Musk denies involvement as Epstein-related records surface in oversight release

Elon Musk has denied any involvement with Jeffrey Epstein after his name appeared in newly released documents reviewed by Democrats on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. The materials, described by the committee as partial records associated with Epstein, included a note suggesting Musk was scheduled to visit Epstein’s private island on December 6, 2014. In response to coverage of the release, Musk took to X to challenge the reporting, writing, Shame on Sky News for this utterly misleading headline. Anyone pushing this false narrative deserves complete contempt. Epstein tried to get me to go to his island and I REFUSED, yet they name me even before Prince Andrew, who did visit. He also pushed back at a Forbes article that claimed he had planned a trip to the island, writing on X: This is false.

The documents released by Democrats encompassed phone messages, flight logs, financial ledgers and Epstein’s daily schedule, and named a number of prominent figures alongside Musk, including billionaire Peter Thiel, Steve Bannon, Bill Gates and Prince Andrew. Among the material was a calendar entry for the first week of December 2014 that read: Elon Musk to island Dec. 6 (is this still happening?). A note dated December 5 described a tentative plan for a breakfast party with Bill Gates, noting that Ron Baron and Josh Harris were invited and awaiting replies. The records also referenced Epstein’s interactions with Bannon and attorney Reid Weingarten on February 16, 2019, in New York, and a lunch with Thiel on November 27, 2017.

While Musk has vehemently denied any relationship with Epstein, he has acknowledged that his name appeared in the files. He noted that Donald Trump’s name was listed as well when Musk left a government role years earlier, though he has not substantiated the claim beyond his public postings. In July, Musk wrote on X that the decision not to release Epstein-related documents was a cover-up, adding: How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won’t release the Epstein files? He later deleted that tweet and said the remark had gone too far, but he continued to call for broader disclosure of the records. He also responded to a post from journalist James O’Keefe suggesting that the Epstein files could reveal or collapse the government, replying that many powerful people want the list suppressed.

The Epstein materials have long been a source of controversy in U.S. political discourse. Democrats and Republicans alike have urged the Trump administration to release the records publicly, arguing the documents could provide clarity for survivors and the public. Oversight Spokesperson Sara Guerrero said on the committee’s behalf that the group would persist in seeking the release of all documents and urged accountability for anyone named in the files. She argued that Epstein’s circle included some of the most powerful and wealthiest individuals, underscoring the premise that every new document could yield new information as investigators pursue justice for victims.

The broader background around the Epstein files has included multiple public statements and congressional inquiries about the handling of the material. The DOJ previously released a memo indicating there was no single client list, a development that drew bipartisan backlash. In confirmation hearings for FBI director Kash Patel, lawmakers pressed for assurances that the public would be fully informed about Epstein’s sex-trafficking network. Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a Fox News interview, said the financier’s client list was reportedly under review, while a May Wall Street Journal report alleged Bondi had informed Trump that his name appeared in the files multiple times. The ongoing disclosures have kept the topic in the public eye as parties continue to call for transparency and accountability.

In a separate stream of comments tied to the broader discourse around the Epstein files, Musk has pointed to public interest in the matter as justification for release of the records. The latest tranche, consisting of redacted flight logs and a passenger manifest noting Prince Andrew traveling with Epstein, Maxwell and other unnamed individuals, has drawn renewed scrutiny of how information relating to Epstein’s network was kept or shared among high-profile figures. As investigations and congressional inquiries proceed, observers remain focused on whether the released documents will yield substantive new details or simply reinforce prior public impressions. The case continues to weather political contention, legal challenges, and ongoing calls for comprehensive disclosure to address survivors’ demands for accountability and justice.