A collection of emails and documents made public by a US House committee concerning the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is bringing rene...
A collection of emails and documents made public by a US House committee concerning the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein is bringing renewed focus to his connections with high-level business and financial circles. This new round of investigation occurs years after Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
On 2 September 2025, the committee published more than 33,000 pages of recent documents obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice concerning Jeffrey Epstein.
In mid-November, the committee subsequently made available approximately 20,000 pages of further materials from Epstein's estate, including previously unseen emails. All the documents are accessible to the public.
Among the most notable business personalities mentioned in the emails is Larry Summers, former US Treasury secretary and former president of Harvard University.
In an email conversation with Epstein, Summers stated: "I'm trying to understand why the American elite believe that if you murder your child through beating and neglect, it's irrelevant to your Harvard admission, but if you sexually harassed a few women ten years ago, you can't work at a network or think tank. DO NOT REPEAT THIS INSIGHT."
Many of Epstein's email communications with prominent business individuals are characterized by a relaxed, informal style, frequently containing spelling errors and inconsistent grammar, along with vulgar comments that these individuals probably did not anticipate becoming public.
Summers also mentioned women's intelligence, stating: "I noted that half of the world's IQ is held by women, without pointing out that they make up more than 51% of the population."
These remarks are being considered in the context of his previous 2005–06 controversy at Harvard, where statements he made regarding women's involvement in science and engineering led to his resignation as university president.
Summers has stated he will reduce his public engagements following the revelation that he kept in touch with Epstein over many years, despite offering guidance to businesses, governments, and tech companies.
Once recognized as the most renowned macroeconomic policy expert of his era, Summers played a key role in the administrations of former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
A Harvard professor expressed in a message delivered to the university's student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, on Monday, that he aimed to "reestablish trust and mend connections with those nearest to him."
"I feel extremely embarrassed about my actions and acknowledge the suffering they have brought. I accept complete responsibility for my wrong choice to keep in touch with Mr Epstein," he stated.
Here is a non-complete list of additional major economic, finance sector, and investment entities referenced in the emails. Being mentioned in the emails does not imply any legal misconduct.
1. Peter Thiel
Who he is:A co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, an early investor in Facebook, a key player in the U.S. and international technology industry, and a venture capital investor.
What the records show:Newly published information and previous reports indicate that Epstein established connections with Thiel during the mid-2010s, following Epstein's 2008 guilty plea in Florida for soliciting prostitution involving a minor. An email mentioned in the reporting shows Epstein sending Thiel a message stating, "that was fun, see you in 3 weeks."
Other sources mention Epstein reaching out to Thiel about possible investments, such as initiatives in emergency services startups, although no significant deals are known to have been publicly disclosed. Thiel's involvement in these communications highlights that Epstein, despite being a disgraced financial figure, was still considered a connection within the circle of leading technology investors.
2. Reid Hoffman
Who he is:Co-founder of LinkedIn and a partner at the Silicon Valley venture capital company Greylock Partners.
What the records show:Epstein's related documents include Hoffman in the Oversight Committee cache. Previous reports, released before the latest email leak, noted his involvement in meetings connected to Epstein and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab, as well as at least one trip to Epstein's private island, which Hoffman has since expressed regret for.
3. Jes Staley
Who he is:Previous leader of JPMorgan's investment banking division and later head of Barclays, one of the UK's biggest financial institutions.
What the records show:UK authorities discovered that Staley and Epstein communicated via over 1,200 emails between 2008 and 2012, during Staley's time at JPMorgan, with their contact persisting after Epstein left prison in 2009.
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) determined that Staley negligently provided false information regarding the nature and scope of his connection when inquiries were made after he became part of Barclays. Staley has acknowledged that he had a romantic relationship with an individual who worked for Epstein.
The Upper Tribunal has confirmed the FCA's ruling that prohibited him from holding senior positions in the financial sector.
4. Kathryn Ruemmler
Who she is:Head of legal affairs at Goldman Sachs, former advisor to President Barack Obama's administration, and a previous federal prosecutor.
What the records show:Recent emails have revealed that Ruemmler continued to communicate with Epstein following his conviction. In one conversation discussing Donald Trump, she allegedly referred to the former president's achievements as "truly alarming."
Goldman Sachs stated that Ruemmler encountered Epstein in the course of her legal duties and did not accept any offer or chance to travel with him by plane.
In 2023, Ms. Ruemmler stated to the Wall Street Journal: "I regret ever meeting Jeffrey Epstein."
Ruemmler co-chairs Goldman's reputational risk committee. Her communications with Epstein are thus viewed as an examination of how a leading international bank handles tensions between personal connections and organizational principles.
5. Les Wexner
Who he is:The creator of L Brands, the organization that owns Victoria’s Secret.
What the records show:Epstein handled parts of Wexner's personal wealth for many years and at one time had authority over some of his financial matters. Epstein lived in a Manhattan townhouse that belonged to an entity connected to Wexner. In 2019, Wexner stated he cut off contact with Epstein "almost 12 years prior."
Going forward
Altogether, these cases do not show that the executives and investors mentioned were involved in Epstein's illegal activities.
They reveal that high-ranking individuals from major banks, financial institutions, technology companies, and law firms kept engaging with him, often under very advantageous conditions, even after his conviction became publicly known.
With both the House and Senate passing a bill on Tuesday night by a large margin, requiring the Justice Department to disclose its records related to Epstein, it is likely that additional names of business or financial individuals who had contact or worked with the convicted sex offender may come to light.
