Several high‑profile figures named in the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s latest release of Jeffrey Epstein‑related records have issued statements, distancing themselves from the disgraced financier and rejecting any implication of wrongdoing.
On Friday, the Justice Department published more than 3 million pages of material under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in November.
The batch includes about 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, Newsweek previously reported, and the documents reference a number of prominent individuals, underscoring the need to describe their contents carefully and to separate unverified claims from established facts, since simply appearing in the release is not an indication of wrongdoing.
Elon Musk
Newly released records indicate that Elon Musk and Epstein exchanged emails in 2012 and 2013 that touched on the possibility of Musk visiting the financier’s private Caribbean island. The messages include Epstein referencing potential travel plans to Little St. James, the U.S. Virgin Islands property that later became central to numerous allegations of sexual abuse, Newsweek reported Friday.
Since the latest batch of documents dropped, Musk has written multiple posts on social media platform X regarding the matter.
“No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened,” Musk said in one post on Saturday.
“I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express,’ but was well aware that some email correspondence with him could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name.
“I don’t care about that, but what I do care about is that we at least attempt to prosecute those who committed serious crimes with Epstein, especially regarding heinous exploitation of underage girls.”
Bill Gates
Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates has strongly denied “absolutely absurd and completely false” allegations made by Epstein seen in the new release that he may have contracted a sexually transmitted disease from “Russian girls,” Newsweek previously reported.
The materials contain two draft emails from Epstein’s email address dated July 18, 2013. Neither is signed, and none include any messages from Gates. One draft takes the form of a Gates Foundation resignation letter alleging medication had been procured for Gates “to deal with the consequences of sex with Russian girls.”
The other, beginning “dear Bill,” accuses Gates of ending a friendship and repeats unverified claims about concealing a sexually transmitted infection from his then-wife.
A spokesperson for Gates told the BBC that the allegations stem from “a proven, disgruntled liar.”
Per the outlet, the spokesperson said: “These claims—from a proven, disgruntled liar—are absolutely absurd and completely false.”
They added: “The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.”
Richard Branson
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, billionaire and Virgin Group co-founder Richard Branson appeared in the latest tranche, including in email threads with Epstein and his assistant, as well as an image of Branson with Epstein on a tropical island, which is undated.
An email response from Branson to Epstein dated 2013 read: “Any time you’re in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!”
The outlet reported that a Virgin Group spokesperson said Branson sent the email after hosting Epstein as part of a business meeting on Branson’s private island, adding that Epstein arrived with three adult women who did not take part in the meeting.
A Virgin Group spokesperson told Newsweek: “Any contact Richard and Joan Branson had with Epstein took place on only a few occasions more than twelve years ago, and was limited to group or business settings, such as a charity tennis event. When Epstein offered a charity donation, the Bransons asked their team to carry out due diligence before accepting the donation, which uncovered serious allegations. As a result of what the due diligence uncovered, Virgin Unite did not take the donation and Richard and Joan decided not to meet or speak with Epstein again. Had they had the full picture and information, there would have been no contact whatsoever – Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.”
Kathryn Ruemmler
The new documents also show that general counsel for Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel under Barack Obama Kathryn Ruemmler received several gifts including wine, flowers, a Hermès bag, and $10,000 in Bergdorf Goodman gift cards, as per The Wall Street Journal.
Ruemmler previously said her relationship with Epstein was professional and she interacted with criminals regularly as part of her work, it noted. “I regret ever knowing him, and I have enormous sympathy for the victims of Epstein’s crimes,” she told the newspaper in a recent statement.
“It’s well known that Epstein often offered unsolicited favors and gifts to his many business contacts,” a Goldman Sachs spokesman told the outlet Friday.
Howard Lutnick
The newly released Epstein documents indicate that Howard Lutnick, who serves as commerce secretary under President Donald Trump, had planned a trip to Epstein’s private island, Newsweek reported Friday.
According to DOJ‑released emails from 2012, Epstein invited Lutnick to his Caribbean property Little St. James for lunch.
“Hi Jeff, We are landing in St. Thomas early Saturday afternoon and planning to head over to St. Bart’s/Anguilla on Monday at some point.” Lutnick responded in a December 19, 2012, email. “Where are you located (what is exact location for my captain)? Does Sunday evening for dinner sound good?”
A Department of Commerce spokesperson told Newsweek via email: “This is nothing more than a failing attempt by the legacy media to distract from the administration’s accomplishments including securing trillions of dollars in investment, delivering historic trade deals and fighting for the American worker. Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing.”
A spokesperson for the Commerce Department also said Lutnick had never been accused of any wrongdoing in connection to Epstein, per the BBC.
Steve Tisch
As reported by The Wall Street Journal, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch traded emails with Epstein in 2013, including messages involving conversations about meeting with women.
“We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments,” Tisch said, per Fox News. “I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”
Newsweek has approached Musk via Tesla, Ruemmler via Goldman Sachs, Gates via the Gates Foundation and Tisch via the New York Giants for comment.
Update, 02/01/26, 1:37 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Virgin Group.
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