The US justice department has released millions of files related to the late child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the largest disclosure by the government since a law passed last year mandated publication. The documents indicate that many high-profile figures, including former US president Donald Trump, continued friendships with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for child sex offences.
According to the newly released FBI files, Trump received a dinner invitation from Ghislaine Maxwell in 2011, three years after Epstein's conviction. The invitation was among communications between Maxwell and Trump, though it is unclear whether Trump attended. Trump has previously stated he had a falling out with Epstein years before the financier's arrest.
The files also detail Epstein's continued association with Prince Andrew, who has faced scrutiny over his friendship with Epstein. The disgraced financier killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on new child abuse charges. Maxwell, a British socialite, is serving a 20-year sentence for child sex trafficking.
The release of these documents comes as part of ongoing efforts to shed light on Epstein's network and the extent of his connections with influential figures. The files have reignited public interest in the case and raised questions about the relationships between Epstein and those in his circle.
