Epstein files release

Howard Lutnick, the billionaire businessman who serves as President Trump’s commerce secretary, once planned a trip to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to documents that the Justice Department released. Lutnick previously claimed that around 2005, he and his wife had been so revolted by Epstein that they decided not to associate with him again.

 
Howard Lutnick, the billionaire businessman who serves as President Trump’s commerce secretary, once planned a trip to Jeffrey Epstein’s private island in 2012, according to documents that the Justice Department released. Lutnick previously claimed that around 2005, he and his wife had been so revolted by Epstein that they decided not to associate with him again.


Maybe that's what he told his wife.
 

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Survivors condemn DOJ's Epstein release as a 'betrayal'​


A number of survivors of Epstein’s abuse have released a joint statement condemning the DOJ’s latest files release.

"Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected,” the statement says.

“That is outrageous. As survivors, we should never be the ones named, scrutinized, and retraumatized while Epstein’s enablers continue to benefit from secrecy.

“This is a betrayal of the very people this process is supposed to serve.”

They add the justice department can not claim to have finished releasing the files “until every legally required document is released and every abuser and enabler is fully exposed”.

Annie Farmer, survivor of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, speaks from the podium during a vigil to honor survivors of his crimes in November 2025
Image source,AFP via Getty Images
Image caption,
Annie Farmer is one of the surivors of Epstein's abuse who signed the statement
 

DOJ believes work largely over - but it’s unlikely Maga base​


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Gary O'Donoghue
Chief North America correspondent

Department of Justice sign on the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, DC
Image source,Getty Images
After a month of silence on the Epstein files, the Department of Justice (DOJ) now believes it has fulfilled the requirements of the law passed by congress, albeit after the deadline.

Democrats however continue to argue that the DOJ has withheld too many documents – possibly around 2.5 million – without proper justification.

The files that have been released do contain references to many public figures on this side of the Atlantic who have previously been associated with Epstein, including the former Microsoft boss, Bill Gates, who has vigorously denied one allegation of a sexual nature.

Donald Trump’s name does again appear – in one document there are a number of allegations about him from an FBI tip line, which investigators at the time deemed not credible.

When asked about the claims, the White House directed reporters to the part of the DOJ announcement which described some documents as containing “untrue and sensationalist” allegations against the president.

But while the DOJ believes its work is largely over, it’s unlikely that many in the Maga base will be content; they have long thought there was a conspiracy to protect the rich and powerful who were connected to Epstein – and even Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged this would not end things –

There’s a hunger for information, he said, that this review would not satisfy.
 
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