The latest tranche of files has linked Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit to Epstein, appearing to show her extensive contact with the disgraced financier from 2011 to 2014.
According to the Norwegian daily VG, Mette-Marit told Epstein that “you tickle my brain” in one message and called him “soft hearted” and “such a sweetheart” in others.
In 2012, Mette-Marit told Epstein he was “very charming” and asked if it was “inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15 yr old sons wallpaper?”
Weeks earlier she and Epstein had exchanged emails about him being on a “wife hunt” in Paris. She replied that the French capital was “good for adultery” and added that “Scandis (are) better wife material”.
The files include a 2011 exchange in which Mette-Marit told Epstein that she had “Googled” him, adding “it didn’t look too good” along with a smiling emoji.
Mette-Marit, who married the future king of Norway in 2001, has said that she “showed poor judgment and “deeply regret[ted] having had any contact with Epstein”. A spokesperson for Norway’s royal family said Mette-Marit had ended written contact with Epstein in 2014 as she felt he was “trying to use his relationship with the crown princess as leverage with other people”.
Epstein appears to have taken great pride in improving his spiritual health. The papers detail his long relationship with holistic healer and new age wellness guru Deepak Chopra, whom he met at least 12 times between 2016 and 2019 for “meditation and funding meetings” for alternative science health projects. Chopra attended intimate dinners parties at Epstein’s New York residence, in the presence of Woody Allen, and called his nights out “a blast”.
In November 2016, Epstein sent Chopra a report saying that a “troubled woman with a history of drug use” made up allegations that she was assaulted by Trump and Epstein, aged 13. When Epstein passed on that she had dropped the civil charges against him, Chopra replied: “Good.”
In a statement, Chopra said: “I hope that all of the truth comes out after ongoing and proper investigations. I’m happy to share whatever I know with authorised officials.”
Peter Mandelson, the former UK ambassador to the US, is now under police investigation for misconduct in public office over revelations in the Epstein files. He described Epstein as his “chief life adviser”, and appears to have sent him a draft of his memoir, The Third Man: Life at the heart of New Labour in May 2010.
The financier was concerned that the gossipy nature of the manuscript would damage Mandelson’s potential for dealmaking in his post-political life. He wrote: “I think we should speak about this book … I have finished my first read. (yes, that fast, that’s what i do) … I find it troubling.”
Epstein said the book risked driving “a commercial stake through your heart” as “the deals you want to be involved in require, discretion, trust, handshakes, privacy”.
He went on: “This book announces that you are willing to sell all of these for a farthing. Your friend, and boss, Tony is more often described as frail, flustered, tired, weak, and Gordon [as] flawed, demanding, pig-headed, irrationally determined, and you, yourself as – wanting to “come clean”, humiliated, distraught, surprised, pleased, thoughtful, aggressive, hurt … My view is that businessmen will revolt … It is not uplifting, it is gossipy and defensive.”
Mandelson appears not to have agreed: “You have read it too fast. It is not those things. Nor is it finished.”
He maintains that he has not acted criminally, and was not motivated by financial gain. He has said that he was deceived by Epstein, whom he characterises as a “master manipulator”.
Ehud Barak is mentioned repeatedly in the files, which make clear the former Israeli prime minister and special forces soldier stayed in regular contact with Epstein for many years after the financier’s 2008 guilty plea for sex crimes in Florida.
Among the correspondence are plans for a 2017 stay at Epstein’s New York residence. Other exchanges discuss mundane logistics for other visits, dinner dates, meetings and phone calls with Epstein.
Ehud Barak has acknowledged regularly visiting Epstein on his trips to New York and flying on his private plane. Photograph: Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images
In one letter to Epstein among those reportedly compiled as a birthday gift for the convicted criminal’s 63rd birthday in 2016, Barak and his wife wrote “there is no limit to your curiosity”.
“You are like a closed book to many of them but you know everything about everyone,” they wrote, describing Epstein as “A COLLECTOR OF PEOPLE”.
Epstein also mentioned Barak to others, saying that he was “next level” when it came to arranging deals in the defence industry.
Barak has acknowledged regularly visiting Epstein on his trips to New York and flying on his private plane, but maintains he never saw or learned of any inappropriate or unlawful behaviour.
The files suggest that Anil Ambani, the billionaire CEO of the sprawling India-based multinational conglomerate the Reliance Group, first contacted Epstein in early 2017. For more than two years, the two immensely wealthy men exchanged messages on Skype, email and SMS on topics ranging from geopolitics to how to chose a jacket.
Ambani, 66, appears to have been introduced to the late child sex offender by a Gulf-based businessman, according to the News Minute, an Indian news website. After possibly meeting in France in February 2017, they then exchanged emails full of mutual compliments and talk about potential deals and useful contacts.
In March 2017, Ambani told Epstein that “Leadership [in Delhi]” wanted access to Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, and Steve Bannon, the far-right ideologue who was then the president’s adviser, before a proposed visit to Washington by Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister. There was also discussion of Modi’s forthcoming trip to Israel.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has denied any official knowledge of any consultation of Epstein by Ambani, telling the Hindu newspaper that the “allusions in the email are little more than trashy ruminations by a convicted criminal, which deserve to be dismissed with the utmost contempt”.
There is no evidence from the files that Ambani knew of or had any involvement in Epstein’s unlawful activities.
Glimpses of this document were revealed at Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 trial, but Epstein’s full “household manual” was included in the latest release, detailing strict, cult-like requirements for his Florida mansion staff, who were expected to “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing”.
Other rules said that air conditioning should be kept at 60F at all times, guns should be provided in bedside drawers, required large quantities of tissues and toothpaste to be kept in bathrooms, and mandated a “vibe check” – specific rules for the provision and placement of sex toys.
Mandelson has said he regrets not believing the women abused by Epstein. The financier’s behaviour does not seem to have been that well concealed.
It was July 2009, and Epstein had just been released from Palm Beach County Jail after serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence after being convicted of soliciting prostitution and soliciting prostitution from a child. “How is freedom feeling?” asked Mandelson. “She feels fresh firm and creamy,” Epstein said.
“Naughty boy,” Mandelson responded. The Labour cabinet minister went on: “How shall we celebrate?” Epstein wrote back: “With Grace and Modesty (those are the names of two strippers).” Mandelson responded: “From now on grace and modesty [should] be discovered in London.”
It was the summer of 2010, and Epstein had an idea for the then-Prince Andrew – now Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor after he was stripped of his royal titles over his relationship with Epstein.
“I have a friend who I think you might enjoy having dinner with,” Epstein wrote. “Her name is Irina, she will be in London 20-24.” The royal was only too pleased to accommodate, appearing to have written that he would be “delighted to see her”. “Will she be bringing a message from you?”, he asked. “Please give her my contact details to get in touch.”
Andrew apparently recognised that the woman might not be a close friend. “Any other information you might know about her that might be useful to know? Like what have you told her about me and have you given her my email as well?” he asked. Epstein reassured him: “She is 26, Russian, clever, beautiful, trustworthy and yes she has your email.”
Epstein offered to make dreams come true. His common refrain: “Is this important to you?” It was a deal with the devil, but the financier appeared able to deliver on what people wanted.
In the summer of 2011, Ian Osborne, who ran a press relations and business development consultancy business, appears to have forwarded an email to Epstein from 10 Downing Street. “Hi – a funny one this. But Steve and I are really keen to meet up with Woody Allen. I doubt (sic) suppose you know someone who knows someone who knows him, do you?”
In an email, Osborne explained the context to Epstein: “Just in case your friend Woody Allen is interested … this is from David Cameron’s office… Rohan Silva, head of the prime minister’s policy unit and Steve Hilton, director of strategy.”
“Would Cameron be there?” Epstein responded. Osborne appears to have said this would be organised. “Yes, we would arrange it so that Cameron would be there for at least part of his time at No 10”. Epstein was happy to pull some strings. “If it’s important to you, I will strongly encourage,” he wrote.
The documents provide a high level of insight into Epstein’s close relationship with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, in which Bannon acted as a mentor for Epstein’s upcoming appearances in a documentary series designed to salvage his public image.
Bannon would advise on personal grooming, including the length of beard he felt Epstein should have. In return Epstein provided Bannon with high-end gifts, including a Hermès Apple watch.
‘Do you think you’re the devil himself’: Epstein defends philanthropy in Bannon interview – video
In one 2019 exchange, Bannon appears to have offered his advice on how to change Epstein’s reputation, apparently writing: “First we need to push back on the lies”, “crush the pedo/trafficking narrative”, and “rebuild your image as philanthropist”.
In a video of an interview released as part of the new files, Bannon asks him: “Do you think you’re the devil himself?” Epstein replies: “No, but I do have a good mirror.” When told he has “all the attributes of the devil” and pressed further, he says: “The devil scares me.”
Bannon has not yet commented publicly on the latest files.