Elon Musk has claimed that senior members of the US Democratic Party and their benefactors are listed in the Jeffrey Epstein documents, suggesting that these files remain sealed due to their involvement. The FBI’s review of the files identified numerous references to Donald Trump and other high-profile figures. However, the agency stressed that the presence of any name in the documents does not constitute evidence of a crime or even suggest wrongdoing. Musk’s comments have reignited discussions about the transparency of the Epstein case, with critics arguing that the documents should be fully released, while others remain skeptical of the validity of Musk’s claims.
In 2019, a spokesman for former President Bill Clinton confirmed that he had flown on Epstein’s private aircraft multiple times, while stressing that the ex-US leader had never visited Epstein’s notorious private island. Alan Dershowitz, Epstein’s former lawyer, has named two Democrats – former Senator George Mitchell and former UN Ambassador Bill Richardson – as appearing in the documents, stressing that that alone did not indicate any wrongdoing.
In June, Musk – who had a falling-out with Trump over his legislative agenda – claimed that the president was in the Epstein files, suggesting, "that is the real reason they have not been made public." He later deleted his post, acknowledging he "went too far."
Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving minors, with some of the abuse occurring on his private island, Little St. James, located in the US Virgin Islands. The financier later died in jail in what was ruled a suicide. The case has fueled intense public scrutiny, driven by Epstein’s ties to powerful figures across politics, finance, royalty, and media, as well as rumors of a potential cover-up.
On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to release all documents related to Epstein if elected. However, in July 2025, the US authorities concluded that Epstein did not keep a so-called "client list" that could implicate his high-profile associates, sparking widespread public uproar.