Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges, continues to be the subject of public attention amid the release of documents from his case. A contact book allegedly belonging to the disgraced financier includes the names of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson and Prince Andrew. None of those named has been accused of wrongdoing.
In February, Attorney General Pam Bondi released more than 100 pages of documents related to Epstein, although much had already been made public. In July, the Justice Department said in a memo that no further investigation was warranted and found no evidence of a "client list" linking powerful figures to his crimes. The memo provoked anger in some political circles.
Further releases followed. In September, the House Oversight Committee made public a bawdy birthday card reportedly drawn by Trump for Epstein's 50th birthday, along with a birthday book featuring messages from figures including Leon Black and Alan Dershowitz. Trump has denied involvement in the card and sued the Wall Street Journal over its report on it. In October, Virginia Giuffre's posthumous memoir claimed Epstein videotaped bedrooms and bathrooms in his homes. The following month, emails from Epstein's estate were released, including one from Epstein to Maxwell alleging Trump "spent hours" at Epstein's house with a victim; Trump was neither sender nor recipient and has not been accused.
The contact book itself includes alleged victims, accusers and people with tangential connections to Epstein who became involved in civil or criminal proceedings. Both Clinton and Trump are listed because they travelled on Epstein's private jet at different times, but both deny any involvement in his crimes.
