On September 26, Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released six pages of records from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, shedding light on meetings and planned encounters with some of the world’s most influential figures.
The documents reference a 2014 breakfast with Bill Gates, a 2017 lunch with Peter Thiel, and a 2019 breakfast with Steve Bannon. They also include a 2000 flight manifest listing Epstein and Prince Andrew and a ledger noting two massages for “Andrew” that same year.
The documents, while only a fraction of the 8,544 records in the third batch received by the committee, also contain a schedule entry noting: “Elon Musk to island Dec. 6 (is this still happening?).”
Political Clash Over Transparency
Democrats framed the disclosures as essential to uncovering Epstein’s enablers. Oversight spokesperson Sara Guerrero stated, “It should be clear to every American that Jeffrey Epstein was friends with some of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the world.” She emphasized Democrats’ determination to continue pressing for accountability.
The GOP-controlled Oversight Committee, however, accused Democrats of cherry-picking documents to protect allies, declaring on its official X account: “This is old news … Once again they are putting politics over victims.” Republicans pledged to release the full trove of records soon.
Responses From Those Named
- Elon Musk denied any island trip plans, responding online: “This is false.” He previously admitted visiting Epstein’s Manhattan home briefly, claiming he repeatedly refused invitations to the island.
- Peter Thiel acknowledged past meetings, telling the Wall Street Journal in 2023 he was “naive” about Epstein’s intentions.
- Steve Bannon has been linked to a 2019 meeting with Epstein to film a never-released documentary.
- Bill Gates has said he regrets his interactions with Epstein.
- Prince Andrew, who appeared in the documents, settled a sex abuse lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre in 2022 after stepping back from royal duties in 2019.
Trump, Musk, and the Political Angle
The disclosures come amid renewed scrutiny of Donald Trump’s ties to Epstein. Earlier this month, Democrats released a lewd birthday card allegedly signed by Trump, which he denied writing. Trump has insisted he declined Epstein’s invitations to the island, saying, “In one of my very good moments, I turned it down.”
Complicating matters, Elon Musk, once a major Trump donor and adviser in 2024, reignited speculation in June 2025 by posting: “Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public.”
Epstein’s Legacy and Legal Fallout
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His estate has since been the subject of lawsuits, including a $105 million settlement with the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2022 over claims that his island was the hub of a criminal sex-trafficking enterprise.
The new records intensify questions about which prominent individuals visited the island or associated with Epstein, ensuring the controversy remains politically charged.
