The Department of Justice on Thursday evening released a trove of Jeffrey Epstein files, offering a glimpse into the late sex offender's far-reaching network but falling short of revealing significant new details. The 200-page document release included flight logs, a contact list populated with celebrity names, and an extensive evidence register.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said, "The first phase of files released today sheds light on Epstein's extensive network and begins to provide the public with long overdue accountability," though critics immediately demanded more information.
Bondi also stated she had requested all files related to Epstein but only received 200 pages so far. She set a deadline of 8 a.m. Friday for the FBI to hand over the remaining documents, explaining that her agency must protect the personal information of over 250 victims linked to the notorious trafficker. FBI Director Kash Patel pledged there would be "no cover-ups, no missing documents, and no stone left unturned," adding, "If records have been hidden, we will uncover them."
Among the high-profile individuals listed in Epstein's contact files: Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, actor Alec Baldwin, Michael Jackson, Ethel Kennedy, Naomi Campbell, Ivana Trump, Ivanka Trump, Rupert Murdoch, and numerous politicians including John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Andrew Cuomo. While their addresses and phone numbers were redacted, their inclusion underscores the breadth of Epstein's connections. Bondi clarified these contacts do not constitute a "client list," and no one listed has been accused of wrongdoing linked to Epstein.
The Department of Justice also released flight logs tied to Epstein's so-called "Lolita Express," which investigators had previously made public in a more heavily redacted form. The logs were signed by pilot David Rodgers, who in prior testimony recalled ferrying celebrities, business tycoons, and politicians on Epstein's private jet. According to the newly disclosed materials, authorities redacted the names of Epstein's alleged victims, citing the need to preserve their privacy.
The "Phase One" binder of records was shared with a group of conservative influencers before its public release, leading some to anticipate sensational new revelations. Yet the documents largely mirrored details that had circulated in earlier lawsuits and leaks. "Now what's interesting is we're all waiting for bombshells. We're all waiting for juicy stuff. And that's not what's in this binder. That's not what's in this binder at all. And that's exactly how the attorney general presented it to us," podcaster Liz Wheeler said. "It's fine to feel frustrated. You should feel frustrated."
Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida expressed disappointment, tweeting, "THIS IS NOT WHAT WE OR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ASKED FOR and a complete disappointment. GET US THE INFORMATION WE ASKED FOR!" Bondi responded in a statement that more documentation should be forthcoming, stressing her hope that FBI cooperation would be swift and complete.
The files mention Epstein's redacted "masseuse list," containing 254 names, though no identifying details were released. The DOJ also included references to prior investigations, such as the 2009 case in which Epstein's notorious "little black book" first surfaced and was eventually revealed by the defunct site Gawker in 2015. A second contact book surfaced later, featuring hundreds of additional names from the 1990s, including President Trump and other prominent figures.
Epstein's role as a multimillionaire sex offender gained infamy after he pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to soliciting prostitution involving a minor, receiving a lenient 13-month sentence. Years later, he was rearrested on federal sex-trafficking charges and found hanged in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Associates and friends ranged from Wall Street powerhouses to members of royalty. His accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted in 2021 of conspiring to recruit underage girls for sexual abuse and is serving 20 years.
List of high profile names found in contact book (The full list can be found here):
- Ted Kennedy Jr. (Ted Kennedy son)
- Ethel Kennedy (wife of Senator Robert F. Kennedy)
- Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy (Politician)
- John Kerry (Democratic Politician)
- Courtney Love (Rock musician)
- Rupert Murdoch (Media Tycoon)
- Joan Rivers (Comedian)
- Ivana Trump (Ex-wife to Trump)
- Ivanka Trump (Trumps daughter)
- Barbara Walters (Journalist)
- Prince Michel of Yugoslavia
- Les Wexner (Retail billionaire)
