7 names in bombshell new Epstein files – Richard Branson, Elon Musk and Bill Gates | World | News

The latest batch of files related to the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have shed further light on the relationships between some of the world’s most high-profile names and the disgraced financier.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Sarah Ferguson and Peter Mandelson had all already been implicated in previous releases with the former losing his royal titles and the latter being sacked as US Ambassador last year. But the latest release has increased the pressure on them further, with senior government members calling on those with knowledge of Epstein to testify in America. Scrutiny is also growing on other well known figures who have had their relationships with the convicted sex offender brought to light by the latest batch.

A man who appears to be Andrew, the King’s disgraced brother, features in images from the release where he is crouched over an unidentified woman who is lying on the floor.

Elsewhere in the document dump, screenshots and scans appear to show the former prince exchanged emails with Epstein about a “beautiful” Russian woman and invited him to Buckingham Palace.

The images, which were splashed across the front pages of Sunday newspapers, are among more than three million documents published by the US Department of Justice on Friday.

The King’s brother has previously vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Sir Keir Starmer has said the former duke “should be prepared” to testify before the US Congress about his links to Epstein, after he featured in the disclosures.

Steve Reed, the Communities Secretary, said Andrew “clearly has insight into what was going on”.

Sarah Ferguson also features in the documents, appearing to accuse Epstein of it being “crystal clear to me that you were only friends with me to get to Andrew”.

In an email exchange from September 21, 2011, she appears to write: “Don’t know if you are still on this bbm but heard from The Duke that you have had a baby boy.

“Even though you never kept in touch, I still am here with love, friendship and congratualtions (sic) on your baby boy. Sarah xx”

The email is then followed up with a message saying: “You have disappeared.

“I did not even know you were having a baby. It was soooo crystal clear to me that you were only friends with me to get to Andrew. And that really hurt me deeeply (sic). More than you will know.”

Emails appear to show a discussion in 2009 between disgraced paedophile financier Epstein and Lord Mandelson, as they discuss a tax on bankers’ bonuses.

An email dated December 15, 2009, which appears to be from Epstein, reads: “Any real chance of making the tax only on the cash portion of the bankers bonus”.

The reply, apparently from Lord Mandelson, reads: “Trying hard to amend as I explained to Jes last night. Treasury digging in but I am on case.”

The emails suggest the peer, then business secretary, was prepared to lobby the Government over the so-called “super tax” introduced in early December 2009, by then-chancellor Alistair Darling, to clamp down on bank profits being used to pay large bonuses for bankers in the wake of the financial crisis.

Lord Mandelson told the Press Association: “Every UK and international bank was making the same argument about the impact on UK financial services.

“My conversations in government at the time reflected the views of the sector as a whole not a single individual.”

Sir Richard Branson told Jeffrey Epstein to “bring your harem” and gave him public relations advice in response to an email from the disgraced paedophile financier, documents show.

The Virgin Group founder’s name is mentioned hundreds of times in the latest documents.

In emails sent after a business meeting on Necker Island in 2013, Epstein wrote to Sir Richard “nice seeing you , thanks for your hospitality”, adding: “I appreciate your public relations thoughts.”

Replying to the email on September 11 2013, Sir Richard replied: “Dear Jeffrey, It was really nice seeing you yesterday. The boys in Watersports can’t stop speaking about it! Any time you’re in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!”

Sir Richard added: “I think if Bill Gates was willing to say that you’ve been a brilliant advisor to him, that you slipped up many years ago by sleeping with a 17 1/2 year old woman and were punished for it, that you’ve more than learnt your lesson and have done nothing that’s against the law since and, yes, as a single man you seem to have a penchant for women. But there’s nothing wrong with that. Anyway something along those lines.”

According to Sir Richard’s team, Epstein referred to three adult women on his team as his “harem” and, “regrettably”, Sir Richard used Epstein’s language in a follow up email but would never have used the term or contacted the American if he had known “the full facts”.

The businessman’s team said a comment about “moving on” after serving a sentence was a “general” comment after Epstein mentioned in passing that he had previously served a prison sentence, having framed the situation as a consensual encounter with an individual “one day shy of 18”.

A spokeswoman for Virgin Group said: “Any contact Richard and Joan Branson had with Epstein took place on only a few occasions more than 12 years ago, and was limited to group or business settings, such as a charity tennis event.

“When Epstein offered a charity donation, the Bransons asked their team to carry out due diligence before accepting the donation, which uncovered serious allegations.

“As a result of what the due diligence uncovered, Virgin Unite did not take the donation and Richard and Joan decided not to meet or speak with Epstein again.

“Had they had the full picture and information, there would have been no contact whatsoever – Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.”

Epstein claimed the Microsoft founder asked for antibiotics he could “surreptitiously give” to his then-wife Melinda, after catching an STD after sleeping with “Russian girls”.

A spokesman for Mr Gates said: “These claims are absolutely absurd and completely false.

“The only thing these documents demonstrate is Epstein’s frustration that he did not have an ongoing relationship with Gates and the lengths he would go to entrap and defame.”

The files show that Musk asked to attend the “wildest party” on Epstein’s island in 2012.

Writing three years after Epstein was released from jail for soliciting a minor, the Tesla boss wrote: “Hi Jeff! I was thinking of flying down for an epic vacation. [Redacted] told me you were planning a party. (Girls FTW [for the win]!).”

In another message, from 25 November 2012, he asks: “What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?”

Responding to the revelations on X, Mr Musk said: “If I actually wanted to spend my time partying with young women, it would be trivial for me to do so without the help of a creepy loser like Epstein and I would still have 99 per cent of my mind available to think about other things. But I don’t.”

Musk added: “No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened.

“I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express’, but was well aware that some email correspondence with him could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name.”

The man largely credited as being influential in Donald Trump’s first election victory, Steve Bannon is believed to be seen in a video tape interviewing Epstein.

In the recording, Epstein denies that his fortune was acquired by nefarious means as he points to his philanthropic donations.

Epstein said: “I think if you told them the devil himself said ‘I’m going to exchange some dollars for your child’s life…,”’

The interviewer asks: “Do you think you’re the devil himself?”

The paedophile replied: “No, but I do have a good mirror.”