On Friday, Democratic lawmakers unveiled crucial documents from the ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, shedding light on his interactions with high-profile conservatives, including notable figures like Elon Musk, Steve Bannon, and Peter Thiel. These six pages, which have been partially redacted, were part of a larger batch provided by the Justice Department to the House oversight committee. This committee is actively investigating the handling of the sex-trafficking charges against Epstein, who died in federal custody in 2019.
The documents released by the committee's Democratic minority include copies of Epstein’s calendar, revealing a planned breakfast meeting with Steve Bannon, a prominent ally of Donald Trump, in February 2019. Additionally, the schedules mention a lunch with Peter Thiel in November 2017 and a proposed trip by Elon Musk to Epstein’s private island in December 2014. These revelations raise questions about the extent of Epstein's connections to influential individuals in the political sphere.
A flight manifest from the year 2000 for Epstein’s aircraft includes the name of Prince Andrew, whose association with Epstein has been widely documented. Furthermore, a financial disclosure released by the Democrats indicates that Epstein made a payment to someone identified as “Andrew” for services related to “Massage, Exercise, Yoga” in the same year, adding another layer to the complex web of Epstein's relationships.
Earlier this year, Elon Musk made headlines when he accused Donald Trump of being implicated in the so-called “Epstein files” on social media, following Musk's criticism of Trump’s tax and spending policies. In July, Musk further questioned Trump’s credibility, stating, “How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files?”
Highlighting the importance of the newly released records, Sara Guerrero, a spokesperson for the oversight committee, emphasized, “It should be clear to every American that Jeffrey Epstein was friends with some of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the world. Every new document produced provides new information as we work to bring justice for the survivors and victims.”
In the wake of the document release, Eric Swalwell, a Democratic representative from California, took to social media platform X to comment, stating: “Trump OUTS @elonmusk as being in Epstein Files. Revenge for Elon outing Trump? Elon, what do you know about Trump’s involvement?” This statement reflects the contentious nature of the ongoing discourse surrounding Epstein's connections.
The Republican-led committee quickly responded on X, accusing Democrats of selectively releasing information. Their statement read, “This is old news. It’s sad how Democrats are conveniently withholding documents that contain the names of Democratic officials. Once again they are putting politics over victims.” They also hinted at plans to release additional documents soon.
In response to the ongoing controversy, Robert Garcia, the committee’s ranking member and a Democrat from California, countered the Republican claims, asserting, “We don’t care how wealthy or powerful you are – or if you are a Democrat or Republican. If you are in the Epstein documents and files we are going to expose it, and bring justice for the survivors. Release ALL THE FILES NOW!”
These documents are the latest chapter in the complicated saga surrounding the government’s handling of the Epstein case. In Congress, Democrats have allied with a select group of Republicans to push for a vote on legislation aimed at compelling the release of all Epstein-related files. This initiative needs 218 signatures to succeed and is expected to gain traction following the recent special election victory of Democrat Adelita Grijalva in New Mexico.
However, any legislation that successfully passes the House will still require approval from the Senate, where Republican leaders have shown little interest in pursuing the issue. Furthermore, should the bill reach the President's desk, Donald Trump, who has referred to the uproar surrounding Epstein as a “Democrat hoax,” would need to sign it into law. As the investigation continues, The Guardian has reached out for comments from both Musk and Thiel.
