A new tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files has revealed how the convicted sex offender was viewed by powerful men as a sexual svengali and an expert in navigating #MeToo allegations, rather than being ostracised for his crimes. The documents, part of a larger cache in US justice department hands, show that many elites maintained friendly relations with Epstein after his 2008 child sexual abuse conviction, and some actively approached him for romantic and sexual advice.
Among those named is Elon Musk, who in a 2012 email asked Epstein about the “wildest party on your island” – contradicting his later claim that he refused Epstein’s invitations. Larry Summers, the former US treasury secretary and Harvard president, exchanged messages with Epstein in 2019 about a younger female economist, whom they referred to as “Peril” – likely a racist epithet. Summers calculated his odds of a sexual relationship with the woman, with Epstein responding: “Over time. She is doomed to be with you.”
Steve Tisch, owner of the New York Giants, repeatedly asked Epstein whether women introduced to him were sex workers, referring to them as “pro or civilian”. In one exchange, Epstein offered a “present” – a woman described as “tahitian speaks mostly french, exotic”. Tisch later expressed regret for his brief association. Epstein also helped Lawrence Krauss, a physicist, navigate sexual misconduct allegations investigated by his university.
Epstein himself believed that the #MeToo movement boosted his status. In a 2017 email, he wrote: “With all these guys getting busted for harassment , i have moved slightly up on the repuation ladder and have been asked everday for advice etc.” The files, spanning media, politics, tech, and finance, have led to resignations across multiple countries, painting Epstein as a figure who was not shunned but rather sought after by powerful men seeking to avoid the consequences of their own misconduct.
