The Department of Justice on Friday released the largest batch of Jeffrey Epstein files to date, a giant tranche including three million more pages of documents and thousands of videos and images.<\/p>\n
The documents shed new light on the disgraced financier\u2019s relationships with several prominent figures, including Elon Musk, Bill Gates and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. They also contain a significant number of uncorroborated tips<\/a> to law enforcement.<\/p>\n Here are what the files showed about several of those men:<\/p>\n President Trump<\/p>\n The files appeared to contain at least 4,500 documents that mentioned Mr. Trump. One was a summary that officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation assembled last summer of more than a dozen tips from the public involving Mr. Trump and Mr. Epstein, according to emails released by the Department of Justice on Friday.<\/p>\n It is unclear why the investigators put together the summary, which includes accusations of sexual abuse by Mr. Epstein and Mr. Trump. The emails did not include any corroborating evidence, and The New York Times is not describing the details of the unverified claims.<\/p>\n Mr. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Mr. Epstein. In response to a request for comment, the White House referred to a public statement<\/a> from the Justice Department, which said that Friday\u2019s documents \u201cmay include fake or falsely submitted images, documents or videos.\u201d<\/p>\n Many of the other documents were news articles or emails that referenced Mr. Trump.<\/p>\n Bill Gates<\/p>\n According to released emails, Mr. Epstein drafted notes to and about Mr. Gates<\/a> in 2013, suggesting that he engaged in extramarital sex. A representative of Mr. Gates\u2019s called the accusations \u201cabsolutely absurd and completely false.\u201d<\/p>\n In one email, Mr. Epstein wrote that he had helped Mr. Gates acquire drugs \u201cin order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls,\u201d and that he had facilitated rendezvous for Mr. Gates with married women.<\/p>\n It was not clear if Mr. Epstein ever sent the emails to Mr. Gates. Mr. Epstein wrote the messages about Mr. Gates not long after his attempt to broker a venture between Mr. Gates\u2019s foundation and JPMorgan Chase fizzled out \u2014 depriving Mr. Epstein of what he had hoped would be a gusher of income.<\/p>\n Howard Lutnick<\/p>\n The files revealed that Mr. Lutnick, now the commerce secretary, planned a visit to Mr. Epstein\u2019s island in 2012, though he previously said he severed ties with Mr. Epstein around 2005.<\/p>\n Reached by phone on Friday, Mr. Lutnick said he could not comment about the island visit because he had not seen the latest Epstein documents.<\/p>\n \u201cI spent zero time with him,\u201d Mr. Lutnick said. He then hung up.<\/p>\n The documents suggest the visit did occur. The gathering was set for Dec. 23, 2012. A day later, an assistant to Mr. Epstein forwarded Mr. Lutnick a message from Mr. Epstein: \u201cNice seeing you,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n A 2013 email exchange between Mr. Branson, the British billionaire, and Mr. Epstein suggests that the two had a warm, familiar relationship, built at least in part around their interest in women.<\/p>\n In an email on Sept. 11, 2013, Mr. Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, wrote to Mr. Epstein, \u201cIt was really nice seeing you yesterday.\u201d He added: \u201cAny time you\u2019re in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!\u201d<\/p>\n A representative for Virgin group said that Mr. Branson had sent the email shortly after hosting Mr. Epstein at a group business meeting on the private island Mr. Branson owns in the British Virgin Islands. Mr. Epstein arrived at the meeting with three adult women, whom he referred to as his \u201charem,\u201d who did not attend the meeting, the representative said.<\/p>\n \u201cAny 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,\u201d the representative said in a statement. \u201cRichard believes that Epstein\u2019s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Epstein and Mr. Musk exchanged multiple messages between 2012 and 2014, comparing their schedules to find time to meet in Florida or in the Caribbean, according to the documents.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you find some time, come visit me on my island\u201d in the Caribbean, Mr. Epstein wrote<\/a> to Mr. Musk on Sept. 25, 2012, urging the billionaire to \u201cbring your friend or friends.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSounds good, will try to make it,\u201d Mr. Musk replied.<\/p>\n