The US Justice Department has released millions of newly unsealed files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reopening public scrutiny of the powerful circles he once moved in. Among the disclosures are emails suggesting that Howard Lutnick, now US Commerce Secretary under President Donald Trump, planned a lunch visit to Epstein’s private Caribbean island years after Lutnick previously said he had cut ties with the disgraced financier.
The documents also include messages involving billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. In one exchange, Musk declined an invitation to visit Epstein’s island, saying a quiet retreat was not what he was looking for at the time, while asking whether Epstein had any parties planned. Epstein responded ambiguously, and while later messages suggest a possible meeting elsewhere in the Caribbean, it remains unclear if the two ever met. Musk later publicly stated that he refused to visit Epstein’s island.
The scale of the release is significant. According to the Justice Department, the new batch marks the final disclosure under a law requiring all Epstein-related files to be made public. It includes more than three million pages of documents, along with thousands of videos and images. Officials said redactions were applied where necessary to protect victims or ongoing investigations.
The files reflect the breadth of Epstein’s connections, mentioning numerous figures from politics, business, and entertainment. Former and current leaders, including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, and other high-profile names, appear across emails and media clippings. Many of those referenced have denied any wrongdoing and expressed regret over their past associations with Epstein.
Several documents focus on Trump, including internal investigator emails from 2025 reviewing accusations involving Epstein and the former president. These emails note that claims were unsubstantiated and that some accusers were considered not credible. The Justice Department also warned that certain documents contained untrue or sensationalist allegations. Trump has repeatedly denied any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, though critics say the controversy has followed him since he promised full transparency on the files during his 2024 campaign.
One notable exchange from 2012 appears to reference plans involving Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club, while another email, dated 2002, shows Melania Trump complimenting Ghislaine Maxwell on a magazine feature about Epstein. Maxwell was later convicted of sex trafficking a minor and is serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The emails involving Lutnick have drawn particular attention. Messages show plans for a December 2012 lunch on Epstein’s island, followed by a cordial note from Epstein thanking Lutnick for the visit. This appears to contradict Lutnick’s past statements that he cut off contact with Epstein after an uncomfortable encounter years earlier. A Commerce Department spokesperson said Lutnick’s interactions with Epstein were limited, always in the presence of his wife, and emphasized that he has never been accused of wrongdoing.
Democrats have questioned whether the administration has released all relevant material, noting that while six million pages were identified, only about half have been made public so far. The Justice Department maintains that the disclosures comply with the law.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial, a death officially ruled a suicide but one that has fueled years of speculation and conspiracy theories.
At its core, the latest release is less about proving new crimes and more about exposing the uncomfortable proximity between power and impunity. For many readers, these files are a stark reminder that influence can blur boundaries, delay accountability, and leave lasting questions long after the headlines fade. The names may be famous, but the real human cost lies with the victims whose lives were forever changed, and whose voices remain central to why transparency still matters.
