Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell are seen in this image released by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C., U.S., on December 19, 2025 as part of a new trove of documents from its investigations into the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. Justice Department/Handout via REUTERS
WASHINGTON: The Justice Department’s latest release of material related to its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein offers fresh details about the rich and well-connected people who circulated in the orbit of the late disgraced financier.
Officials said they were releasing some three million pages of material, including more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.
Here are some of the takeaways:
> “Uncle Jeffrey”: Top Goldman lawyer features in Epstein documents.
Kathy Ruemmler, a legal star on her way to becoming Goldman Sachs Group Inc’s top lawyer, exchanged messages with Epstein starting in 2016, referring to him as “Uncle Jeffrey” and raving about gifts of boots and a handbag.
The trove of emails, featuring nicknames, gifts, advice and a reminder of a spa day, add to messages that have already been disclosed. Ruemmler is currently the chief legal officer and general counsel for Goldman. Chief executive officer David Solomon has stood by her throughout.
> Lutnick sought visit to Epstein’s Island, DoJ files indicate.
Commerce secretary Howard Lutnick planned a visit in 2012 to Epstein’s private island and maintained contact with the sex offender far longer than he has previously claimed, according to the documents.
The documents do not suggest any wrongdoing, but do indicate Lutnick incorrectly characterised the extent of his relationship with Epstein.
In a podcast interview with the New York Post last year, the commerce secretary said he had severed ties with Epstein in 2005 after the financier made a comment about massages during a tour of his home.
The documents also indicate that the pair – who were neighbours in Manhattan – continued to exchange messages through 2018. Lutnick told the New York Times last Friday that he “spent zero time” with Epstein but declined to comment on the documents.
> Former Microsoft Windows boss sought Epstein advice on career.
Former senior Microsoft Corp executive Steven Sinofsky sought Epstein’s advice as he negotiated the terms of his exit from the company and worked through what to do next, a trove of emails revealed.
Sinofsky, who is now a board partner with venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, was long one of Microsoft’s most prominent executives.
He abruptly left the software maker in late 2012 after the release of Windows 8. The following June, he and Microsoft negotiated a retirement agreement that contained non-compete and non-solicitation clauses, and established the stock grants Sinofsky would be entitled to receive.
Epstein’s relationship with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who appears in images contained in earlier document releases, has also come under scrutiny.
> Epstein weighed buying jet from Apollo’s Rowan.
Epstein considered buying a private jet from Apollo Global Management Inc co-founder Marc Rowan a decade ago, according to emails released last Friday.
The plane ultimately wasn’t sold to Epstein, the emails revealed. Epstein’s relationship with Apollo co-founder and former CEO Leon Black have dogged the alternative asset manager since 2019, when Epstein was arrested on federal charges that he molested and exploited teenage girls.
> Musk says he repeatedly declined invitations from Epstein.
Elon Musk said he was “well aware that some email correspondence” with Epstein could be misinterpreted and used to smear his name, responding to the latest release in a reply to a user on X.
Emails in the release appeared to show Musk discussing arranging a visit to Epstein’s private island. “No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened,” he wrote. — Bloomberg
