Who is in the Epstein files? A look at the latest names

WASHINGTON - The latest tranche of files related to Jeffrey Epstein include more photos of the wealth adviser with rich and powerful people from all over the world.

The files released by the Department of Justice on Dec. 19 are in addition to previous releases from the House Oversight Committee, and a batch that USA TODAY received from the nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets.

Some of the records reviewed by USA TODAY are photos with no date, location, or other context. Other records are emails released in batches.

The people's presence in these documents does not indicate they've been implicated in wrongdoing. It could mean they had a social or professional connection with Epstein.

The names include a former president, famous entertainers, businessmen, and a former prime minister.

Here is a list.

Bill Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton appears in multiple photos either with Epstein associates or with young women.

In one picture, a woman whose face is blacked out sits on the 42nd president's lap. Another photograph shows an unidentified person with their face blacked out along with Clinton in a hot tub. The former president is also seen in a picture swimming with Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking and who women have accused of participating in their abuse.

Clinton rode on Epstein's private jet 26 times, according to a Business Insider analysis of flight logs.

Gates McGavick, a Justice Department spokesman, posted a Dec. 19 message on X that included the hot tub photo of Clinton in the hot tub with an unidentified person.

"Beloved Democrat President," McGavick said in the post. "The black box is added to protect a victim."

Clinton's office responded to the Dec. 19 document release noting that Trump has "fired thousands of career officials" and replaced them with partisan actors such as McGavick, who it pointed out previously worked at the Republican National Committee.

"There are two types of people here," Angel Ureña, a Clinton spokesman said in a statement. "There first group knew nothing and cut Epstein off before his crimes came to light. The second group continued relationships with him after. We're in the first."

Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson, the English business magnate who co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970, appears in one photo barefoot in front of a cabana posing with Epstein.

In another, Branson appears in a pink t-shirt under a shade structure on the beach. He is smiling and holding up a notebook with writing in it while Epstein walks behind him, not looking at the camera.

USA TODAY attempted to reach Branson at his business for comment.

Mick Jagger

Sir Mick Jagger, one of the founding members of the Rolling Stones, also appears in the files. Jagger, Epstein and another man can be sitting around a table in one of the photos.

In another photo, Jagger and Clinton stand for a photo with a woman, whose face is blacked out, standing in between them. It's not clear why the woman's face is redacted.

Epstein mentioned Jagger in a Jan. 30, 2011, email chain with a third party, records show. “I can find out if mick jagger” and others are in town, he says.  “I suggest we leave it till mon night.. I will have no trouble getting anyone you want.”

USA TODAY reached out to Jagger's team via social media.

Woody Allen

The filmmaker Woody Allen appears in multiple photos with Epstein. In one, he sits in a director's chair talking to Epstein, who is standing. The photo is taken from afar with a nearby doorway.

In another, Allen sits across from a smiling Epstein at a dining table with water glasses and teacups in front of them. A blonde woman, whose face is blocked out, sits between them.

USA TODAY reached out to representatives for Allen for comment.

Ehud Barak

The former prime minister of Israel appeared in a photo released Thursday, Dec. 18, with Epstein, Woody Allen and the magician David Blaine. The men were gathered around a dining table in an undated photo.

Emails previously released showed a friendship between Epstein and Barak that lasted from 2005 to 2017, and included various meetings, discussions of foreign policy, and Barak staying at Epstein's properties.

Barak has said he "deeply regrets" having an association with Epstein.

Noam Chomsky

The famous linguist and philosopher Noam Chomsky appeared in a photo sitting next to Epstein on a plane. It's not clear what plane they were on, but Epstein usually flew in a now-infamous private jet some have nicknamed the Lolita Express.

In a September 2015 email, Chomsky discusses an article about religion with Epstein and the astronomer Lawrence Knauss, and there are a handful of other emails in which Epstein and Chomsky discuss news articles and other academic topics.

In a June 2016 email, Chomsky tells Epstein about his wife Valeria's travel plans to Brazil. "caribean is close to brazil, if you wanted you are always welcome and valeria can meet you there," Epstein responds.

Chomsky replied: "Still eager to make it to the Caribbean, but looks as though we'll have to wait."

USA TODAY reached out to Chomsky's media representative for comment.

David Brooks

The New York Times columnist David Brooks appeared in a Thursday, Dec. 18, photo drop eating a meal and sipping a drink. The photos line up with a 2011 "billionaire's dinner" that included Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Tesla founder Elon Musk, among others.

Brooks published a column on Nov. 21 saying he was not interested in the Epstein story because it is rooted in the QAnon conspiracy theory, based on the idea that a circle of elite pedophiles is running the government.

He also took issue with Rep. Ro Khanna, the California Democrat who spearheaded the Epstein Files Transparency Act through the House, using the term "Epstein class" to refer to the sex offender and his associates. "Say what you will about our financial, educational, nonprofit and political elites, but they are not mass rapists," he wrote.

USA TODAY contacted Brooks for comment. The New York Times told the Daily Beast that attending the 2011 event was part of Brooks' job and he "had no contact with (Epstein) before or after this single attendance at a widely-attended dinner.”

David Blaine

The magician and performer David Blaine is shown in the undated photo standing at the end of a table where Epstein, Barak and Allen are gathered. The context is unclear, but he appears to be doing a card trick.

Blaine is included in an email chain with Epstein on Nov. 10, 2016.

“dinner with woody sun?” Epstein asks.

“Great,” Blaine responds.

USA TODAY reached out to Blaine’s representative for comment.

Bill Gates

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates appears in a photo from the files alongside Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The context is not clear, and both men are wearing suits.

In another photo, Gates stands with one of Epstein’s pilots, Larry Viskoski, on the tarmac in front of a small jet.

Gates rode on Epstein’s private jet on March 1, 2013, from Teterboro, New Jersey to Cat Island, Bahamas, according to flight logs analyzed by Business Insider.

Gates told the Wall Street Journal he met with Epstein to seek help with global philanthropy, but in retrospect, he said, doing so was "quite stupid."

Contributing: Nick Penzenstadler

This story has been updated to add more information.