The Jeffrey Epstein scandal expanded on Tuesday when the New York Times published a collection of previously unseen letters from powerful figures to the disgraced financier, along with photos from inside his Manhattan mansion. The letters, reportedly gathered as a 2016 birthday gift for Epstein, surfaced amid ongoing questions about Donald Trump’s connections to Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Epstein was known for cultivating relationships with wealthy and influential people.
In one letter, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and his wife praised Epstein’s curiosity, calling him “a collector of people” who knew “everything about everyone.” They wished him a long life and expressed hope that his friends would continue enjoying his hospitality.
Filmmaker Woody Allen wrote fondly of Epstein’s dinner parties, describing them as “always interesting” with guests ranging from politicians and scientists to royalty. He noted the meals were “well served,” sometimes by professional staff and other times by young women who reminded him of Dracula’s vampire attendants.
Other letter writers included media billionaire Mortizer Zuckerman, linguist Noam Chomsky, former MIT Media Lab director Joichi Ito, physicist Lawrence Krauss, and Harvard biologist Martin Nowak. Most declined to comment, though Krauss said he didn’t recall the letter but remembered attending thought-provoking lunches at Epstein’s home.
The Times also released photos from Epstein’s seven-story mansion, revealing unsettling details. His office displayed a taxidermied tiger and a first edition of Lolita, the controversial novel about a man’s obsession with a young girl. His bedroom and massage room—where victims say they were assaulted—contained surveillance cameras, paintings of nude women, and shelves of lubricant.
Framed photos throughout the house showed Epstein with associates like Ghislaine Maxwell, now imprisoned for sex trafficking, as well as celebrities and world leaders including Pope John Paul II, Bill Clinton, and Elon Musk. One oddity was a signed dollar bill from Bill Gates with the message “I was wrong!”—possibly from a lost bet.
Other bizarre decor included prosthetic eyeballs in the entryway and a hanging sculpture of a bride clutching a rope in the atrium. A chalkboard map of Israel, signed by a former Israeli prime minister, was also found in the home.Barak was also present in the home. Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges, with his death officially ruled a suicide.
Recent attention on Epstein’s case resurfaced as Trump and his administration had repeatedly promised to release information about the investigations. However, in July, the administration changed course, with the Justice Department announcing it would not disclose any further documents or details about the case. This decision sparked bipartisan criticism, including from Trump supporters and conservative media figures.
Epstein’s case has long fueled conspiracy theories, partly due to his connections with powerful figures. His 2019 suicide further deepened these theories over the years.
The Justice Department’s recent announcement also brought renewed focus on Trump’s long-standing friendship with Epstein. In July, The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump allegedly contributed a birthday message to Epstein in a 50th birthday album organized by Maxwell in 2003. The report claimed Trump’s note included a sketch of a naked woman with his signature. Trump denied the story and sued the newspaper for libel.
About a week later, the Journal reported that Justice Department officials had informed Trump earlier this year that his name appeared in Epstein’s files, though being mentioned in the records does not imply wrongdoing. Trump’s spokesperson dismissed the report as “fake news.”
Under mounting pressure, the Justice Department sent Todd Blanche, the deputy attorney general and a former Trump lawyer, to meet with Maxwell in late July to determine if she had information about “anyone who has committed crimes against victims.” The two-day meeting was held privately. On Friday, Maxwell was transferred from a Florida prison to a lower-security facility in Texas.
