What Are the Epstein Files? Everything to Know About the Classified Documents Related to Jeffrey Epstein's Criminal History By Jordana Comiter

The public desire for the Epstein files to be released remains as strong as ever.

Between 2008 and 2019, dozens of women stepped forward accusing Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse. His crimes reached a turning point in July 2019 when he was arrested and charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors. But one month later, the disgraced financier and registered sex offender died by suicide while awaiting trial on federal conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.

Though his case was dismissed three weeks after his suicide, questions surrounding Epstein’s criminal history — and what surfaced during years of investigations — continue to grow as the public pushes for the Epstein files to be released.

In mid-July, members of the U.S. House Rules Committee voted down an amendment that would have allowed members of Congress to vote on whether or not the files should be released to the public, per The Guardian. The following day, President Donald Trump, who during his 2024 campaign vowed to consider releasing the documents, posted on Truth Social that the files are a “hoax” perpetrated by the Democratic Party.

“Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this ‘b——-,’ hook, line, and sinker,” Trump wrote, criticizing those who have called for him to release more evidence related to Epstein’s sex-trafficking cases. The president was linked to Epstein for several years, but has claimed their friendship ended before Epstein’s 2006 indictment for soliciting prostitution.

From who has been named in the documents to what’s been released, here’s everything to know about the Epstein files.

Who was Jeffrey Epstein?

Epstein rose to prominence as a financier who surrounded himself with high-profile celebrities, public figures and socialites before his criminal activity came to light.

His legal troubles date back to 2008, when he pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a person under 18 for prostitution. Although PEOPLE confirmed he was sentenced to 13 months in jail, his plea deal allowed him to serve much of the time in work release at his office. In the aftermath, Epstein was required to register as a sex offender.

Fast forward to July 2019, new accusations surfaced that led to Epstein’s arrest for allegedly sex-trafficking girls as young as 14 years old. According to a federal indictment unsealed at the time, he “sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes.”

The disgraced financier was charged with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors, for which he pleaded not guilty, and would have faced a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison if convicted. However, one month later, he died by suicide in a New York City jail.

What are the Epstein files?

Epstein’s two criminal investigations — which occurred nearly a decade apart — amassed a large amount of documents, ranging from interviews with victims and witnesses to items confiscated from raids of his various properties.

In addition to his cases, there was a separate investigation into his ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted in 2021 of conspiring with Epstein to traffic girls for sex and is currently serving a 20-year sentence.

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Per the Wall Street Journal, the federal government has a “truckload” of documents — now known as “the Epstein files” — that are from or about Epstein and his criminal cases.

What has been released in the Epstein files?

Though the files haven’t been released in their entirety, some information has been unsealed in recent years.

In February 2025, the Department of Justice and the FBI released what was described as the “first phrase of the declassified Epstein files.” The day before they were released, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News they consisted of “a lot of flight logs, a lot of names, a lot of information,” adding that “it’s pretty sick what that man did, along with his co-defendant.”

The first materials released included flight logs, an evidence list, redacted pages from a contact book and redacted pages of a masseuse list, though someone being listed in the flight logs was not an indication of wrongdoing, as many of them were presumably on Epstein’s plane for business, political or social reasons. PEOPLE reviewed the flight logs and found that Trump’s name was listed a total of seven times.

Additionally, per an itemized list from the Department of Justice, the documents include photos, cameras, computers, hard drives and more, including one CD labeled “girl pics nude book 4.”

Who has been named in the Epstein files?

The files don’t solely contain allegations related to Epstein, as many high-profile people who were allegedly in his inner circle have been named in the documents.

In January 2024, court filings were unsealed that showed Prince Andrew — one of Epstein’s former friends — had been named. Per the court documents, a woman who said she was one of Epstein’s victims alleged in a 2016 deposition that Andrew had groped her breast at Epstein’s N.Y.C. home in 2001. In the aftermath, Andrew denied any wrongdoing, and Buckingham Palace had no comment at the time.

Virginia Giuffre — who died by suicide in April 2025 — also alleged that she was trafficked by Epstein and forced to have sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions when she was 17 years old.

Lawyers for Prince Andrew released a statement in 2022 following a settlement with Giuffre, saying, “Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.”

Meanwhile, former Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz was also named in the documents. A motion filed on behalf of Jane Doe #3 claimed that Epstein forced the minor to “have sexual relationships” with Dershowitz, who was a “close friend of Epstein’s and a well-known criminal defense attorney.”

The motion further claimed that Dershowitz was an “eye-witness to the sexual abuse of many other minors by Epstein and several of Epstein’s co-conspirators,” on top of playing “a significant role” during later negotiations on Epstein’s behalf.

Dershowitz released a statement to PEOPLE at the time, saying, “The documents prove my innocence. The woman who initially accused me subsequently stated that she may have misidentified me and she withdrew her law suit against me. I hope that all the documents are released as i have always urged.”

Jane Doe #3’s motion also mentions Jean Luc Brunel, a French model agent in Epstein’s “inner circle of friends” who died in prison in February 2022. Per the documents, Brunel would allegedly “bring young girls (ranging to ages young as twelve) to the United States for sexual purposes and farm them out to his friends, especially Epstein.”

In addition to Andrew and Dershowitz, magician David Copperfield, French celebrity hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai and music icon Michael Jackson were among the names mentioned in the unsealed court documents, though they were not accused of misconduct.

Bill Clinton was also briefly mentioned in the files, as one court document showed an alleged victim of Epstein claimed that the late financier once told her the former president “likes them young, referring to girls.”

In response, Angel Ureña, the former president’s spokesperson at the time, posted on X that Clinton “knows nothing” about Epstein’s “terrible crimes.” Ureña also told PEOPLE that although he is mentioned in the documents, he has not been accused of wrongdoing.

More recently, in July 2025, reports surfaced that Trump was allegedly told by the Department of Justice that he appeared in the Epstein files “multiple times,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

Per the outlet, Trump was given the information during a May meeting with Bondi and her deputy.

When asked about the matter, Trump denied having been told by his attorney general that his name was in the files. In response to his answer contradicting what the Wall Street Journal had reported, White House communications director Steven Cheung told the outlet, “This is another fake news story, just like the previous story by The Wall Street Journal.”

Why haven’t the Epstein files been released in their entirety?

In July 2025, the Justice Department issued a memo stating it would not publicly release additional documents related to the Epstein case.

The memo also said investigators found no evidence that Epstein maintained a client list or blackmailed his associates. However, the news came on the heels of Bondi telling Fox News in February that Epstein’s reputed client list was “sitting on my desk,” awaiting review.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.