On September 26, 2025, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released a new trove of documents tied to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, thrusting some of the world’s most prominent figures—including Elon Musk, Prince Andrew, Peter Thiel, and Steve Bannon—back into the public spotlight. The batch, comprising 8,544 documents, included phone logs, daily schedules, flight manifests, and financial ledgers spanning decades of Epstein’s dealings. The revelations have reignited fierce debate in Washington, with both parties accusing each other of politicizing the issue and survivors’ advocates demanding greater transparency.
The centerpiece of the latest disclosures is a December 2014 entry in Epstein’s daily agenda, which indicated that Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, was scheduled to visit Epstein’s notorious private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Next to the entry, a note asked, “is this still happening?”—suggesting uncertainty about whether the trip would go ahead. According to Reuters and BBC, Epstein himself was not present on Little St. James, often dubbed “Pedophile Island” due to the abuse allegations that later surfaced, as he was at his ranch in New Mexico at the time.
Despite the mention in Epstein’s records, a source close to Musk told The New York Post on Friday, “Elon never went. I can tell you that 100%.” The source added that Musk had “no social relationship” with Epstein “whatsoever.” Musk himself previously told Vanity Fair in 2019 that while he had visited Epstein’s New York mansion, he “tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island,” but Musk said he had declined.
This isn’t the first time Musk’s name has surfaced in connection to the Epstein saga. In June 2025, amid a heated public spat with former President Donald Trump, Musk accused the president of being implicated in the “Epstein files.” Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote, “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!” Musk deleted the post two days later, but continued to criticize the Trump administration’s handling of the case, especially after the FBI and Justice Department released a memo indicating Epstein’s so-called “client list” did not exist. “Stuff like this does not improve people’s faith in government,” Musk lamented in a separate post, questioning why Ghislaine Maxwell was serving time if there were no clients.
Epstein’s associations, as revealed in the new files, spanned far beyond Musk. The documents mention Peter Thiel, the PayPal co-founder and tech investor, who was scheduled to lunch with Epstein at his Palm Beach home on November 27, 2017. Thiel, in an August 2024 interview with Joe Rogan, acknowledged meeting Epstein a few times, saying he was introduced in 2014 by LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman and was told Epstein was “one of the smartest tax people in the world.” Steve Bannon, former White House chief strategist and a long-time Trump ally, was scheduled to have breakfast with Epstein on February 16, 2019. The records also reference a tentative breakfast party with Microsoft founder Bill Gates in December 2014. Gates has publicly called his meetings with Epstein a “mistake.”
Perhaps most striking is the inclusion of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in the files. A flight manifest from May 12, 2000, lists Andrew as a passenger on a private flight with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for recruiting teenage girls for abuse. The manifest shows the group traveling from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey to West Palm Beach, Florida. Additional ledgers reference payments for massages for an “Andrew” in February and May 2000, though the heavily redacted records make it impossible to confirm the individual’s identity. According to BBC, palace records indicate Prince Andrew was in the U.S. around those dates, but there is no direct evidence tying him to wrongdoing. Prince Andrew has consistently denied any misconduct.
The release of these documents has only deepened the political rift in Congress. Democrats, led by Oversight Committee spokesperson Sara Guerrero, have framed the disclosures as a vital step toward justice for Epstein’s victims. “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,” Guerrero stated. She also urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to release all remaining files, declaring, “Oversight Democrats will not stop until we identify everyone complicit in Epstein’s heinous crimes.”
Republicans on the committee, however, criticized the move, claiming they were not given advanced notice and accusing Democrats of selectively releasing information. “They are intentionally withholding documents that contain names of Democrat officials, and the information they released today is old news,” a GOP spokesperson told Axios. “We are focused on delivering transparency and accountability for the survivors, and will release documents in full.” The controversy has become a flashpoint for broader political battles, with President Trump’s campaign promises to release all government-held Epstein files coming under renewed scrutiny. Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has not endorsed the release of new Epstein-related documents, and critics argue that both parties have at times used the case for political advantage.
The House’s push for full transparency gained momentum after a recent Democratic victory in an Arizona special election, bringing them closer to compelling the Justice Department to release all remaining federal Epstein files. Still, survivors and victims’ advocates remain frustrated by the slow pace and redactions in the released materials. The batch unveiled on September 26 included phone logs dating from 2002 to 2005, daily schedules from 2010 to 2019, and financial ledgers and flight logs reaching back to 1990. The committee said further review was ongoing, with redactions made to protect victims’ identities.
Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019, officially ruled a suicide, left many questions unanswered and fueled conspiracy theories about his powerful network of associates. Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction in 2022 for her role in Epstein’s crimes only intensified calls for accountability and transparency. Despite the high-profile names mentioned in the files, it is important to note—as BBC and other outlets emphasized—that there is no suggestion those named were aware of or involved in Epstein’s criminal activities.
As the debate rages on, the newly released documents serve as a stark reminder of Epstein’s reach into the highest echelons of business, politics, and royalty. The fight over what remains hidden—and who will ultimately be held accountable—shows no sign of abating.
