Newly released documents from the House Oversight Committee are offering the most detailed look yet at how Jeffrey Epstein maintained a sprawling web of powerful contacts long after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
According to The Associated Press, the thousands of emails, made public Wednesday, stretch from 2009—when Epstein completed his Florida sentence—through the months leading up to his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges.
They reveal an eclectic and sustained network of political figures, business executives, academics, media personalities, and global power players who continued to communicate with Epstein despite his status as a registered sex offender.
The emails do not implicate the individuals in any criminal conduct. Rather, they show how Epstein leveraged influence, offered advice, and facilitated introductions across political and cultural divides.
Epstein frequently communicated with figures from both ends of the political spectrum. In 2018, he traded strategy notes with Steve Bannon, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump.
After Bannon sent him a media clip calling him “As Dangerous as Ever,” Epstein replied, “luv it.” He encouraged Bannon’s political tour in Europe, saying, “there are many leaders of countries we can organize for you to have one on ones.”
But the financier mocked Trump in a separate email exchange with Kathryn Ruemmler, the former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, who called Trump “so gross.” Epstein replied, “worse in real life and upclose.”
Other exchanges show Epstein corresponding with high-profile figures from around the world. He emailed Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel, Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, and biotech venture capitalist Boris Nikolic—who once wrote to Epstein from Davos that he had met “your friend” Bill Clinton, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and “your other friend,” Prince Andrew.
In one email, Sulayem asked whether he might be able to “shake hand with trump” at an event. Epstein replied, “Call to discuss.”
Epstein’s communications also extended into academic and scientific circles. Physicist Laurence Krauss asked Epstein for advice on how to respond to a journalist investigating sexual harassment allegations against him. Noam Chomsky, the famed linguist, discussed international travel and economic theory with Epstein, who offered him use of his various residences.
The messages also show a friendly rapport with former Treasury Secretary and Harvard President Larry Summers. In one exchange about a woman Summers had spoken with, Epstein told him that showing annoyance “shows caring” and advised him that “no whining showed strentgh [sic].”
Summers later issued a statement saying he has “great regrets in my life,” and called his association with Epstein “a major error of judgement.”
Epstein’s crimes, his connections and his 2019 jailhouse suicide have long fueled conspiracy theories, but the emails instead highlight how many high-profile individuals stayed in contact with him—seeking advice, political insights or access—long after his first conviction.
