US lawmakers have released more than 20,000 pages of documents from the estate of the disgraced financier and convicted late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Some of the documents mention Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former prince and brother of King Charles; US President Donald Trump; Trump's former advisor Steve Bannon; and a cast of other characters from the world of media, politics, and entertainment, highlighting the extent of Epstein's contact book.
Trump was a friend of Epstein's for years but has said they fell out in about 2004, years before Epstein was first arrested. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
Here are some of the other names that came up, which does not indicate wrongdoing by any of the parties mentioned.
Michael Wolff
Michael Wolff, 72, is an American journalist and columnist - as well as a prolific author of books on the wealthy and the famous. Fire and Fury, the first of several books covering Trump's first term as US president, came out in 2018, detailing a dysfunctional White House and salacious anecdotes about the US commander-in-chief. Trump called it full of lies.
The new batch of files related to Jeffrey Epstein shed light on a correspondence that seems to indicate a relationship between Wolff and the late convicted sex offender. Among the notable exchanges, Wolff wrote to Epstein in 2015, informing him that CNN planned to question Trump about his relationship with Epstein. Epstein asked for advice on how to craft a response, suggesting a potential strategy to let him hang himself.
Wolff also extended an offer for an interview that could potentially finish Trump shortly before the 2016 election.
In a video posted to Instagram, Wolff addressed the release of the emails, stating, Some of those emails are between Epstein and me, with Epstein discussing his relationship with Donald Trump. I have been trying to talk about this story for a very long time now.
Larry Summers
The documents include correspondences between Epstein and Larry Summers, who served as Treasury Secretary under former Democratic President Bill Clinton. Emails indicate that they often met for dinner, with Epstein attempting to connect Summers with global figures. In July 2018, Epstein suggested a meeting with the president of united nations, an interesting person for you.
In an email from late November 2016, Summers requested Epstein to keep his work separate from Trump due to various conflicts of interest and his disapproval of Trump's influence.
A spokesperson for Summers declined to comment but reiterated past statements expressing regret about their interactions.
Kathryn Ruemmler
Several emails between Epstein and Kathryn Ruemmler, who served as White House counsel during Barack Obama's presidency, were released by the House of Representatives Oversight Committee. Their discussions included hush-money payments made by Trump regarding Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
In one exchange, Epstein stated, You see, I know how dirty Donald is. Goldman Sachs, where Ruemmler works as chief legal officer, expressed support for her amidst the controversy, emphasizing her strong judgment.
As the story continues to evolve, more prominent names may emerge. The revelations surrounding Epstein’s extensive network of contacts represent a significant chapter in understanding the intricacies of power and influence in politics and society.
