From Washington to London and beyond, Epstein shadowed all

Newly released trove of files reveals a network of powerful figures who remained in the disgraced financier’s orbit

KARACHI:

The scandal that refuses to loosen its grip on Donald Trump’s second term has taken another turn, with the US Department of Justice releasing a fresh batch of the infamous Epstein files. Even accessing the documents comes with an unusual warning — visitors must confirm they are over 18 before viewing the material.

The requirement alone drops a hint at the files’ disturbing content, showing how Jeffrey Epstein’s dark legacy continues to cast a shadow over the global news agenda more than seven years after his mysterious death in a New York prison cell.

The newly disclosed files suggest that the disgraced financier’s reach extended to some of the most powerful figures on the planet, entangling former president Bill Clinton, tech giants such as Elon Musk, and British royalty in his web of influence. But one revelation stands out for its particularly cruel irony – Bill Gates, the philanthropist who has built a global reputation on saving lives, was reportedly himself infected with a sexually transmitted disease through an encounter​ arranged by Epstein, known not just for trafficking but also as a convicted sex offender.

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The Department of Justice’s release of roughly three million pages of documents, over 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images is the largest tranche made public since Congress pressured the ​Trump administration to disclose ​Epstein’s files.

Speaking after the release, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stressed that the White House had no role in reviewing or redacting the files, insisting that the documents were made public independently. But critics are skeptical, pointing to Blanche’s previous service as a defense attorney for Trump, and argue that the partial nature of the release, only half of the initially identified six million pages, leaves significant questions unanswered.

The latest records include not only emails, text messages, and investigative notes but also internal memos and summaries of tips from members of the public. Many of these tips mention Trump, although officials caution they are unverified.

The files detail allegations from various sources about Epstein and his interactions with the current US president, though none of the claims have been substantiated. Still, their presence in the public domain, many experts suggest, inevitably fuels speculation about the depth of Epstein’s influence and the circles in which he operated.

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The documents also shed light on the financier’s connections with other prominent figures. Elon Musk, for example, appears in emails arranging possible meetings with Epstein in Florida and the Caribbean between 2012 and 2014, although the billionaire has repeatedly stated he rejected Epstein’s offers.

Likewise, emails show Bill Gates in correspondence with Epstein regarding meetings and arrangements that are described in unflattering terms, though Gates, too, has strongly denied any connection. Other figures, including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, British billionaire Richard Branson, and former White House advisers like Steve Bannon and Kathy Ruemmler, also appear in varying degrees throughout the documents, suggesting a web of ​connections that extends across continents.

Perhaps most chilling is the confirmation that Epstein’s abuses were documented and reported to law enforcement long before the public ever knew. Internal FBI notes, as reported by the Associated Press, reveal that agents were aware as early as 2006 and 2007 of multiple allegations involving underage girls at Epstein’s Florida estate, but federal prosecutors turned a blind eye, allowing the predator to continue his reign of exploitation largely unchecked.

Instead, the scandal-tainted mogul struck a plea deal at the state level, pleading guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor and serving just 18 months in a county jail.

The international reach of Epstein’s influence is perhaps further exposed through his connections to ​British royalty. Prince Andrew, ​now the former Duke of York, appears extensively in the newly released files, with multiple references to dinners, guest lists, and emails detailing interactions with the shadowy financier. Legal battles and public accusations, one from Virginia Roberts Giuffre, have long tied the former prince to Epstein’s abuse network, and the documents provide additional context for these connections. While the now-former prince has denied these allegations, the files provide previously unreleased evidence of their repeated proximity.

The release also ​exposes Epstein’s manipulations and attempts to rehabilitate his image through elite networks. A particularly bizarre revelation involves Sarah Ferguson, the ​former wife of Andrew, whom Epstein allegedly tried to enlist in repairing his public reputation. The records show that even as Epstein faced mounting legal and social scrutiny, he continued to cultivate high-profile contacts, exploiting both professional and personal relationships to maintain influence.

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Despite the breadth of the new release, experts caution that much of Epstein’s operation remains somewhat hazy in legal terms. Of the six million potentially ​explosive pages originally identified by the Justice Department, only half were disclosed, and many files are heavily redacted to protect the identities of victims or to withhold sensitive material depicting abuse and violence. ​ President Trump, whose name appears more than 1,000 times in the documents, initially opposed the disclosure but ultimately, under political pressure and growing calls, signed the bill mandating ​the release of the files.

The ​massive disclosure, almost seven years after Epsiten’s death, according to experts, has reignited scrutiny of powerful figures who once socialized with or were contacted by him, prompting renewed questions about complicity, knowledge, and accountability.

With millions of pages still unreleased and many redactions concealing damaging details, the dark story of Epstein’s influence is far from over, Moira Donegan, writer in residence at the Clayman Institute, wrote in The Guardian. Donegan notes that the documents provide a grim testament to the dangers of concentrated power, the vulnerabilities of the marginalized, and the lasting consequences when justice is delayed or denied.