The long-murky Epstein files returned to the spotlight in early 2024, this time due to a public accusation by Tesla CEO, Elon Musk. In a social media post, Musk claimed that US President Donald Trump was named in documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender. Musk offered no proof, but the statement reignited public interest in the long-secret files.“Epstein files” refer to thousands of documents, videos, and investigative materials gathered over the years in connection with Epstein and his associates. While some court records from his 2008 Florida plea deal and his 2019 federal charges in New York had been made public, many others remained sealed or heavily redacted.What the first declassified Epstein files revealedIn February, US attorney general Pam Bondi, in conjunction with the FBI, declassified and publicly released files related to Epstein’s sexual abuse of more than 250 underage girls at his homes in New York, Florida, and other locations. The first phase of declassified files largely consisted of materials that had previously leaked through unofficial channels but had never been formally released by the US government.The first batch of documents released earlier this year contained mostly previously known information. These included pilot logs from the prosecution of Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s so-called “black book,” and a redacted list of masseuses. The logs had already been public for years and were redacted to conceal the identities of potential victims.One newly revealed document, however, stood out: a three-page “Evidence List” compiled by the justice department, reportedly documenting items recovered during searches of Epstein’s properties in New York and the Virgin Islands. According to the list, investigators seized dozens of recording devices, computers, hard drives, and memory sticks. Also included were a CD labeled “girl pics nude book 4,” a folder marked “LSJ logbook,” believed to refer to Epstein’s private island, and a photo album described as “photo album of girl and Epstein.”Investigators also recovered several massage tables,one of which was presented during Maxwell’s trial, along with a bag containing a set of copper handcuffs and a whip. Another item, a bag holding a yellow envelope marked “SK” dated August 27, 2008, contained multiple smaller envelopes with a total of $17,115 in cash. The date corresponded with the period when Epstein was in jail in Palm Beach, Florida.Despite these revelations, the FBI has not confirmed that Trump’s name appears in the newly released materials. Musk, too, has not clarified which documents he was referring to, and no official source has substantiated his claim.FBI director Kash Patel and deputy director Dan Bongino later confirmed in a Fox News interview that they had reviewed the full file. They maintained that Epstein died by suicide and stated that surveillance footage from his jail cell would be made public in the coming months.Jeffrey Epstein, whose wealth and business operations remained largely opaque, was known for his connections to a range of powerful figures, including US presidents, British royals, and Hollywood elites. He pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to child prostitution charges and served 13 months under a controversial work-release agreement. In 2019, he was arrested again on federal sex trafficking charges for allegedly running a network that exploited underage girls. Weeks later, he was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell. Though his death was officially ruled a suicide, persistent theories have suggested he was murdered to protect powerful individuals implicated in his crimes.Trump, who built much of his political identity on promises to dismantle the “deep state,” had often hinted at exposing hidden government corruption, sometimes alluding to Epstein. As president, he authorised the release of thousands of pages tied to the JFK assassination, but did not do the same with Epstein-related files.Musk and Trump, once aligned politically, are now openly feuding. Their rift began over a new government tax bill, with Musk calling it a “disgusting abomination.” Trump responded on Truth Social, claiming he had excluded Musk from federal EV policy decisions and threatened to revoke subsidies. Musk fired back on X, calling Trump’s claims “an obvious lie” and asserting that Trump’s 2024 campaign would not have succeeded without his support—deepening the divide between the two former allies.
