The "Final" Drop? DOJ unseals 3.5 million Epstein Files in massive public database

Marijan Hassan - Tech Journalist
1 day ago
3 min read

Here’s how to access 2,000 videos and 180,000 images released; newly uncovered emails reveal friendly Elon Musk ties with the convicted sex offender.

Editorial credit: Visuals6x / Shutterstock

In a watershed moment for one of the most scrutinized cases in American history, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released 3.5 million pages of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on January 30, 2026.

This "Data Dump" represents the largest and likely final public release under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a law passed by Congress in late 2025 following intense public pressure.

The release includes not only text documents but a massive multimedia cache of 2,000 videos and 180,000 images seized from Epstein’s various properties and digital devices.

There’s a lot to process, but one of the most explosive early discoveries involves a series of cordial, detailed email exchanges between Epstein and Elon Musk, contradicting years of public denials by the Tesla CEO.

The Musk-Epstein correspondence: "Always space for you"

While Musk has long maintained that Epstein was merely a "creep" whose island invitations he repeatedly declined, the newly unsealed files show a remarkably friendly relationship between 2012 and 2013, four years after Epstein’s first conviction as a sex offender.

Seeking the "wildest party"

In November 2012, Epstein emailed Musk to ask how many seats he needed for a helicopter trip to Little St. James. Musk replied that it would be "Probably just Talulah [Riley] and me," before asking, "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?

When Musk expressed a desire to "let loose" and avoid a "peaceful island experience" on Christmas Day 2012, Epstein cautioned that the "ratio on my island might make Talulah uncomfortable." Musk dismissively replied, "Ratio is not a problem for Talulah."

Logistics & canceled trips

The emails show two specific attempts to coordinate visits to the island. In December 2013, Musk checked his schedule to visit while in the Caribbean, with Epstein telling him there was "always space for you." Both planned trips eventually fell through due to "logistical issues" and scheduling conflicts on both sides.

A separate 2013 email from Epstein's assistant appears to confirm a lunch meeting between the two at SpaceX headquarters on February 25, 2013.

Musk downplays the revelations as “distraction"

Musk addressed the release on January 31 in a series of posts on X, framing the disclosure of his emails as a "performative distraction." He reiterated his call for the prosecution of those who committed "heinous crimes" with Epstein and stated, "I have never been to any Epstein parties ever."

However, the cordiality of the emails, which include Epstein congratulating Musk on SpaceX rocket launches, stands in stark contrast to Musk's 2019 claim to Vanity Fair that he only met Epstein once for "about 30 minutes" to look at "weird art."

Other key findings

The release, organized under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, reaches far beyond Silicon Valley:

Royal Ties: The cache includes never-before-seen photos of Prince Andrew at Epstein’s properties and emails suggesting Epstein facilitated a 2010 dinner between the Prince and a 26-year-old Russian woman.

The "draft indictment": Files reveal a 56-page draft indictment from the mid-2000s showing that federal prosecutors once considered 30 criminal counts, including sex trafficking, years before the infamous 2008 non-prosecution "sweetheart deal."
Business links: The files mention numerous other figures, including Sergey Brin, Richard Branson, and Leon Black, detailing everything from island visits to requests for "harem" gatherings.

How to access the database

The DOJ has established a dedicated portal for the public to view and download the files. Note that due to extreme traffic, the site may be slow or temporarily unavailable.

Redactions

The DOJ applied "extensive redactions" to the files. While victims' names were supposed to be protected, a coalition of survivors has already condemned the DOJ for accidentally exposing their identities while redacting the names of some of the accused men.

The "6 million page" controversy

Despite the massive scale of the release, the DOJ is facing a firestorm of criticism from both sides of the aisle.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche admitted that the DOJ identified over 6 million pages of responsive material, but is only releasing roughly 3.5 million. He cited the need to withhold Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), grand jury records, and medical files.

However, Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Ro Khanna (D-CA) have questioned why 2.5 million pages, nearly 40% of the total, remain hidden. "Failing to release these files only shields the powerful individuals who were involved and hurts the public's trust," Khanna said in a statement.