The latest batch of emails from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein illustrates the extraordinary scope of his contacts with powerful people, from a top Trump adviser to Britain’s former Prince Andrew.
The US House of Representatives is expected to vote next week to try to force the disclosure of evidence collected on Epstein by law enforcement over the years, including the identities of men suspected of participating in his alleged sex trafficking ring.
However, a series of emails released this week have already opened new windows on the reach of Epstein’s network.
These include multiple references to President Donald Trump, who angrily calls the push for greater transparency a “hoax,” while demanding an investigation into Epstein’s ties to others, including former President Bill Clinton.
Documents already released by Democrats in Congress include email exchanges between 2009 and 2019, when Epstein died in custody while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
His death was considered a suicide.
These are just three of the prominent men and one woman found in the email threads.
Andrew, fallen prince
An exchange of emails riddled with typos confirms that contact between Epstein and Andrew, who was stripped of his royal title in October, did not end definitively at the end of 2010, as his brother, King Charles, has stated.
On March 4, 2011, Epstein wrote to Andrew with several questions directed at his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking after Epstein’s death.
“Please make sure every legal statement or letter clearly states that I am not involved and did not and do not know anything about any of these allegations. I cannot take this anymore,” Andrew wrote.
Two days later, Epstein responded: “Are you okay? These stories are complete and utter fantasy.”
Bannon, former Trump adviser
Epstein had a lengthy email correspondence in 2018 with Steve Bannon, Trump’s first-term adviser and chief ideologue of the far-right Make America Great Again movement.
That July, Epstein suggested that he help Bannon spread his far-right ideas in Europe.
Epstein: “It’s doable, but it takes a lot of time; there are a lot of country leaders we can arrange to have one-on-one meetings.”
“100 percent agree. How do I do that???” —Bannon asked.
“We can talk about [it] at your convenience,” Epstein said.
Summers, former Treasury Secretary
“What is life like between the profit-makers and the slackers?” asked Larry Summers, who served as Treasury secretary under Barack Obama, in an email to Epstein on Oct. 27, 2017, during Trump’s first term.
“When we meet, I will endeavor to hypnotize you with such wild DC stories!!!” Epstein responded.
Epstein asked what people who attend a conference with Summers think of Trump.
“Hard to say. Overview [is] “Donald is a clown, increasingly dangerous in foreign policy,” Summers said.
Epstein in December 2018: “Trump is on the verge of madness.”
Ruemmler, former Obama adviser
Epstein also exchanged emails with Kathryn Ruemmler, a lawyer who was an adviser to Obama until 2014. Their exchange began that year and continued until 2019.
“I’m about to go on stage. The first part of my presentation is about Trump,” Ruemmler wrote in May 2016.
“Conman, says it all,” Epstein responded.
In August 2018, she wrote to him: “I know how dirty Donald is. I guess non-lawyers and non-business people have no idea.” [sic].”
That December, Epstein wrote: “You might want to tell your Democratic friends that treating Trump like a mafia boss ignores the fact that he has very dangerous power.”
