ties?
What financial transactions were revealed in Epstein files?
Sarah Ferguson might have had a sexual relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, it has been alleged. The former Duchess of York has been a prominent name in the latest batch of files released about the sick financier, with emails possibly revealing feelings between the pair.
The emails may also have shed light on the relationships between the pair and their partners, with Epstein understood to have financially supported Ferguson at various points in the early 2000s. The exchanges appear to fritter between Ferguson berating the multi-millionaire for not reciprocating her feelings towards him and asking him to “marry me” in another. It has since been alleged that Ferguson and Epstein slept together whilst her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s partner, might also have been in a relationship.
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Emails from Sarah Ferguson were released by the US Department of Justice (Image: US Department of Justice/PA Wire)
Speaking during a live appearance on his 'Lownie Report' podcast on Substack, royal author Andrew Lownie claimed: "Andrew was sleeping with Ghislaine, Ghislaine was sleeping with Epstein … I've heard that Epstein and Sarah were sleeping together. It doesn't surprise me."
He added: "There's a complicated psychosexual network going on as well as a financial one. Certainly, Ghislaine and Sarah were not friends. I think Ghislaine was rather jealous of Sarah and vice versa. She felt that Sarah was moving in on someone she saw as her boyfriend."
The writer expanded on his claims, telling the Mirror: “Sarah Ferguson was madly in love with Epstein and apparently spent several nights with him."
Files released in 2025 revealed the dynamic between Ferguson and Epstein, prompting several charities and organisations to cut ties with the former duchess.
The latest release of more than 3 million documents from the so-called Epstein
files may have shed further light on the dynamic.
NBC sparks fury as it interrupts Super Bowl coverage for Trump news alertBad Bunny issues candid statement at Super Bowl halftime – Trump will be ragingBritish Vet Pleads: Throw Out This Dog Food ImmediatelyYour Pet NutritionEpstein made chilling claim about Trump's health - Concerned about dementia'CNN delivers scathing response to 'moron' Trump jibe - and he won't be happy by Taboola
New bombshell claim Sarah Ferguson may have 'slept with Epstein and was madly in love'
The claim comes as emails released last week as part of the Epstein files offer a glimpse into the pair's relationship.
By Conor Wilson, News Reporter, Emma Mackenzie
Sun, Feb 8, 2026
The bombshell claim comes following the release of emails between the pair
DeeperDive
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What did emails reveal about Sarah Ferguson and Epstein's relationship?
How have Epstein files impacted Sarah Ferguson's family ties?
What financial transactions were revealed in Epstein files?
Sarah Ferguson might have had a sexual relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, it has been alleged. The former Duchess of York has been a prominent name in the latest batch of files released about the sick financier, with emails possibly revealing feelings between the pair.
The emails may also have shed light on the relationships between the pair and their partners, with Epstein understood to have financially supported Ferguson at various points in the early 2000s. The exchanges appear to fritter between Ferguson berating the multi-millionaire for not reciprocating her feelings towards him and asking him to “marry me” in another. It has since been alleged that Ferguson and Epstein slept together whilst her former husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s partner, might also have been in a relationship.
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Emails from Sarah Ferguson were released by the US Department of Justice (Image: US Department of Justice/PA Wire)
Speaking during a live appearance on his 'Lownie Report' podcast on Substack, royal author Andrew Lownie claimed: "Andrew was sleeping with Ghislaine, Ghislaine was sleeping with Epstein … I've heard that Epstein and Sarah were sleeping together. It doesn't surprise me."
He added: "There's a complicated psychosexual network going on as well as a financial one. Certainly, Ghislaine and Sarah were not friends. I think Ghislaine was rather jealous of Sarah and vice versa. She felt that Sarah was moving in on someone she saw as her boyfriend."
The writer expanded on his claims, telling the Mirror: “Sarah Ferguson was madly in love with Epstein and apparently spent several nights with him."
Files released in 2025 revealed the dynamic between Ferguson and Epstein, prompting several charities and organisations to cut ties with the former duchess.
The latest release of more than 3 million documents from the so-called Epstein files may have shed further light on the dynamic.
Most Popular Comments
Join The Debate
1st Most liked comment •
"I am sure that Epstein wanted something in return for the £hundreds of thousands he splashed out on her and her 2 daughters."Read • Reply
2nd Most liked comment • 8 hours ago21"In love - with his money! "Read • Reply- 3rd Most liked comment • 8 hours ago20"He surely was never that desperate "Read • Reply
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Epstein described Ferguson as his 'pillar' (Image: US Department of Justice/PA Wire)
Ferguson described Epstein as a 'brother' (Image: US Department of Justice/PA Wire)
In September 2011, Sarah allegedly emailed Epstein, congratulating him on having a "baby boy" - it was not previously known he had fathered children - and then minutes later appeared to send a seething follow-up message.
"Don't know if you are still on this bbm [BlackBerry Messenger] but heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy," the initial email allegedly reads. "Even though you never kept in touch, I still am here with love, friendship and congratualtions [sic] on your baby boy. Sarah xx."
https://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/2168312/new-bombshell-claim-sarah-ferguson
Details of Jeffrey Epstein post-mortem released in latest files
Details of Jeffrey Epstein post-mortem released in latest files
Shayan SardarizadehandMatt Murphy,BBC Verifyhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2y33q8l1qo
Warning: this story contains graphic content which some readers might find distressing
Previously unseen photos showing Jeffrey Epstein's body lying on a stretcher and being attended to by medics in the immediate aftermath of his death have been released by the US government.
Twenty images, many of which are too graphic to show, were published as part of a declassified FBI report into Epstein's death in custody, as well as a post-mortem examination and internal prison documents.
They are among millions of documents published on Friday by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) in the latest Epstein files release.
Epstein was found dead in his prison cell on 10 August 2019. He had been held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges ahead of trial.
The newly released FBI report, titled "Jeffrey Epstein death investigation", appears to be a probe into his death by the agency's field office in New York. The 23-page report has an "unclassified" note stamped on each page.
The unredacted documents, viewed by BBC Verify, show close-up images of Epstein's neck and visible signs of injury. They also contain details of Epstein's post-mortem examination and a psychology report on his mental health in the days before he killed himself.
Several of the photos show Epstein lying on a stretcher while medics attempt to resuscitate him. They are dated 10 August 2019 with a timestamp of 06:49 local time, around 16 minutes after he was found unresponsive in his cell. The location of the photos is not clear, but Epstein was transported to a nearby hospital at 06:39 where he was pronounced dead, suggesting they were taken there.
Three other photos have notes indicating they were captured at a hospital. They show a close-up of his head and a visible injury on his neck. Epstein's name is on each photo, but his first name is misspelled as "Jeffery" instead of Jeffrey in some of the images.
BBC Verify ran reverse image searches on the newly released photos of Epstein's body and could not find earlier versions of them published online prior to 30 January. We also found other corroborating material released in the files, including an 89-page post-mortem report on Epstein filed by the DoJ and the Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in New York, and emails from the FBI New York field office containing the same redacted images.Parts of Epstein's post-mortem report by the OCME also appear in the report, including scans of two fractures on Epstein's thyroid cartilage in his neck.The FBI report includes a six-page timeline of Epstein's detention at the New York Metropolitan Correctional Center from his arrest on federal sex trafficking charges on 6 July 2019 until his death. It reveals that Epstein was placed on suicide watch after he tried to kill himself on 23 July 2019. Epstein accused his cell mate - Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer facing murder charges - of trying to kill him at the time.
In a meeting with a psychologist the following day, Epstein said that he had "no interest in killing myself" and that it "would be crazy" to take his life, the document states. On 25 July he stated he was "too vested in my case to fight it, I have a life and I want to go back to living my life", according to the psychologist report. Other documents released by the DoJ show the the prison's warden had advised that Epstein should not be housed alone and emphasised the need for "30-minute checks" on his cell and "unannounced rounds" to be undertaken.
Epstein's cellmate was released the day before his death. On the night of 9 August the prison guards also failed to conduct checks scheduled for 03:00 and 05:00, prison documents show, and the camera system in the unit was also down. His body was discovered during a morning check carried out by staff.A second, redacted version of the same FBI report that is only 17 pages long has also been published as part of the Epstein files. It does not include the psychologist's report or the timeline of his detention and the images in the file are redacted. It is not clear why both redacted and unredacted versions of the report have been included in the files.
The DoJ has been contacted for comment. The FBI declined to comment.
Additional reporting by Josh Cheetham.
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https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2y33q8l1qo
Opinion: Silence of king over Andrew looks like complacency, or worse
v
Opinion: Silence of king over Andrew looks like complacency, or worse
Daily Mail·
Epstein took 'very cute' young Romanian model to private dinner at Buckingham Palace for Andrew
At the World Governments Summit on Tuesday, the Prince was asked by a CNN journalist how he was 'coping' with the fallout from the Epstein files. A fair enough question, given that the files have been bombshell news around the world. Edward retorted testily that the audience had come to listen to education matters and to 'solving the future' (solving the future! He's worse than Meghan and Harry) before considering the question. 'I think it's all really important, always, to remember the victims, and who are the victims in all this? A lot of victims in this,' he waffled before swiftly moving on, matter closed. You'd think he was talking about a fox infiltrating the hen house at Bagshot Park, not the royal scandal of the age
At the World Governments Summit on Tuesday, the Prince was asked by a CNN journalist how he was 'coping' with the fallout from the Epstein files. A fair enough question, given that the files have been bombshell news around the world. Edward retorted testily that the audience had come to listen to education matters and to 'solving the future' (solving the future! He's worse than Meghan and Harry) before considering the question. 'I think it's all really important, always, to remember the victims, and who are the victims in all this? A lot of victims in this,' he waffled before swiftly moving on, matter closed. You'd think he was talking about a fox infiltrating the hen house at Bagshot Park, not the royal scandal of the age
Opinion: Silence of king over Andrew looks like complacency, or worse.
At the World Governments Summit on Tuesday, the Prince was asked by a CNN journalist how he was 'coping' with the fallout from the Epstein files. A fair enough question, given that the files have been bombshell news around the world. Edward retorted testily that the audience had come to listen to education matters and to 'solving the future' (solving the future! He's worse than Meghan and Harry) before considering the question. 'I think it's all really important, always, to remember the victims, and who are the victims in all this? A lot of victims in this,' he waffled before swiftly moving on, matter closed. You'd think he was talking about a fox infiltrating the hen house at Bagshot Park, not the royal scandal of the age
Opinion: Silence of king over Andrew looks like complacency, or worse
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, is the third child of Queen Elizabeth II and has faced significant controversies, leading to the relinquishment of his royal titles.
Background
Andrew Albert Christian Edward Mountbatten-Windsor, born on February 19, 1960, is the second son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. He was born at Buckingham Palace and was the first child born to a reigning British monarch since 1857. Andrew served in the Royal Navy from 1979 to 2001, where he saw active duty during the Falklands War and later became a helicopter instructor. Britannica+1
Marriage and Family
In 1986, Andrew married Sarah Ferguson, and they were granted the titles of Duke and Duchess of York on their wedding day. The couple had two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, before separating in 1992 and divorcing in 1996. Despite their divorce, Andrew and Sarah have maintained a close relationship. Wikipedia
Controversies and Recent Developments
Andrew's reputation has been marred by his association with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. Allegations surfaced that Andrew had engaged in inappropriate conduct, which he has consistently denied. In 2022, he settled a civil lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who accused him of sexual misconduct, without admitting liability. Following these controversies, Queen Elizabeth II stripped him of his military affiliations and royal patronages, and he ceased using the style "Royal Highness". Britannica+1
In October 2025, Andrew announced that he would relinquish his title as Duke of York amid ongoing scrutiny over his past associations. This decision came after discussions with King Charles III, marking a significant shift in his royal status. As of 2026, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne, but his position in the line of succession could potentially be removed, requiring approval from other Commonwealth realms. Sky.com+1
Current Status
As of now, Andrew is known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and is expected to vacate Royal Lodge, part of the Crown Estate, relocating to private accommodation on the Sandringham Estate. His public role has diminished significantly, and he is no longer involved in official royal duties. The situation surrounding him has been described as "untenable," reflecting the broader implications of his actions on the royal family. Britannica+2
In summary, Prince Andrew's life has been marked by royal privilege, military service, and significant controversies that have led to a dramatic reduction in his royal status and public role.
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What NO ONE's telling you about the Epstein Files | The News Agents USA
What NO ONE's telling you about the Epstein Files | The News Agents USA
I was threatened, intimidated and hacked” EPSTEIN EXPOSED! | Lucia Osborne-Crowley
I was threatened, intimidated and hacked” EPSTEIN EXPOSED! | Lucia Osborne-Crowley
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Jeffrey Epstein Prince Andrew Virginia Giuffre's Memoir Dark
Jeffrey Epstein Prince Andrew Virginia Giuffre's Memoir Dark
809,690 views Oct 21, 2025 The News Agents
Amy Wallace, the co author of Virginia Giuffre‘ s memoir - which is published today - has told Emily it’s possible more women will now come forward to reveal what they know about Prince Andrew’s actions on Epstein’s island. She calls on Andrew to “name names” of other abusers around Epstein. And she speaks for the first time about what Virginia believed happened on the night Epstein died. #princeandrew #royalfamily #kingcharlesiii #kingcharles #trump #jeffreyepstein #epstein #epsteinfiles #epsteinisland #epsteinlist #Podcast #UKPodcast #PoliticsPodcast #News #Politics #NewsAgents #EmilyMaitlis #JonSopel #lewisgoodall
EPSTEIN VICTIM VIRGINIA GIUFFRE DEAD
EPSTEIN VICTIM VIRGINIA GIUFFRE DEAD
Nancy Grace 798K subscribers
616,543 views May 2, 2025 #NancyGrace #CrimeStoriesWithNancyGrace #TrueCrime
One of the first and most vocal women to speak out about Jeffrey Epstein has died. Nancy Grace and a panel of experts investigate the death of Virginia Roberts Giuffre on Crime Stories. This episode is brought to you in part by Home Title Lock: Go to https://www.hometitlelock.com/nancygrace and use promo code NANCY to get a FREE title history report so you can find out if you’re already a victim AND 14 days of protection for FREE! And make sure to check out the Million Dollar TripleLock protection details when you get there! Exclusions apply. For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty
Did somebody Get To Virginia Giuffre Father Interview & Was the Prince Andrew Photo A Fake
Did somebody Get To Virginia Giuffre Father Interview & Was the Prince Andrew Photo A Fake
Piers Morgan Uncensored 4.32M subscribers
1,155,662 views May 1, 2025 #princeandrew #epsteinlist #piersmorgan
Since Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death, Prince Andrew’s silence has been roundly criticised in the British press, with many saying her suicide is the final nail in the coffin for his ‘delusional’ dreams of returning to public life. Don't miss: 
• “It's NOT True!” Prince Andrew Confidant B... However, despite him paying millions to settle accusations that he sexually assaulted her three times when she was 17 after being trafficked by his friend Jeffrey Epstein, his friend Lady Victoria Hervey has now come forward claiming she has evidence that the infamous picture of him with a teenage Virginia and Ghislaine Maxwell is fake. Lady Victoria joins Piers Morgan to present what she thinks is proof of the prince’s innocence after visiting and recording in the property the picture was taken in, before getting reaction from Daily Mail columnist & host of The Nerve Maureen Callahan, royal biographer Tom Bower and lawyer Spencer Kuvin, who represented Jeffrey Epstein’s victims. Virginia’s father Sky Roberts then joins Uncensored to discuss his knowledge of Virginia’s relationship with Prince Andrew and the circumstances surrounding her death. Don't miss Piers' interview with Giuffre's lawyer David Boies: • ‘Come CLEAN!’ Virginia Giuffre Lawyer DEMA...
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Exposing Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking empire 60 Minutes Australia
Exposing Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking empire 60 Minutes Australia.
2,606,465 views Nov 7, 2025 60Mins
Virginia Giuffre was one of the most prominent accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Her memoir, posthumously released in 2025, details the lifelong abuse she endured in the hands of adults, both powerful and familiar to her. In 2019, Giuffre bravely shared her story on 60 Minutes. In an interview with Tara Brown, she explained how she got entangled in the sinister web of Jeffrey Epstein, her allegations of abuse by then-Prince Andrew (which he denies), and how she finally broke free from this world.
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What the underwhelming Epstein files release means for Trump and Maga
Mr & Mrs X - [DS] Trafficking Empire – How Epstein Built His Web of Wealth and Deceit:Part 1 - Ep 5
What the underwhelming Epstein files release means for Trump and Maga
What the underwhelming Epstein files release means for Trump and Maga
23 December 2025
Mike WendlingShareSave
Getty ImagesEpstein and Trump together at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in a file photo from 1997.
Attorney General Pam Bondi took to X over the weekend with a bold statement: "President Trump is leading the most transparent administration in American history."
Her post was about efforts to release documents concerning the attempted assassination of Trump last July.
But the folks commenting in the replies had a completely different investigation in mind – the one into Jeffrey Epstein.
And they weren't buying it.
"Liar," snapped several people – along with many much harsher insults. One conservative YouTuber who mixes blistering tirades with Bitcoin promotions wrote: "I will vote for whatever President ... campaigns on arresting Pam Bondi over the cover up of the Epstein Files."
After folding into his coalition many non-traditional voters from the more fringe corners of the internet, Trump and members of his administration now find themselves coming face to face with the conspiratorial thinking they have stoked.
"This is the greatest cover-up by a president and for a president in history," said one member of a Facebook group devoted to sleuthing about the case. "Epstein is the story and don't let up."
At issue isn't so much the previously unreleased pictures of people like Bill Clinton, Mick Jagger, Michael Jackson and legendary news anchor Walter Cronkite in Epstein's company – which is not an indicator of any wrongdoing – but the sea of blacked-out redactions in the files themselves.
On the campaign trail last year, Trump suggested that he would support the release of investigation files. In February, Bondi said they were "sitting on my desk right now to review".
But after so much time and anticipation, Friday's release landed with a whimper.
Joe Uscinski, an associate professor of political science at the University of Miami who studies conspiracy theories and conspiratorial thinking, says Trump's coalition is now more about scepticism and antagonism towards institutions - and less about traditional Republican Party goals.
Many in the movement, he says, believe that huge numbers of children are being used for sex trafficking, beliefs that are bolstered by Epstein's very real crimes as well as conspiracy theories like QAnon.
"People don't necessarily want documents released - they want documents released which tell them that what they believe is true."
Getty ImagesAttorney General Pam Bondi has come in for criticism, including from members of her own party, for her handling of the Epstein files.
The potential for political trouble is not lost on Trump's inner circle. In a Vanity Fair article published prior to the document release, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles described the people compelled to vote for Trump because of his promises on Epstein as "Joe Rogan listeners" – in other words, younger men who aren't traditionally into politics.
Wiles has called the story a "hit piece". But she has not disputed specific quotes, including her assertion that Trump has not yet solidified a lasting Republican majority.
"The people that are inordinately interested in Epstein are the new members of the Trump coalition, the people that I think about all the time – because I want to make sure that they are not [only] Trump voters, they're Republican voters," she told the magazine.
Polls and experts back up the chief of staff's concerns about the tenuous nature of Trump's coalition.
A survey released in early December by the right-wing Manhattan Institute think tank labelled nearly a third of Trump's supporters "New Entrant Republicans" – people who voted for the party for the first time in 2024. And the poll found that just over half of that category would "definitely" support a Republican in the 2026 mid-term elections.
"These voters are drawn to Trump but are not reliably attached to the Republican Party," the institute concluded.
- Trump's chief of staff disputes Vanity Fair story
- Image in Epstein files that features Trump reinstated after backlash
- Who and what are in the Epstein files?
The possible fragility of the Trump coalition is playing out on several different levels.
One crucial group is a collection of social media stars and podcasters who stand mostly outside traditional Republican circles but have clout and influence online.
They were instrumental in keeping social media attention on the Epstein story long after the convicted sex offender's death.
A group of influencers – including "Libs of TikTok" creator Chaya Raichik, conspiracy theorist and Turning Point USA activist Jack Posobiec, and elections organiser Scott Presler – were even invited to an event at the Department of Justice (DoJ) and given binders, which Bondi described as a "first phase" of Epstein document releases.
Little if anything new was in the binders, which caused a backlash. Outrage swelled further in July after the DoJ released a memo saying that there was no Epstein "client list" and rejecting conspiracy theories about his death in prison.
Yet following the most recent release, many of these same conservative influencers have been curiously silent.
Laura Loomer, a popular Maga social media influencer who has helped spread Epstein conspiracies online, claimed that they exonerated Trump from any wrongdoing.
"Maybe now the media will stop obsessing over these files," wrote Loomer, who has mentioned Epstein at least 200 times on X this year alone.
Others - including several who were at the DoJ binder event - have not mentioned the document release at all, positively or negatively.
Their silence has been noted by other right-wing and far-right commentators, sparking online Maga infighting. And the row over the Epstein case is just one controversy currently roiling the movement, with arguments over free speech, anti-Semitism and Charlie Kirk's legacy bursting out into the open at an annual conference put on by Turning Point USA this week.
Jared Holt, senior researcher at Open Measures, a company that analyses online extremism, says the debate over the Epstein files is just one controversy contributing to the challenges facing the Maga movement.
"At the beginning of the year, Maga was a triumphant intimidating cultural force, now the train is falling off the tracks and there's no clear sign that it will be stabilising or rebounding anytime soon," he says.
"It seems like the die-hard Trump base has atrophied over the course of the year," Holt says, but notes that it's too soon to tell if the recent heavily redacted document drop will have any significant impact on the sorts of "Joe Rogan listeners" Wiles is concerned about.
Getty ImagesRep Thomas Massie (c) speaking prior to last month's vote on a measure to compel the DoJ to release the files, along with Ro Khanna (l) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (r)
Prominent voices in Congress have been less shy than the influencer class about criticising the justice department. Soon-to-be-ex-Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene lambasted the release, calling it "NOT MAGA".
Thomas Massie, the Republican member of the House of Representatives from Kentucky who spearheaded legislation leading to the document release, spent the weekend lambasting the justice department online and on US weekend talk shows.
He accused Bondi and officials of being in violation of the law requiring the release of the files, and has joined forces with Democratic Representative Ro Khanna to push for greater transparency.
Massie has suggested that they could move to charge Bondi with "inherent contempt" for ignoring a congressional order - a move which could force further document disclosures.
Regardless of whether or not that happens, there may be further revelations in the next few days. Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general, has promised hundreds of thousands more documents before the end of the year.
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Image in Epstein files that features Trump reinstated after backlash
Who and what are in the Epstein files?
Who was Jeffrey Epstein? The disgraced financier with powerful associates
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Deadline nears for release of Epstein files – what we know so far
Mr & Mrs X - [DS] Trafficking Empire – How Epstein Built His Web of Wealth and Deceit:Part 1 - Ep 5
What the underwhelming Epstein files release means for Trump and Maga
Deadline nears for release of Epstein files – what we know so far
Justice department must release most documents by the end of Friday, and failure to do so would provoke a firestorm
Victoria Bekiempis and Will Craft
Thu 18 Dec 2025 19.57 CET
In less than 48 hours, Donald Trump’s justice department must release most of the files related to Jeffrey Epstein in its possession. Last month, Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which required the release of those materials by 19 December, except in narrow cases where they would jeopardize current investigations, harm national security or foreign policy goals, or reveal information about Epstein’s victims.
Since Trump signed the legislation, his administration has been silent on its progress. Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers asked Pam Bondi, the attorney general, for a briefing on the Department of Justice’s progress, but she did not provide one. Two Democratic senators among that group subsequently pledged to block some civilian nominees, because they were concerned the administration “is gearing up to disregard the law we led the fight in the Senate to pass, which overwhelmingly passed both chambers of Congress”.
It’s not clear what remedy could follow if the justice department does not heed the law mandating disclosure, though such a move would surely provoke a political firestorm. If the files are released, they could contain hundreds of thousands of pages related to investigations into the late sex trafficker, including additional victims’ claims and the names of his high-profile associates. The documents might also lift the veil on how Epstein – who counted Trump and the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor among his powerful friends – evaded justice for decades.
Many of Trump’s far-right supporters ascribe to conspiracy theories that Epstein evaded justice because of his connections to influential men they believe participated in a cabal of youth sex-trafficking. On the 2024 campaign trail, Trump vowed to release the government-held Epstein files and doubled down on this promise early in his second term as president.
But in July, Trump’s justice department issued a memo claiming there was no Epstein client list and said: “While we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government’s possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.” Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s name appeared multiple times in Epstein files held by the justice department.
Since then, the administration has failed to make meaningful disclosures. In response to administration inaction, Congress gave the green light to legislation in late November mandating that Trump’s justice department release all Epstein files – with few exceptions – within 30 days. Trump signed this bill into law on 19 November.
Here are some of the key moments from this year that have led to this new release of files.
Background
Civil litigation and plea deals
Epstein received a sweetheart deal from Florida prosecutors in 2008 that allowed him to plead guilty to two state-level prostitution charges despite credible evidence he had abused multiple teen girls. Although Epstein had to register as a sex offender under this deal, he landed a non-prosecution agreement that shielded him from federal prosecution. Despite being a registered sex offender, Epstein lived a largely unencumbered life until late 2018, when the Miami Herald published Julie K Brown’s lengthy investigation into his charmed plea agreement.
Epstein was arrested in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking crimes. He died in jail while awaiting his Manhattan federal court trial. The British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 for her role in Epstein’s abuse of teen girls. Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021.
Questions have lingered about why it took so long to pursue justice against Epstein, and about the circumstances of his death in jail, which authorities ruled a suicide. Meanwhile, numerous documents in Epstein-related civil litigation have been unsealed over the years.
February 2025
21 February
Pam Bondi claims to have information on Epstein’s clients
Trump’s attorney general claimed on Fox News she had Epstein’s alleged client list. “It’s sitting on my desk right now to review,” Bondi said. “That’s been a directive by President Trump.” Bondi had previously voiced support of releasing the purported client list, saying in 2024: “It should have come out a long time ago.”
27 February
Bondi releases ‘first phase’ of Epstein files
Bondi announced that her office had released Epstein-related files. This initial release, Bondi’s office said, “largely contains documents that have been previously leaked but never released in a formal capacity by the US government”. Bondi said she received about 200 pages of documents, which were mostly flight logs, contacts and victims’ names. Bondi also claimed a “source” told her that the FBI’s New York field office had “thousands” more documents and demanded they be released.
July 2025
17 July
Wall Street Journal reports on Epstein ‘birthday book’
The Journal reported that Trump wrote a saucy note to Epstein, with a sketch of a nude woman, for his 50th birthday album in 2003. According to the newspaper, the drawing included a naked woman with the word “Donald” signed under her pelvis. There is also dialogue between two men where Trump reportedly says, “We have certain things in common, Jeffrey,” and closed by saying, “May every day be another wonderful secret.” The exchange also said: “Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?” On 18 July, Trump sued the Journal over the article.
17 July
Trump demands release of Epstein grand jury files
While Trump condemned the intense public discourse surrounding Epstein, calling it a “ridiculous amount of publicity”, he called for the release of grand jury testimony in these cases. “I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,” Trump stated on social media. “This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!”
Judges ultimately denied the requests.
August 2025
22 AugustGhislaine Maxwell interview transcript released
As calls for releasing the Epstein file persisted, the justice department released transcripts of deputy attorney general Todd Blanche’s sit-down with Ghislaine Maxwell a month prior. Maxwell’s statements generally bolstered Trump’s efforts to create space between him and Epstein. “I think [Trump and Epstein] were friendly like people are in social settings. I don’t – I don’t think they were close friends or I certainly never witnessed the president in any of – I don’t recall ever seeing him in his house, for instance,” Maxwell told Blanche.
“I actually never saw the president in any type of massage setting,” she also commented, referencing the means through which Epstein abused numerous teen girls.
September 2025
2 SeptemberHouse oversight committee releases 33,000 pages of files
The House released more than 33,000 pages related to Epstein and Maxwell. There is body-cam footage from law enforcement searches, and police interviews, but most of the release contained information that was already public in court filings and other records. Robert Garcia, the top Democratic representative on the oversight committee, denounced Republicans for disclosing information that was already known. “The 33,000 pages of Epstein documents James Comer has decided to ‘release’ were already mostly public information. To the American people – don’t let this fool you,” he said.
8 September
House Democrats release Epstein birthday book
Oversight Democrats made public the book reported by the Journal. The 238-page book contained Trump’s alleged birthday missive to Epstein. This collection of celebratory letters also featured a second reference to Trump that was not initially known. There is a photo showing Epstein, standing near palm trees, toting an oversized cheque for $22,500. Trump’s signature is on the giant cheque.
November 2025
13 NovemberLarge tranches of Epstein emails released
The House released large tranches of Epstein emails with dueling political implications for Trump. The huge disclosure started when House oversight Democrats released an email which they said spurred questions about Trump’s relationship with Epstein. In one email from January 2019, Epstein told columnist Michael Wolff that “of course” Trump “knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop”.
Trump has claimed that Epstein “stole” young women employees from the president’s Mar-a-Lago club. In another released missive, Epstein told Maxwell in 2011 that Trump had been around one of his victims for hours but did not discuss this. “I want you to realize that that dog that hasn’t barked is trump,” he said.
Republican representatives later released thousands of emails gleaned from Epstein’s estate that seemed more politically beneficial to the beleaguered president, as they suggested acrimony. In a 2018 email, Epstein said Trump was “borderline insane”. Multiple high-profile figures were ensnared in the GOP release, such as the former treasury secretary Larry Summers. He announced he would be stepping back from public life after documents showed him communicating with Epstein, who described himself as Summers’ “wing man”. The documents also showed that Epstein communicated with top Maga figure Steve Bannon about the former’s legal woes.
December 2025
3 DecemberHouse Democrats disclose photos of Epstein’s private island
Congressional Democrats released photos and videos from Epstein’s US Virgin Islands estate. While these photos did little to provide insight into Epstein’s crimes or potential accomplices, they provided a look into his home. These images include pictures of bedrooms and an office, as well as a chalkboard with the words “fin”, “intellectual”, “deception” and “power”. There are also several snapshots of a dentist’s chair, with masks mounted to the wall. Per the New York Times, Epstein’s last girlfriend was a dentist.
12 DecemberHouse Democrats release photos of Epstein and powerful associates
Democrats in the House published photos from Epstein’s estate. In addition to Epstein, the images included photos of Trump, Woody Allen, and Bill Gates. Some of these photos have previously been public. These images were disclosed without captions or context. Other photos released in this cache include images of sex toys.
18 DecemberHouse Democrats release additional photos from Epstein estate
Democrats on the House oversight committee release another batch of photographs from Epstein’s estate, only hours ahead of the administration’s deadline to release the full batch of Epstein files. They include images of passages from the book Lolita written on various parts of a woman’s body, and redacted images of passports and identity documents of women from several different countries. There are also photographs of Epstein with David Brooks, the New York Times columnist; Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump; Bill Gates, the Microsoft founder; and Noam Chomsky, the writer.
Mr & Mrs X - [DS] Trafficking Empire – How Epstein Built His Web of Wealth and Deceit:Part 1 - Ep 5
Mr & Mrs X - [DS] Trafficking Empire – How Epstein Built His Web of Wealth and Deceit:Part 1 - Ep 5
Mr & Mrs X - [DS] Trafficking Empire – How Epstein Built His Web of Wealth and Deceit:Part 1 - Ep 5
Mr & Mrs X - [DS] Trafficking Empire – How Epstein Built His Web of Wealth and Deceit:Part 1 - Ep 5
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Jeffrey Epstein was born on January 20, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Sea Gate on Coney Island, where he was raised by his parents—a school aide and a parks department groundskeeper—in a modest Jewish family environment. After attending local schools and briefly studying at New York University without graduating, Epstein began his career as a physics and mathematics teacher at the elite Dalton School in Manhattan from 1974 to 1976, despite lacking formal credentials. He transitioned into finance by joining Bear Stearns in 1976 as a junior assistant, rapidly advancing to options trader and limited partner by 1980, before departing in 1981 amid a regulatory issue. Epstein amassed his wealth through founding financial firms like Intercontinental Assets Group in 1981 and J. Epstein & Company in 1988, specializing in asset management for ultra-wealthy clients such as Leslie Wexner and Leon Black, earning hundreds of millions in fees and investment returns, leading to an estimated net worth of around $600 million at his death. His opulent properties reflected this fortune: he purchased a 14,000-square-foot mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, at 358 El Brillo Way in 1990, and acquired the 70-acre Little Saint James island in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1998, which he developed into a private compound.
Epstein met Ghislaine Maxwell around the early 1990s, with varying accounts suggesting an introduction as early as the late 1980s through her father, Robert Maxwell, or at a New York party following her breakup, but one specific report places their first encounter at a November 1991 event at the Plaza Hotel honoring her late father. Maxwell, a British socialite born in France in 1961 and raised in Oxford, England, became a close associate, often described as Epstein's best friend and organizer of his life, managing staff, properties, and social affairs from the 1990s onward. Her special skills included being a licensed helicopter pilot, which she used to ferry Epstein to his Caribbean island, fluency in multiple languages such as French and English from her Oxford education in modern history, exceptional social networking abilities that positioned her in elite circles, and organizational prowess evident in founding the ocean conservation nonprofit TerraMar Project in 2012 and handling Epstein's complex operations
Judge rules Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury records can be unsealed
Cabinet Office accused of covering up for royal family after blocking release of Andrew documents
Mr & Mrs X - [DS] Trafficking Empire – How Epstein Built His Web of Wealth and Deceit:Part 1 - Ep 5
Judge rules Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury records can be unsealed
9 December 2025
Madeline Halpert
Getty ImagesMaxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in luring underage girls for Epstein to exploit
A federal judge in New York has ruled the US Department of Justice can publicly release grand jury materials from Ghislaine Maxwell's sex trafficking investigation.
US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said he was ordering the release of material because of a recent law passed by Congress, which requires the justice department to publish files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein by the end of next week.
In his ruling, he said the court would put in place mechanisms to protect victims from the release of materials that would "identify them or otherwise invade their privacy".
Maxwell was convicted in 2021 for her role in luring underage girls for Epstein, her former boyfriend, to exploit. Epstein died in prison in 2019.
Prosecutors argued Maxwell recruited and groomed girls, some as young as 14, between 1994 and 2004, before they were abused by Epstein.
Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence, was moved from a Florida prison to a new minimum-security facility in Texas in August, after she was interviewed by Deputy US Attorney General Todd Blanche about Epstein.
In a letter to Judge Engelmayer, Maxwell's legal team said she did not take a position on the justice department's motion to release the grand jury material.
Representative Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, which has released thousands of files and messages it subpoenaed from Epstein's estate, said the unsealing was a "victory for transparency".
"These files are now part of the Epstein files held by the Department of Justice, and must be turned over to the Oversight Committee in response to our subpoena," he said.
The order to publish the records followed a similar ruling from a judge in Florida on Friday, which allowed for the unsealing of documents related to the state's investigation against Epstein that began in 2005.
Congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in November after previously rejecting calls to release the files.
The law "applies to unclassified records, documents, communications, and investigative materials" that relate to Epstein and Maxwell, a court order said.
The justice department has until 19 December to publicly release all the information from federal investigations into Epstein, though the law also allows the department to withhold files that involve active criminal investigations or raise privacy concerns.
Florida and New York judges had previously refused to unseal grand jury materials related to Epstein, citing federal rules that require grand jury processes to be kept secret.
But after Congress passed the bill to release the Epstein material, the justice department made the same request, arguing the legislation's "clear mandate" should "override" those secrecy rules.
New York CityGhislaine MaxwellJeffrey EpsteinSex trafficking
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The Cabinet Office has been accused of covering up for the royal family after the release of documents including some relating to travel expenses for the former Duke of York as UK trade envoy were withheld at the last minute.
Files released to the National Archives include documents relating to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and a grovelling apology from John Major’s office after an official birthday telegram to the Queen Mother was addressed in an “improper manner".
But the documents, which are made available to media in advance under embargo, had also included No 10 minutes from 2004 and 2005 on royal visits. These were subsequently withdrawn, the Cabinet Office blaming an “administrative error” as they had never been intended for release.
The minutes, seen by journalists before they were pulled, appear unremarkable and include a note that a change in rules could mean costs for the then Prince Andrew as a UK trade envoy would be funded by the Royal Travel Office – rather than the former Department of Trade and Industry – adding £90,000 to its budget. Visits discussed were to China, Russia, south-east Asia and Spain.
The retention of the minutes underlines the way that files relating to the royal family are routinely withheld from release under the Public Records Act.
Graham Smith, the chief executive of anti-monarchy campaign group Republic, said there should be no royal exemption at all. “The most likely reason for this attempt to stop disclosure is pressure from the palace. The royals have sought to keep everything under wraps when it comes to Andrew, not to protect him but to protect themselves.”
A tranche released relating to Diana’s death and funeral arrangements was already released in 2005 by the Cabinet Office under the Freedom of Information Act, and includes a vivid description of events by the UK’s ambassador to France, Michael Jay.
However, they reveal Downing Street refused in 2005 to release details of a conversation between Tony Blair and the French president, Jacques Chirac, after the Paris accident, on the grounds such conversations were “confidential” and “fundamentally not in the public interest”.
It was several hours before Chirac could be contacted by his aides to inform him of what had happened, leading to intense speculation as to his whereabouts. His chauffeur subsequently claimed that he had been with a mistress.
, No 10 was forced to issue an apology after the Queen Mother’s private secretary, Capt Sir Alastair Aird, telephoned No 10 complaining that John Major’s 1994 birthday greeting had been “incorrectly addressed”. Roderic Lyne in the No 10 private office wrote back, apologising but insisting that Downing Street staff were not to blame.
“The message itself, as it left our hands, was entirely correct. However, in transmitting it, it appears that British Telecom most unfortunately addressed the telegram in the improper manner which you described,” he wrote.
“I am so sorry that this happened. Our own staff are sticklers for the correct form, as you would imagine. Perhaps the solution would be for us to abandon telegrams which seem in any case to be going out of fashion.”
It was not clear what the error that caused offence concerned, but the Queen Mother herself seemed unperturbed, telegramming Major and wife Norma to send “warm thanks” for their “kind message of good wishes”.
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