The Justice Department's release of millions of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein shows how he worked to cultivate a vast web of influence among the global elite before and well after his 2008 conviction.
Why it matters: Epstein's network of connections was "extraordinary," Sarah Krissoff, a former U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, tells Axios. "Power is one of those things that keeps expanding. He traveled in ultra-rich circles, and, from what I have seen, worked hard to cultivate relationships."
- While being named in the Epstein files does not indicate wrongdoing, the fallout from the documents' release has triggered a wave of firings and resignations, and has prompted several countries to launch investigations.
- "I don't think this story is over yet," Krissoff says. She didn't directly work on the case that the SDNY was prosecuting against the disgraced financier before his 2019 death, but worked closely with the prosecutors who did.
- "From what I have seen, he worked hard to cultivate his circle of contacts."
Here's a look at the global ripples of the scandal:
Russia and Eastern Europe
It's clear that Epstein made several attempts to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the 2010s, including through his apparent relationship with former Norwegian Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland.
- In a May 2013 email apparently sent to Israel's former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Epstein writes that Jagland "is going to see putin in sochi" and had asked that Epstein make himself available for a meeting in June "to explain how russia can structure deals in order to encourage western investment," adding: "I never met him, wanted you to know."
- In a 2018 email, Jagland appears to agree to suggest to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's assistant that he help arrange a meeting for Epstein. There's no evidence that Epstein ever met with Putin or Lavrov.
- In that same exchange, Epstein claims he'd previously been in touch with Vitaly Churkin, Russia's permanent representative to the UN from 2006 until his 2017 death.
Churkin features several times in the files, including in 2016 texts in which Epstein agrees to provide "confidential" help to get Churkin's son a job in the U.S.
- Another influential Russian with whom Epstein appears to have corresponded was Sergey Belyakov, who served as Deputy Minister of Economic Development from 2012-14 and also studied at an academy for intelligence personnel.
- In a 2015 email apparently sent to tech mogul Peter Thiel, Epstein describes Belyakov as "my very good friend" and refers to their work on a conference in Moscow.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced an investigation into potential ties between Epstein and Russian intelligence and whether any Polish women or girls were impacted by the case.
- The Kremlin rejects allegations that Epstein was a spy for Russia.
- Latvia and Lithuania have also opened investigations into potential human trafficking related to the Epstein files.
Meanwhile, Miroslav Lajčák resigned as Slovakia's national security adviser over his correspondence with Epstein.
- That included light-hearted texts in 2018 about women and an upcoming meeting between Lajčák and Lavrov, documents released by the DOJ show.
- Lajčák told Radio Slovakia after resigning last week that his messages were "nothing more than foolish male egos in action" and there "were no girls," per a EuroNews translation. "The fact that someone is communicating with a sexual predator does not make him a sexual predator," Lajčák added.
U.K.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under intense pressure for appointing Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington despite his links to Epstein.
- Starmer fired Mandelson after the latest batch of files suggested he'd passed market-sensitive information to Epstein while serving as a government minister during the 2008 global financial crisis.
- Other documents suggest that Mandelson and his husband received payments from Epstein in 2003-2004.
- Mandelson has said he has no recollection of such payments and apologized for his association with Epstein. He told the BBC last month that he was "wrong to believe him following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards."
- Starmer's chief of staff Morgan McSweeney resigned Sunday after taking responsibility for Mandelson's appointment.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, is facing further scrutiny over the latest files.
- He was stripped last year of his royal and nobility titles over his ties to the convicted sex offender.
- The latest documents include photos that appear to show the former prince kneeling over a woman lying on the floor.
- Other documents suggest that Andrew may have knowingly shared confidential information with Epstein about his official work as trade envoy for the U.K. in 2010 and 2011, per the BBC.
Israel
The files indicate that Barak, the former prime minister, and his wife stayed at Epstein's apartment multiple times from 2015 to 2019, according to Israeli media reports.
- Barak has said he "deeply regrets" his past relationship with Epstein and that he never saw nor participated in any inappropriate behavior during their meetings.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected conspiracy theories peddled online that his longtime political rival Barak's "unusual close relationship" indicated that Epstein was an Israeli spy.
Norway
Police opened an investigation last week into Jagland, the former chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee and Secretary General of the Council of Europe, "based on information in the Epstein-files."
- Investigators will examine "whether gifts, travel and loans were received in connection with his position," per a statement from Økokrim, Norway's central authority for fighting economic and environmental crimes. Investigators have asked for Jagland's immunity to be lifted.
- Jagland maintains that his contact with Epstein was "part of normal diplomatic activity" and his lawyer told reporters he'll cooperate with the investigation and is "confident" of its outcome. He has not been charged with any crimes.
Norway's crown princess, Mette-Marit, has also publicly apologized after the documents appeared to show extensive friendly correspondence with Epstein from 2011 to 2014, years after his 2008 conviction.
France
Former Culture Minister Jack Lang resigned on Saturday as president of the Arab World Institute after French financial crime prosecutors announced a preliminary inquiry into him and his daughter on suspicion of "aggravated tax fraud laundering" after he was mentioned in the Epstein files.
- Both deny any wrongdoing and the 86-year-old said on X that he welcomed the investigation.
Epstein also asked contacts to put him in touch with French politicians including President Emmanuel Macron and former President Nicolas Sarkozy, the documents show, but there's no evidence he was successful.
Australia
Epstein wrote in a 2014 email to former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers that former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would be joining an upcoming meeting by phone.
- Later that year, he wrote to his assistant that they should have "non vegetarin [sic] food" available because Rudd would be joining.
- However, Rudd's office said in a statement there are "no records" of the pair meeting and that Epstein's reps had been "unsuccessful" in arranging an introduction.
What to watch: More could emerge about Epstein's global network as members of Congress review the unredacted files.
Go deeper: Epstein file review yields 6 new "likely incriminated" men, lawmakers say
