Epstein Documents Link Trump Trade Official to Private Island Visit

The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday released millions of new documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including emails showing former Trump administration Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick visited Epstein’s private Caribbean island for lunch, contradicting his previous claims of severed ties.

Other released emails reveal former Trump adviser Elon Musk inquiring about Epstein hosting parties, though he reportedly declined an invitation to the island. The documents highlight Epstein’s connections with elite figures across politics, business, and entertainment, including former President Donald Trump, who was friends with Epstein before his crimes came to light.

The trove also mentions Kevin Warsh, Trump’s nominee for Federal Reserve chair, appearing in a 2012 email from a public relations official listing 43 attendees—including Martha Stewart—at Epstein’s Christmas gathering.

Past releases of Epstein files prompted scrutiny of his ties to other prominent figures, such as former President Bill Clinton and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, who denied wrongdoing but expressed regret over their association with Epstein.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Friday’s release represents the final tranche mandated under a Trump-era directive requiring the disclosure of all Epstein-related documents. The collection includes over 3 million pages, 2,000 video clips, and 180,000 photographs.

Trump has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes, but the scandal has shadowed him, partly due to his 2024 campaign promise to release the documents, which he initially failed to fulfill. Hundreds of the newly published files mention Trump, mostly in the form of media reports.

The emails show that Lutnick and Epstein arranged lunch on December 23, 2012, at Epstein’s Little Saint James island. Lutnick’s wife emailed Epstein’s assistant that morning from Saint Thomas, asking for docking instructions. The following day, Epstein’s assistant sent Lutnick a note saying, “It was a pleasure seeing you.”