Wealthy and powerful in spotlight after latest Epstein release

Bloomberg News on Jan 31, 2026

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The Justice Department’s latest release of material related to its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein offer fresh details about the rich and well-connected people that circulated in the orbit of the late disgraced financier.

Officials said Friday they were releasing some 3 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 docs

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 characterized 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 neighbors in Manhattan — continued to exchange messages through 2018. Lutnick told the New York Times on Friday that he “spent zero time” with Epstein but declined to comment on the documents.

Epstein weighed buying jet from Apollo’s Marc Rowan

Epstein considered buying a private jet from Apollo Global Management Inc. co-founder Marc Rowan a decade ago, according to emails released Friday.

The plane ultimately wasn’t sold to Epstein, the emails revealed. A representative for Apollo declined to comment. 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 appear 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.

DOJ wraps up Epstein review as critics flag unreleased files

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department has completed its review of 6 million relevant pages of material, releasing about 3.5 million pages of them.

The trove included a draft indictment of Epstein that then-U.S. attorney Alexander Acosta’s office prepared that included charges on multiple counts of sex trafficking and enticement of minors.

The documents also included correspondence containing a list of unverified tips with accusations about President Donald Trump and other notable figures.

When asked whether the claims were investigated, the Justice Department pointed to its press release Friday.

“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election,” the department said in its statement. “To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already.”