Billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Peter Thiel are among the high-profile names appearing in newly released documents linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The materials, made public by Democratic members of the House Oversight Committee, include flight manifests, schedules and financial records that reference meetings or potential interactions between Epstein and several prominent figures.
The batch of six redacted pages is the third set of files submitted by the Epstein Estate and passed on by the Justice Department to congressional investigators. Democrats say the documents shed light on Epstein's continued connections with wealthy and powerful individuals years after his initial conviction.
Musk reference in 2014 itinerary
One entry from December 6, 2014 notes, "Reminder: Elon Musk to island Dec. 6 (is this still happening?)." The reference appears to suggest a possible visit by Musk to Epstein's private island, Little St James, in the US Virgin Islands. Musk has previously acknowledged that Epstein extended an invitation but insisted he declined.
After the latest release, Musk dismissed the suggestion he had travelled to the island. "This is false," he wrote on his social media platform X, reiterating his denial.
The Tesla and SpaceX chief has also criticised attempts to keep Epstein-related records under wraps. Earlier this year, he publicly urged President Donald Trump to release all Epstein files, remarking: "How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won't release the Epstein files?"
References to Peter Thiel and Steve Bannon
The documents also detail a planned lunch with Peter Thiel (German-American entrepreneur) in November 2017 and a scheduled breakfast with Trump ally Steve Bannon on February 17, 2019. Both entries were noted in Epstein's calendar.
Another tentative plan mentioned a December 2014 breakfast with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who later called his meetings with Epstein a "mistake" in a 2022 interview with the BBC.
Prince Andrew again named in flight logs
Flight records contained in the files highlight that Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, was listed as a passenger on a flight with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell from Teterboro, New Jersey, to West Palm Beach, Florida, on May 12 2000.
Buckingham Palace records show that Andrew was in New York days earlier for an engagement with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He returned to the UK on May 15. Andrew has repeatedly and strenuously denied wrongdoing.
What are the Epstein files?
The term "Epstein files" refers to a trove of records amassed during investigations into Epstein and his associates. They include flight logs, phone message slips, financial ledgers, calendars, witness testimonies, diaries and seized evidence from Epstein's properties.
Among the recovered evidence are computers, hard drives, recording devices, memory sticks, massage tables, copper handcuffs, a whip, and disturbing materials such as a CD labelled "girl pics nude book 4" and a photo album described as "photo album of girl and Epstein".
While the files do not prove misconduct by all individuals named, they have fuelled speculation about the breadth of Epstein's social and business networks.
Musk response
Musk has long been vocal about the controversy surrounding Epstein's associations. In a now-deleted post, he previously claimed Trump's name appeared in the records, suggesting that was the reason the full cache had not been released. He later admitted the remark "went too far."
Weeks after stepping down from his role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) following a dispute with Trump, Musk posted a series of comments criticising the Republican leader for withholding the documents. He even asked via Grok, the AI tool on X: "Are there likely to be electronic records in any government or commercial computers recording who travelled on Epstein's plane to the US Virgin Islands?"
Political dispute over the release
Democrats say the records provide vital insight into Epstein's operations and the extent of his influence. "It should be clear to every American that Jeffrey Epstein was friends with some of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the world. Every new document produced provides new information as we work to bring justice for the survivors and victims," said Sara Guerrero, spokesperson for the Democratic minority on the committee.
Republicans accused Democrats of exploiting the case for political purposes, saying they would soon release the full, unredacted collection.
Epstein, who had been convicted in 2008 after reaching a plea deal over sexual offences involving a minor, was arrested again in 2019 on sex trafficking charges. He died by suicide in a New York jail cell that August while awaiting trial.