United News of Bangladesh

A newly released trove of US Justice Department documents linked to investigations into Jeffrey Epstein has named a wide range of powerful men, including tech billionaires, former heads of state, royalty and senior political figures, renewing scrutiny of their past associations with the disgraced financier. None of those named have been charged with crimes connected to Epstein’s sexual abuse of girls and young women, and all have denied involvement in his crimes. However, the files show that several maintained friendships or contacts with Epstein even after allegations against him became widely known. Epstein died by suicide in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. Among the most prominent figures is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, whose name appears hundreds of times in the documents, including in Epstein’s private emails. He has long faced allegations from the late Virginia Giuffre that she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with him when she was 17, claims he has repeatedly denied. Late last year, King Charles III stripped him of his remaining royal titles. The files also include references to Sarah Ferguson, Andrew’s former wife, who publicly apologised in 2011 for allowing Epstein to help pay off her debts. Emails show she later sought Epstein’s advice on handling media questions about their relationship, despite earlier pledging to cut all ties with him. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk appears several times in emails discussing possible visits to Epstein’s Caribbean island in 2012 and 2013, though it remains unclear whether any visit took place. Musk has said he repeatedly rejected Epstein’s invitations. Companies linked to him did not respond to requests for comment. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson exchanged numerous emails with Epstein, including invitations to Branson’s own Caribbean island. Branson’s company said there was no wrongdoing, stressing that any contact was limited to business or group settings and ended once serious allegations against Epstein became clear. The documents contain thousands of references to US President Donald Trump, largely involving shared news articles, political commentary and gossip. A Justice Department summary of tip-line calls alleging misconduct by prominent figures, including Trump, noted that many claims were unsubstantiated and deemed not credible by investigators. Former US President Bill Clinton, who previously acknowledged traveling with Epstein decades ago, is also referenced. His representatives say he severed ties after Epstein faced criminal charges in 2006. No Epstein victim has publicly accused Clinton of wrongdoing. Other figures named include Steven Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants, who acknowledged exchanging emails with Epstein about adult women but denied any illegal conduct; film director Brett Ratner, who appears in photographs with Epstein and others; and Casey Wasserman, head of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics organising committee, who exchanged flirtatious emails with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell and later expressed regret. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is shown to have stayed in contact with Epstein for years, including after his 2008 conviction. Barak has said he never witnessed any inappropriate behaviour. Larry Summers, former US Treasury secretary and ex-Harvard president, is also cited frequently, later describing his interactions with Epstein as a serious error of judgment. Howard Lutnick, US Commerce Secretary under President Trump, appears in records showing visits to Epstein’s island with his family, though the Commerce Department said his interactions were limited and he has not been accused of wrongdoing. Google co-founder Sergey Brin, former Trump adviser Steve Bannon and several other political and business figures are also referenced. The files further reveal that Miroslav Lajcak, Slovakia’s national security adviser and a former foreign minister, resigned after his past contacts with Epstein emerged. He has said the interactions were related to diplomatic duties and denied any misconduct. US officials have stressed that being named in the documents does not imply criminal behaviour. The Associated Press, along with other media organisations, is continuing to review the files as part of a collaborative examination of the newly released records.

The US Justice Department on Friday made public its largest release yet of records linked to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, disclosing millions of pages and thousands of videos and images under a law aimed at revealing what authorities knew about his sexual abuse of underage girls and his ties to influential figures. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department was releasing more than 3 million pages of documents, along with over 2,000 videos and about 180,000 images. The material was posted on the department’s website and includes records that were withheld from an initial disclosure in December. The newly released files contain references to several high-profile individuals connected to Epstein, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Britain’s Prince Andrew, as well as email exchanges between Epstein and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and other prominent figures from across the political spectrum. The disclosures were made under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed after sustained public and political pressure to open government files related to Epstein and his longtime associate and former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. Lawmakers criticised the Justice Department after a limited release last month, but officials said additional time was needed to review newly uncovered records and ensure sensitive information about victims was protected. Friday’s release marks the most extensive document dump so far in a case that has continued to shadow the Trump administration because of President Donald Trump’s past association with Epstein. Blanche acknowledged that the volume of material may still not satisfy those seeking a full accounting. “There’s a hunger, or a thirst, for information that I don’t think will be satisfied by the review of these documents,” he said. The Justice Department missed a congressional deadline of Dec 19 to release all files and later said hundreds of lawyers were assigned to review records for necessary redactions. Officials denied any attempt to shield Trump, who has said he severed ties with Epstein years ago, from embarrassment. The documents include thousands of references to Trump, such as emails sharing news articles about him, commenting on his policies or politics, or discussing his family. Also included is a spreadsheet compiled last August summarising calls to an FBI threat hotline from individuals making unverified claims of wrongdoing by Trump. Prince Andrew’s name appears hundreds of times in the records, including in news clippings, Epstein’s private emails and guest lists for dinners hosted by Epstein. Some documents show New York prosecutors attempted to secure an interview with the former prince during their sex trafficking investigation. The records also indicate that Musk contacted Epstein on at least two occasions to discuss potential visits to Epstein’s private Caribbean island, where many abuse allegations are said to have occurred. It remains unclear whether such visits took place. Musk has previously said he refused Epstein’s invitations. Other prominent names appearing in the files include New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch, conservative activist and former White House strategist Steve Bannon, and Howard Lutnick, now serving as Trump’s commerce secretary. Statements from those individuals or their representatives said any associations with Epstein were limited and involved no wrongdoing. The documents also reference former Obama White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler, who later expressed regret over having known Epstein in a professional capacity. The latest release builds on tens of thousands of pages made public last month, which included previously disclosed flight logs and photographs involving Epstein’s associates. None of Epstein’s publicly identified victims have accused Trump or former President Bill Clinton of wrongdoing. Both have said they were unaware of Epstein’s abuse of underage girls. Epstein died in a New York jail cell in August 2019, a month after he was charged federally with sex trafficking. Earlier, he had served jail time in Florida after pleading guilty to state charges involving a minor, under a deal that spared him from federal prosecution at the time. Documents released Friday also include a draft indictment from that period showing prosecutors considered charging not only Epstein but also three personal assistants suspected of helping recruit underage girls. In 2021, Maxwell was convicted in New York of sex trafficking for her role in recruiting underage victims and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. No other individuals have been criminally charged in connection with Epstein’s abuse. One of Epstein’s accusers, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, had alleged in lawsuits that Epstein arranged sexual encounters for her with powerful men when she was a teenager. Those accused denied the claims. Giuffre died last year at the age of 41.

Three days before supporters of President Donald Trump rioted at the Capitol, the Pentagon asked the U.S Capitol Police if it needed National Guard manpower. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The police turned them down both times, according to senior defense officials and two people familiar with the matter.

President Donald Trump pardoned his former national security adviser Michael Flynn on Wednesday, ending a yearslong prosecution in the Russia investigation that saw Flynn twice plead guilty to lying to the FBI and then reverse himself before the Justice Department stepped in to dismiss his case.