Justice Department Files Expose Epstein’s Elite Network

The latest release of documents by the United States Department of Justice has pulled the curtain back further on the far-reaching, tangled web of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing new and disturbing details about his relationships with some of the world’s most powerful figures. The February 4, 2026, document dump—spanning millions of pages—includes not only chilling new allegations of sexual abuse against private equity billionaire and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) trustee Leon Black, but also exposes the ongoing connections Epstein maintained with global elites in finance, technology, and politics, years after his 2008 conviction for sex crimes.

Among the most harrowing revelations are those surrounding Leon Black. According to Hyperallergic, the newly released files contain scanned images of what appears to be a diary filled with first-person accounts of alleged abuse at the hands of Black. The diary’s entries—some written in a coded format and painstakingly transcribed in accompanying documents—echo the claims made in a 2023 lawsuit, in which a woman known as Jane Doe alleges that Black raped her in 2002 when she was just 16 years old, at Epstein’s Manhattan residence. The lawsuit further states that Jane Doe has autism and a rare form of Down Syndrome, and that her developmental age at the time was estimated to be 12.

The diary’s author, whose identity remains redacted for privacy, interwove literary references and cryptic messages with explicit descriptions of violence. In one particularly disturbing decoded entry, the author recounts, “Walk down Madison Avenue to 71st St… Even though Ghislane said it was best to take me home because Mr. Black is so important for some reason over my health… There is going to be hell to pay. I ruined their trip and I am dramatic when that fat fuck bit me! He threw me on the floor and blood all over Jeffreys carpet and I am the issue? Who the fuck bites someone? Sick! No one is that important and Leon can go fuck himself. I hate New York!”

The files also contain emails from Wigdor LLP, the law firm that formerly represented Jane Doe and another Black accuser, former Russian model Guzel Ganieva. In one email, partner Jeanne M. Christensen details how two separate accusers described nearly identical “biting rituals” by Black, writing, “In short, the details she told me about what he did to her — are almost a perfect match about what my client told me — he violently bit down on her vulva, labia and clitoris. … It is too abnormal to make up.”

Further notes from a 2023 phone call with Christensen, as seen in the DOJ files, document allegations that Black “bites parts of her vagina, violence was arousing for him, very painful for her,” and that “Black used adult sex toys in victim’s rectum and vagina.” The notes also allege that “Black and others at Epstein’s house would not take her to the doctor and instead flew her out of NY the next day.”

Adding to the evidence, a message dated October 16, 2018, and included in the DOJ’s release, directly accuses Black: “Leon. You sexually harassed me, sex trafficked me, raped me, and eventually blacklisted me. I don’t know for how much longer it will take me, on my own, to process the pain your [sic] caused me and my family. The least thing you can do is give me that document that I was forced to sign under duress and wasn’t able to read before signing. Unfortunately I am still tied to you.”

Black’s legal team has forcefully denied all allegations. In a statement provided to Hyperallergic, attorney Susan Estrich asserted, “Mr. Black asked for an independent investigation of his relationship with Epstein. The Dechert law firm investigated and reviewed more than 60,000 documents, interviewed more than 20 people and concluded that Mr. Black paid Epstein for estate planning and tax advice and that he had no awareness of Epstein’s criminal activities. Of the three civil lawsuits filed against Mr. Black, one has been dismissed, the other withdrawn and the other is currently facing a case terminating motion for sanctions. There is absolutely no truth to any of the allegations against Mr. Black.” Estrich also described Jane Doe as “a fraud,” and claimed that her birth family alleges she fabricates stories and evidence. “The Wigdor firm, which represented her, has withdrawn from the case and ceased representing her. We have moved to terminate the case and obtain sanctions against them and her for false and fraudulent claims against Mr. Black.”

Despite these denials, the DOJ’s files reveal that Black’s name was not the only one under scrutiny. According to Bloomberg, the documents also show that federal prosecutors reviewed sexual misconduct allegations against Jes Staley, a former senior executive at JPMorgan Chase & Co., at Epstein’s New York residence. An internal memo from December 2019 describes an unidentified woman’s claim that Staley raped her after forcing her to touch his genitals.

Another high-profile figure, Marc Rowan—a pro-Trump billionaire appointed to the Board of Peace for Gaza reconstruction—was shown in the DOJ’s documents to have maintained close connections with Epstein, as reported by Haaretz. This revelation adds to the growing list of influential individuals whose ties to Epstein are now under renewed public scrutiny.

The DOJ’s document trove also details Epstein’s persistent efforts to maintain relationships with global elites in the years following his conviction. According to MixVale, emails reveal warm communications and plans for meetings at Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean, Little St. James. Elon Musk, for instance, is shown to have exchanged messages with Epstein about social event dates and potential visits. While Musk has publicly stated he declined repeated invitations and had minimal correspondence with Epstein, the documents indicate mutual planning that continued well after Epstein’s 2019 conviction.

Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Commerce Secretary, is also featured in the files. In 2012, he exchanged emails with Epstein about bringing his family to the island around Christmas, with an assistant later confirming the meeting. Lutnick had previously described a visit to Epstein’s New York mansion as causing “immediate revulsion” and said he avoided future contact, yet the newly released documents suggest the relationship persisted for additional years.

Other prominent names appear throughout the records: Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, exchanged friendly emails with Epstein in 2013, discussing meetings and joking about female company. Andrew Farkas, a New York real estate mogul, co-owned a marina with Epstein and sent him affectionate messages as late as 2018. Steve Tisch, co-owner of the New York Giants, also communicated about social gatherings and companionship, later expressing regret for the association.

For MoMA, the revelations are particularly fraught. Artists and activists have long demanded Black’s removal from the museum’s board due to his ties to Epstein, who received $158 million in payments from Black. In March 2021, following an open letter signed by more than 150 artists and cultural workers, MoMA announced that Black would not seek re-election as board chair. However, Black remains a trustee as of 2026. The museum has not publicly addressed the allegations, nor did it respond to requests for comment from Hyperallergic.

The latest DOJ release also led to other ripple effects: artist Jeff Koons was revealed to have attended a dinner party at Epstein’s house years after his conviction, and David A. Ross, former chair of the School of Visual Arts’s MFA Art Practice, resigned following disclosures of his correspondence and apparent support for Epstein.

With millions of pages now in the public domain, the scope of Epstein’s network—and the reach of his influence—has become even more apparent. The ongoing investigations and new revelations continue to keep the case in the global spotlight, raising uncomfortable questions about accountability, complicity, and the enduring power of wealth and connection.