Bill Gates, Howard Lutnick, Elon Musk: Notable names in latest Epstein file dump
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
An undated photo released by the U.S. Justice Deparment shows Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein.
PHOTO: US DOJ/NYTIMES
WASHINGTON - A fresh cache of files
Here are key details about mentions of the celebrities, none of whom has been accused of wrongdoing:
Donald Trump
The files included an FBI-compiled list of sexual assault allegations related to Mr Trump – many of them involving anonymous callers and unverified tips.
The allegations – some second-hand – were sent to the FBI’s National Threat Operations Centre, which receives information by phone and electronically.
The document suggests that investigators followed up on a number of the tips. Some were deemed to lack credibility.
Mr Trump has long denied any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
In a statement accompanying the Jan 30 file dump, the Justice Department said: “Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false.”
Bill Gates
In a draft e-mail among the documents published on Jan 30, Epstein alleged that Mr Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs.
Epstein wrote that his relationship with Mr Gates had ranged from “helping Bill to get drugs, in order to deal with consequences of sex with Russian girls, to facilitating his illicit trysts with married women”.
The Gates Foundation, in a statement to The New York Times, denied the allegations of affairs.
In a draft e-mail among the documents, Jeffrey Epstein alleged that Mr Gates had engaged in extramarital affairs.
PHOTOS: REUTERS
Richard Branson
Files show friendly relations between the two billionaires.
In an e-mail sent to Epstein on Sept 11, 2013, Mr Branson wrote: “It was really nice seeing you yesterday. The boys in Watersports can’t stop speaking about it! Any time you’re in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!”
A spokesperson for Mr Branson’s company told AFP that “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.
“Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.”
The spokesperson added Mr Branson would never have used the term “harem” if the full facts had been known and was repeating a phrase used by Epstein.
Elon Musk
The files contain numerous e-mail exchanges between Epstein and billionaire entrepreneur Musk.
In November 2012, Epstein sent Mr Musk an e-mail asking: “How many people will you be for the heli to island.”
Mr Musk replied: “Probably just Talulah and me. What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”
Mr Musk said in a post on X responding to the revelations he “was well aware that some e-mail correspondence with (Epstein) 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,” Mr Musk wrote.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
The disgraced former prince invited Epstein to visit him at Buckingham Palace in September 2010 while the financier was making a trip to London.
An e-mail exchange shows Epstein contacting Andrew to ask: “What time would you like me... we will also need... private time.”
Andrew replied: “We could have dinner at Buckingham Palace and lots of privacy.”
Andrew made the offer after Epstein proposed a month earlier introducing him to a 26-year-old Russian woman, according to the documents.
The former prince said he “would be delighted to see her”, although there is no suggestion in the material that any meeting took place.
Howard Lutnick
E-mails show that Epstein and businessman Lutnick – currently Mr Trump’s commerce secretary – made plans in December 2012 to have lunch on Epstein’s Caribbean island.
“We are heading towards you from St Thomas,” Mr Lutnick’s wife wrote to Epstein’s secretary, asking where they should anchor.
Steve Tisch
Several mails suggested Epstein connected Mr Steve Tisch, 76, producer of the movies Forrest Gump and Risky Business and the co-owner of the New York Giants football team, with multiple women.
In one exchange with Mr Tisch, Epstein describes a woman as “Russian, and rarely tells the full truth, but fun”. AFP
