The United States Department of Justice last week released the latest batch of documents linked to investigations related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The disclosure includes more than three million pages of records, over 2,000 videos and around 180,000 images.
What began as a criminal case in the United States has since spread far beyond its borders, sending shockwaves through political, financial and diplomatic circles around the world. The newly released files name a wide range of powerful figures, highlighting the global reach of Epstein’s network. They have also renewed questions about how Epstein’s crimes went unchecked for years, as authorities face growing scrutiny from the public and the media worldwide.
Who Was Jeffrey Epstein?
Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier who came under intense scrutiny for sexually abusing minors. For years, he projected himself as a wealthy, well-connected businessman with access to political leaders, billionaires and royalty. Behind that façade, law enforcement later uncovered a pattern of exploitation involving underage girls.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Jeffrey Epstein began his career as a teacher at the elite Dalton School before moving into finance. After leaving Dalton in 1976, he joined Bear Stearns, where he rose quickly. At 27, Epstein was named Cosmopolitan’s “Bachelor of the Month” and made a limited partner at the firm. A year later, Bear Stearns investigated him for potential SEC violations. He was suspended, fined, and eventually left the company.
In 1988, Epstein founded J. Epstein & Co., a private money-management firm catering to ultra-wealthy clients with net worths exceeding $1 billion. His only publicly known billionaire client was Leslie H. Wexner, founder of L Brands, who granted Epstein extensive control over his finances for more than two decades.
By the 1990s, Epstein operated from multiple luxury properties, including Little St. James, a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands purchased in 1998, and the neighboring Great St. James. He also owned homes in Palm Beach and Manhattan. Prosecutors later alleged these properties were used to facilitate the sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls. Testimony revealed hidden cameras in his Manhattan residence.
According to Forbes, Epstein’s main entities generated over $800 million in revenue between 1999 and 2018. At the time of his death in August 2019, he was 66 years old. While awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, his net worth was estimated at about $560 million.
Investigations on Epstein
Investigations began in the early 2000s after multiple minors reported being abused at Epstein’s Palm Beach residence. According to authorities, teenage girls were offered money for “massages” that escalated into sexual acts, often repeated over several years. Many of the victims were under 18.
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting prostitution from a minor and procuring a minor for prostitution. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail, serving about 13 months—much of it under work-release conditions. The plea deal drew widespread criticism for shielding him from federal prosecution and excluding many victims.
More than a decade later, in 2019, federal prosecutors in New York arrested Epstein on charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. Before the case could go to trial, Epstein was found dead in federal custody in August 2019. His death was ruled a suicide.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and former girlfriend, came into the spotlight after Epstein’s death. She is a British socialite and the daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell. She played a key role in Epstein’s operations, including recruiting and grooming underage girls.
Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 and convicted in December 2021 on five federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor, for crimes committed between 1994 and 2004. She is serving a 20-year prison sentence and was transferred in 2025 to a minimum-security federal prison camp in Texas. While she introduced Epstein to powerful figures such as Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew, no other major public figures have been convicted in connection with the case.
Nearly six years later, amid mounting public and political pressure, the Trump administration moved to release what have come to be known as the “Epstein files.”
What the Files Reveal
The records, now totalling millions of pages, images and videos reinforce three central findings.
Firstly, the court filings, victim testimony, flight logs, settlements and emails consistently establish that Epstein ran a long-term sexual abuse and trafficking operation, aided by a network of recruiters and facilitators.
Secondly, the documents confirm that powerful individuals, including politicians, royals, billionaires, academics and celebrities socialised with Epstein, attended dinners, flew on his planes or visited his properties. However, according to Justice department, proximity with Epstein alone does not imply criminal wrongdoing.
Thirdly, the files point to repeated failures within the justice system. They show how Epstein was granted unusual leniency in 2008 and how investigations were limited or mishandled, raising lasting questions about prosecutorial decisions and institutional accountability.
Meanwhile, after releasing files recently, authorities have stated that certain materials will still remain sealed, including information that identifies survivors, involves national security matters, relates to ongoing investigations or contains explicit depictions of harm to children.
The Scale of Abuse
Federal records and reporting suggest the number of Epstein’s victims far exceeds earlier public estimates. A July 2025 Justice Department and FBI memo reported more than 1,000 victims over two decades, most of them minors. Survivors’ lawyers and investigative reporting indicate that hundreds more have since come forward or been identified.
Amongst them, victims’ compensation fund established after Epstein’s death stated that it received claims from more than 225 people, with roughly 150 accepted and compensated.
High-Profile Names, Ongoing Scrutiny
Over the years, Jeffrey Epstein used his wealth and connections to build relationships with powerful individuals and institutions, some of which benefited financially from his services. His most significant and long-standing client was Leslie H. Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands, who entrusted Epstein with sweeping control over his financial, legal, and charitable affairs for more than two decades. Court filings also show that a co-founder of Apollo Global Management paid Epstein an estimated $158 million to $170 million for tax planning, estate management, and advisory services. Beyond individual clients, Epstein directed millions of dollars toward prominent institutions. Harvard University received funding linked to Epstein for a molecular biology and evolutionary dynamics research program, while the MIT Media Lab accepted donations routed through Epstein-controlled foundations, including after his 2008 conviction—a decision that later triggered public apologies and internal investigations. Figures such as Glenn Dubin and Lord Mandelson were also part of Epstein’s elite social and financial circle. While these ties illustrate the breadth of Epstein’s influence across finance, politics, and academia, no individual or institution cited has been convicted of crimes connected to his sex-trafficking operation.
In a fresh development last Friday, according to the BBC, the latest disclosures have reignited political controversy worldwide by featuring the names of numerous public figures, including Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton.
The BBC has emphasised that being named in the documents does not imply criminal conduct, and no charges have been brought against individuals mentioned in connection with Epstein.
Trump is mentioned hundreds of times, including in allegations logged with the FBI’s threat tip line. He has denied any wrongdoing and has said he severed ties with Epstein years ago. He has not been accused of crimes by Epstein’s victims.
Emails between Epstein and Elon Musk reference possible travel plans, though Musk has said he never visited Epstein’s private island. In a November 2012 email, Musk wrote: “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”
Bill Clinton, who previously acknowledged traveling on Epstein’s private jet, is also mentioned in the files but has not been accused of criminal conduct.
Photographs included in the documents show Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, a British prince, while the name of Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, appears repeatedly. References also include former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Google co-founder Sergey Brin, former Slovak foreign minister Miroslav Lajčák, former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd, former UK cabinet minister Peter Mandelson and Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit.
Among the newly released images are undated photographs of Epstein with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
While many named individuals have denied any involvement in Epstein’s crimes, records show that some maintained contact with him even after he became publicly known as an alleged abuser.
Beyond political and financial connections, the newly released material also sheds light on Epstein’s continued access to influential networks even after his conviction. Among the disclosures are emails dated February and March 2017, that show UAE-based businesswoman Aziza al-Ahmadi organised the shipment of three pieces of the Kiswa – sacred cloth from the Kaaba and delivered to Epstein. While the purpose of the shipment remains unclear, its inclusion has added to concerns about the extent of Epstein’s reach and the deference he appeared to command across borders.
The shipment arrived at Epstein’s home in March 2017, long after he had served jail time and registered as a sex offender.
A Case That Continues to Haunt the System
According to a timeline of Epstein’s case by National Public Radio, the abuse began as early as 2002. Despite substantial evidence against him, investigations and accountability were repeatedly delayed. Civil lawsuits by victims continued long after his release and resurfaced public scrutiny in 2018 following investigative reporting by the Miami Herald.
Epstein’s criminal prosecution ended with his death in 2019, which was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, yet the numerous security failures, lapses in procedure, and malfunctioning surveillance equipment have fueled widespread skepticism. Despite the official ruling and investigations confirming no evidence of murder, many continue to believe he was killed to prevent him from disclosing information about powerful associates.
Nevertheless, this case remains a symbol of systemic failure, highlighting how wealth, power and networking allowed years of abuse to go unchecked.
In the latest development on Wednesday, many files published last week were taken down by the U.S Department of Justice after hundreds of survivors complained that their identities had been exposed.
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