WASHINGTON: The US Justice Department on Friday released a fresh tranche of documents from federal investigations into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, containing draft emails and records that refer to President Donald Trump, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, Elon Musk and other high-profile figures.
The department said the files include unverified claims, second-hand allegations and internal records submitted to investigators. None of the individuals named has been charged or accused of wrongdoing.
Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Claims involving Bill Gates
Among the documents are draft emails written by Epstein to himself in July 2013, addressed to “Bill”, which contain allegations involving Gates.
In one email, Epstein claimed Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted disease during encounters with “Russian girls” while visiting Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James.
Epstein alleged that Gates asked him to help obtain antibiotics without his wife’s knowledge.
“These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false,” a Gates spokesperson said, according to multiple US media outlets.
Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein but has described the relationship as a “huge mistake”.
The Gates Foundation, in a statement to The New York Times, denied allegations of extramarital affairs.
The Justice Department said it was unclear whether the emails were ever sent or whether they reflected real events.
Emails involving Elon Musk
The released files also include email exchanges between Epstein and Tesla and SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk discussing possible visits.
In a November 2012 email, Epstein asked Musk about arranging helicopter transport to his island.
Musk replied that he would need two seats for himself and his then-partner, actress Talulah Riley, and asked which day would be “the wildest party”.
In another email dated December 2013, Musk wrote that he would be in the British Virgin Islands and asked whether there was a good time to visit Epstein’s island.
Epstein replied that there was “always space”.
Responding on X, Musk said the correspondence could be “misinterpreted” but said his concern was that those who committed crimes with Epstein should be prosecuted.
References to President Trump
The files also include an FBI-compiled list of sexual assault allegations related to President Trump.
Many were anonymous tips or second-hand claims submitted to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center.
Some allegations were investigated and later deemed to lack credibility, according to the documents.
In a statement accompanying the release, the Justice Department said some claims against Trump were submitted shortly before the 2020 election and were “unfounded and false”.
Trump has long denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Other prominent names
The documents also reference British billionaire Richard Branson, former British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and film producer Steve Tisch.
Emails show friendly exchanges between Epstein and Branson in 2013.
A Branson company spokesperson said any contact occurred more than a decade ago and was limited to group or business settings.
An email exchange shows Epstein inviting Andrew to dinner at Buckingham Palace in 2010, after suggesting an introduction to a Russian woman. There is no indication that any meeting occurred.
Emails also show Epstein and Lutnick discussing plans to meet on Epstein’s Caribbean island in 2012. No allegations of misconduct are made against Lutnick.
Other correspondence suggests Epstein acted as a social intermediary between Tisch and several women.
The Justice Department said the release is part of a transparency effort and warned that the documents include unverified, sensational and unproven claims.
“Mention in these records does not imply wrongdoing,” the department said.
More than three million documents related to Epstein have now been released as part of federal investigations.
