Latest news with #TheEpsteinFiles
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
What are Epstein Files, that Elon Musk linked to Donald Trump
Amid the ongoing feud between the billionaire Elon Musk and US president Donald Trump, Musk on Thursday made claims about Trump's involvement in 'Epstein files'. He claimed that the files have not been made public because Trump is in it. In a post on X Musk wrote that "Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.' 'Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out,' he added. For the past few months, the Trump administration has been talking about the Epstein files and how they are planning to release it. The files associated with the death of Jeffery Epstein, a convicted sex offender, are a collection of documents compiled by US federal authorities. It includes his flight logs, contact lists, clients list, court records and other information related to his activities. Epstein, who had contacts with politicians and celebrities, hanged himself in his jail cell in 2019. Though his death was ruled as a suicide, his family later hired a forensic pathologist who said that a homicide is more likely. In September 2024, Trump had promised that he would release footage of "Epstein files' if he is re-elected as president. In January 2024, the court unsealed a collection of documents that was collected as evidence in a lawsuit by his victim Virginia Giuffre. This included transcripts of victim interviews and old police reports, that had already been made publicly known. In February this year US Attorney General, Pam Bondi suggested that she might release the documents, including the late paedophile's client list. Soon after the promise, some Conservative political commentators were spotted at the White House holding binders that read 'The Epstein Files.' After the promise, in February, the Justice Department released a new set of Jeffrey Epstein files. However, the list, which spanned over 100 pages, was not Epstein's client list but rather his contact list. The release also included logs from his infamous private jet, 'Lolita Express.' These records had been previously made public in a redacted form. However, some portions of the February released documents were still censored, including sections about Epstein's victims. While some parts of the Epstein files have been released, the documents largely remain to be sealed and not released yet. In the 1990s Trump and Epstein were friendly and attended parties together and appeared in photos, but no evidence was found linking Trump to the sex offender's crimes.
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Where Things Stand With the Epstein Files Following Musk's Allegation Against Trump
The breakdown in relations between President Donald Trump and his one-time ally Elon Musk has played out over social media in spectacular fashion, with the two engaging in a tit-for-tat spat. The row initially started over politics. Musk expressed his vehement disapproval of Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill,' calling it a 'disgusting abomination' and encouraging people to 'kill the bill.' Meanwhile, Trump maintained that the fall-out was prompted by Musk being upset over the removal of electric vehicle subsidies —a provision that made Tesla vehicles more affordable. But the fight has since taken a far more personal turn, bolstered by Musk's allegation that Trump is listed in the files related to the late financier and alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. 'That is the real reason they have not been made public,' Musk said in a post shared via his social media platform, X. He did not provide evidence pertaining to this. The accusation has spurred Democrats to chase the full unsealing of the Epstein files. California Rep. Robert Garcia and Massachusetts Rep. Stephen F. Lynch—Democratic members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform—sent a letter on June 5 to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel. 'We write with profound alarm at allegations that files relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have not been declassified and released to the American public because they personally implicate President Trump,' read the letter titled 'Is Trump Suppressing The Epstein Files?' The White House responded, saying that the move by the Oversight Committee members was 'another baseless stunt that bears no weight in fact or reality.' Here's what to know about the Epstein files and the renewed push to declassify them following Musk's allegation. What do we know about the Epstein files so far? On Feb. 27, Bondi released more than 100 pages of declassified documents related to Epstein—as part of the Trump Administration's vow to be more transparent regarding the high-profile case. During the presidential election, Trump promised to appease the clamoring for the alleged 'client list' of Epstein's since his arrest and subsequent death by suicide in 2019. Though Bondi called this the 'first phase' of declassified files, people were underwhelmed by the published pages, as much of the text had been redacted. Bondi's release included Epstein's 'black book,' which had previously been published. It featured names like Trump and former President Bill Clinton, but as the New York Times reported, there were people in the book with whom Epstein had never even met, and thus listed names are not necessarily connected to Epstein's activities. One of the only never-before-seen documents included in the release was an 'Evidence List' of catalogued evidence obtained by investigators. Bondi blamed the FBI for the fact that the report was incomplete, suggesting in a published letter to Patel that the FBI had more information related to Epstein. Bondi ordered Patel to deliver the rest of the investigation documents and 'conduct an immediate investigation' to understand why she had only received parts of the files. There is much discussion as to whether a fully-fledged 'Epstein client list' even exists. Jacob Shamsian, Business Insider's legal correspondent who has covered the Epstein case for years, said via social media on Feb. 27: 'I should also point out that the 'Jeffrey Epstein client list' does not exist and makes no sense on multiple levels (you think he made a list???). But if Pam Bondi wants to prove me wrong, I welcome it.' Will the Musk allegations prompt the release of further Epstein files? Musks' allegations have brought the Epstein files back into the spotlight, but there were already calls for them to be published in full. In April, Trump was asked by a reporter about when the next phase of the files are due to be released, to which he responded: 'I don't know. I'll speak to the Attorney General about that. I really don't know.' Since then, Democrats have continued to push for more documents to be released. Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York released a statement in May, 'demanding that [Bondi] promptly release the Jeffrey Epstein Files in full.' Spurred by Musk's allegation, Democrats including Garcia, Goldman, and Lynch are now renewing these calls for more transparency. But it remains to be seen whether or not the pressure will be enough for Bondi, Patel, or Trump to provide more answers. What do we know about Trump's relationship with Epstein? Trump's connection to Epstein dates back decades. In a 2002 interview with New York magazine, he famously said that Epstein was 'a lot of fun to be with.' 'It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side,' Trump told the reporter. In July 2019, NBC News' TODAY released unearthed video footage believed to be from 1992, which showed Trump greeting Epstein at his Mar-a-Lago estate. The two men could be seen laughing as they engaged in conversation. After Epstein's 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges, Trump made strides to distance himself. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office in 2019, Trump said: 'I had a falling out with him [Epstein]. I haven't spoken to him in 15 years. I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Epstein's lawyer breaks silence on Musk's 'big bomb' on Trump: 'I specifically asked him!'
Epstein's lawyer reacts to Elon Musk's claim that Trump is named in the Epstein Files. David Schoen, who claimed to have represented sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2019, broke his silence after Elon Musk dropped the 'big bomb' on President Donald Trump that Trump's name in there in Epstein Files. Schoen said he was hired to lead Jeffrey Epstein's defense as his criminal lawyer nine days before he died, though Epstein contacted him months before that. "I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively that he had no information to hurt President Trump. I specifically asked him!" Schoen said. Schoen's post raised a storm as many questioned why he broke the attorney-client privilege just because his client is dead and revealed a piece of information on social media. Some users wondered why Schoen could ask such a specific question regarding Donald Trump. Some users asked him whether he thinks Epstein actually died by suicide. MAGA activists tagged Elon Musk and sought an apology for his slander. Donald Trump in Epstein files Epstein files refer to documents, court records and investigative materials related to Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges. Epstein has a small private island, which came to be known as Epstein Island or pedophile island. Epstein's contact book, flight logs, witness testimonies, grand jury transcripts, CDs, hard drives seized from his properties form Epstein files. Donald Trump' name is mentioned there as Trump used his private jet and also partied with him. Elon Musk insinuates that the president was party of Epstein's sex offences and that's why a major part of the investigative findings have not yet been released. About 2,000 pages were released between 2019 and 2022, throwing shocking names like Prince Andrew, Stephen Hawking, Bill Clinton etc. But not everyone was accused of sexual offences. In February 2025, the Trump administration released 200 pages of documents labeled The Epstein Files: Phase 1 but they did not contain any new information. The Department of Justice said they were reviewing tens of thousands of Epstein-related materials and it was not possible to give any timeline for the next release.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
'Time to drop the bomb': Elon Musk claims Trump named in Epstein Files
In a dramatic escalation of their ongoing feud, Elon Musk has in his latest public attack claimed that US President Donald Trump 'is in the Epstein files' and that's 'the real reason' they have not been released in his latest public attack. 'Time to drop the really big bomb,' Musk posted on X. '@realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!' Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 5, 2025 Meanwhile, the US President has threatened to cut billions of dollars in federal contracts and tax subsidies for Elon Musk's companies. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, "The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon's Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!" In another post, he wrote, "Elon was 'wearing thin,' I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy Electric Cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went CRAZY!" Trump, Musk air dirty laundary in public Earlier in the day, Trump said that he's unsure whether their 'good relationship' will continue, following disagreements over a key tax bill and electric vehicle (EV) mandates. "I'm very disappointed with Elon. I've helped him a lot," Trump said. 'He knew the inner workings of the bill better than anybody sitting here. He had no problem with it—until he found out we're going to cut the EV mandate.' The remarks come days after Musk vocally opposed Trump's flagship tax legislation — dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill' — urging lawmakers via social media to reject what he described as a 'megabill' that would increase the national deficit and place a heavy debt burden on Americans. In response, Elon Musk claimed that Trump would have lost the 2024 election 'without me'. The Tesla chief also accused Trump of showing 'such ingratitude'. What are the Epstein files? Jeffrey Epstein was a wealthy financier known for spending time with famous people, including politicians, celebrities, royals, and academics. His legal troubles began in 2005 in Palm Beach, Florida, when he was accused of paying a 14-year-old girl for sex. In the years that followed, many other young girls came forward with similar claims of abuse. In February this year, a document titled *"The Epstein Files: Phase 1"* was made public. It included a list of people linked to Epstein and brought the spotlight back to the long-running sex trafficking case that had made headlines around the world. Epstein was believed to have made his money by managing the finances of extremely rich individuals, although much about his business activities was unclear. He often surrounded himself with powerful and well-known figures, including former US Presidents, British royals, and Hollywood stars. His downfall began in 2008, when he admitted to charges related to child prostitution in Florida. He received a 13-month sentence, during which he was allowed to leave jail for work — a decision that sparked widespread criticism. In 2019, Epstein was arrested again, this time by federal authorities, who accused him of running a large sex trafficking ring involving minors. He reportedly lured underage girls with offers of money or career help, then exploited them. Later that year, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in New York. His death was ruled a suicide, but questions and conspiracy theories have continued ever since. One of the most disturbing parts of the case involved Epstein's private island, Little St. James, in the US Virgin Islands. Nicknamed 'Pedophile Island' by some, it was said to be a key location for his abuse, where young girls were brought in and mistreated. Wealthy and well-known guests allegedly visited the island by flying on Epstein's private plane, known as the 'Lolita Express.' Court records and witness statements have described the island as a hidden site where exploitation took place.
Newsweek
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Kash Patel Gives Update on Epstein Files Release
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. FBI Director Kash Patel told Fox News on Wednesday that the federal government is in no "rush" to release more information about Jeffrey Epstein and the so-called Epstein Files. Newsweek has reached out to the FBI for comment. Why It Matters A first batch of files was released by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in late February. But the files didn't offer major revelations about the sex trafficking case that has captivated conspiracy theorists. The case has drawn intense global scrutiny due to the late financier and convicted sex offender's ties to high-profile figures such as Trump, former President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew. Epstein's death in a New York federal jail in 2019 while awaiting trial was ruled a suicide. What To Know Patel told Fox News' Bret Baier during an interview Wednesday said that "Epstein killed himself." Baier then asked about the release of additional Epstein files. "I'm not going to withhold information from the American public, ever," Patel said. "But I'm also not going to rush to get it out there in a format in which they can't rely on it. "So, on the Epstein matter and any other matters, we are diligently working on that. And it takes time to go through years of investigations, years of political maneuvering, and years of coverup to get the American people what they deserve. And that's what I'm gonna give them, on everything." Political commentator Rogan O'Handley, aka DC Draino, and other unidentified people carrying binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Department reading "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" walk out of the West Wing of the... Political commentator Rogan O'Handley, aka DC Draino, and other unidentified people carrying binders bearing the seal of the US Justice Department reading "The Epstein Files: Phase 1" walk out of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2025. More SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Bondi's release of the first batch of Epstein-related files in February included copies of his flight logs, which were already public from multiple court cases, and a heavily redacted photocopy of an address book allegedly compiled by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, his former girlfriend and associate. Maxwell was sentenced in 2022 for aiding Epstein in the trafficking of minors and is serving a 20-year prison sentence. The Justice Department also released a blacked-out list of masseuses and an evidence list containing over 150 items, including nude images, massage tables, and sex toys. There was no clear indication whether the list was related to Epstein's case, Maxwell's case, or another investigation. Trump campaigned on releasing the "Epstein list," a rumored document that some people believe may link high-profile individuals to sex crimes. What People Are Saying Conservative/Independent X user @DarkMatterVA: "Kash should have stated it just like this on Day 1. I can only imagine how much more support he would be receiving had he done so. Also, avoided lots of criticism." Republicans Against Trump on X: "FBI Director Kash Patel on why the Jeffrey Epstein files still haven't been released: 'I'm not going to rush to get it out there in a format they can't rely on.' What exactly are they hiding?" FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a May 10 post on X: "We are working with the DOJ on the Epstein case and, as the AG stated, there are voluminous amounts of downloaded child sexual abuse material that we are dealing with. There are also victim's statements that are entitled to specific protections. We need to do this correctly, but I do understand the public's desire to get the information out there." What Happens Next There is no government timeline to release the rest of the files.
