New Documents Reveal The Breadth Of Jeffrey Epstein’s Orbit

The Justice Department’s Friday release of its investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein is packed with details about his ties to the most powerful figures in politics, tech and global affairs.

The documents shed new light on the depth of his relationships between the convicted sex offender and figures such as Steve Bannon, Elon Musk and world leaders. In particular, the files contain extensive exchanges with Bannon as he mounted a political influence campaign across Europe, and numerous overtures — the unrequited kind — to Musk.

And the documents add new heft to earlier indications that Epstein wielded extraordinary influence for years — even as investigations into his trafficking of young girls had ramped up.

Documents previously released by the Justice Department show that Epstein, who died in jail in 2019, advised and cultivated ties with prominent leaders in Europe, including Russian government officials. He dined with Hollywood elites, CEOs and government officials, often inviting them to his homes and infamous island. And he used a network of relationships with prominent Washington figures to influence the Trump White House as well.

Here’s a look at some of the latest information about Epstein’s orbit from the more than three million pages publicly shared Friday:

Steve Bannon’s ties to Epstein

Epstein’s association with Bannon, a conservative political strategist, is well-documented, but the new tranche of files suggests the relationship between the two men was deeper, chummier and more expansive than previously known.

The documents included thousands of texts between the two men, particularly in 2018 and 2019 — within months of Epstein’s death by suicide in jail — after Bannon had left the Trump White House on rocky terms.

The messages redact Epstein’s name, but the context makes clear that it is the financier doing the talking. He references his plane, his homes, his island and expresses personal umbrage at the trafficking allegations he was facing at that time. And there are numerous emails between Bannon and Epstein, in the same time period, without the same redactions, that reflect their frequent communication.

Bannon did not immediately respond to requests for comment about his relationship with Epstein or new details surfaced in the Friday release. The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment about the messages.

Bannon has said little publicly about their relationship, but he did previously call for an independent investigation into the files.

The two texted frequently about everything from the TV show “Chernobyl” and a guessing game over who penned the 2018 “anonymous” New York Times op-ed to their efforts to influence international geopolitics — including shaping Europe's governing coalitions, ramping up pressure on China and forging business ties in the Middle East.

Bannon, at one point, took credit for convincing Trump in 2018 to impose massive tariffs on China, gabbed with Epstein about his “We Build the Wall” endeavor that would later end in a federal indictment and presidential pardon, and gossiped about the latest developments in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation — in which Bannon was a subject.

Their conversations sometimes veered into locker room humor, in multiple instances at the urging of Epstein, who made sexual jokes including one about female genitalia riffing off something Bannon said.

They also made fun of Trump — with Epstein joking that Trump should be called a “re grifter” not a “regifter” and Bannon in other instances using the moniker “stable genius” to refer to the president and quippingTrump was “out of gas” in reference to an Axios report about his schedule.

The two dined together frequently and Epstein offered Bannon the use of a Paris apartment, Palm Beach house and other accommodations, as well as his plane on multiple occasions. When Epstein helped coordinate other travel for Bannon, the two joked that Epstein was working as Bannon’s assistant and the “most highly paid travel agent in history.” In one instance, Epstein added: “Massages. Not included.”

Bannon, meanwhile, provided media training to Epstein as the two worked on a documentary, advice that extended so far as to counselhim how long to keep his beard. Bannon also coached Epstein as he navigated increasing media scrutiny in the winter of 2019.

Epstein tries to make a plan with Elon Musk

The story of Musk and Epstein appears to be one of unrequited overtures by the late convicted sex offender to the billionaire tech mogul. Emails from 2012 to 2014 show Epstein trying and failing to meet with Musk, with the latter citing schedule conflicts and logistical complications. The communications don’t reflect any actual, in-person meetings between the pair.

Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the exchanges. Musk was one of the most prominent voices pushing for the release of the Epstein documents last summer.

“Sorry we didn’t connect,” Epsteinwrote to Musk on New Year’s Day in 2013. When he invited Musk to meet him in St. Thomas, Musk replied, “Logistics won’t work this time around.”

Muskwrote to Epstein in April 2013 that he had “no firm plans” to come to the East Coast before Epstein sought to sweeten the invite by mentioning a dinner with Woody Allen. When Epstein followed up later that month to see if Musk’s schedule had crystallized, Muskreplied simply “no.”

The two did have a few substantive exchanges. In October 2012, Epstein referenced Musk’s brother and a “new romance” he had been having. “The world needs more romance,” Musk replied. Musk also told Epstein that he prefers to operate on 6.5 hours of sleep per night for optimal productivity.

That presaged Musk’s warmest exchanges with Epstein. In November 2012, he asked Epstein aboutattending “the wildest party” on the island that year. A month later, Musk again suggested he wanted to party but worried that Epstein’s island would be too “peaceful” a destination.

“I've been working to the edge of sanity this year and so, once my kids head home after Christmas, I really want to hit the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose,” Musk wrote.

Epstein, referencing Musk’s then wife Talulah Riley, replied that “the ratio on my island might make Talilah [sic] uncomfortable.” “Ratio is not a problem for Talulah,” Musk replied.

The records also show that Musk suggested in February 2013 that Epsteinmeet him at the SpaceX rocket factory near Long Beach, Calif. Epstein alsobailed on a holiday season meeting in 2013.

Epstein’s relationships with world leaders

The newly disclosed documents also fill in details about Epstein’s expansive relationship with foreign leaders — ambassadors, government ministers, former heads of state and international fixers, particularly in Europe in the Middle East.

Epstein used his contacts to facilitate meetings for people like Bannon with European government leaders. He bantered with Slovak politician Miroslav Lajcak about women while discussing Lajcak’s meetings with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov. He scheduled meetingsby email with Thorbjөrn Jagland, the secretary general of the Council of Europe.

Lajcak did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Council of Europe previously declined to comment on Jagland’s reported ties with Epstein. Jagland, the former Norwegian prime minister, previously told a Norwegian public broadcaster: “What has come to light about Jeffrey Epstein’s private life, I strongly distance myself from.”

Megan Messerly and Adam Wren contributed to this report.