Jeffrey Epstein scandal: Email leaks, unreleased files mobilizing the House - explainer

This effort, as well as leaked emails highlighting perceived ties between Epstein and US President Donald Trump, have helped paint a damning light on many high-profile figures who have been linked to Epstein over the years.

And among these figures is former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak, who is alleged to have worked closely with Epstein.

So what did these public figures do with Epstein? How did the wealthy and influential financier work with them? And how aware were they of his pedophilic criminal activities?

Here is everything you need to know.

Born and raised in New York, Epstein amassed significant influence after succeeding in the finance sector.

His name has been linked to several high-profile financial firms, including Bear Stearns, IAG, and more. This, in turn, saw him build a large fortune through savvy investments and consulting work, among other endeavors. As expected of someone with his net worth, Epstein was known to mingle with many prominent figures in politics and business.  Still, the true extent of his funds is up for debate.

Epstein owned properties worldwide, including in New York, Florida, New Mexico, the US Virgin Islands, and France. Many of these properties have been implicated in investigations into sexual abuse by the financier, and

In early 2005, a woman told the Palm Beach Police Department that her 14-year-old stepdaughter had been taken to Epstein’s Palm Beach mansion and paid to strip and massage Epstein.

Epstein’s 14,000-square-foot mansion, valued at tens of millions of dollars, was searched during the months-long investigation. Multiple underage girls were interviewed, and police found incriminating evidence of Epstein in his home. When the dust had settled, police had identified dozens of victims who could corroborate each other’s testimony.

In July 2006, Epstein was arrested and charged with prostitution, and he pleaded not guilty to one charge of felony solicitation of prostitution.

At the same time, the FBI conducted a separate federal investigation into Epstein, which led to a plea deal in which, among other conditions, Epstein would serve 18 months and pay restitution to over 30 victims. The prosecution received criticism for being too soft on Epstein as well as for concealing the plea deal from the victims.

When Epstein was released roughly a year later, the terms of his probation faced scrutiny from many, who believed that the state, in allowing him to travel around the US, was too lenient.

When officers searched Epstein’s home, thousands of pieces of evidence, including nude photos of children, were found, and Epstein was charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex.

Ten days later, a judge denied a request for bond from Epstein, held at the time at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, the same jail where Epstein would be found dead less than a month later.

Epstein, who was imprisoned under certain conditions meant to mitigate the risk of suicide, was supposed to be under constant watch as well as have a cellmate at all times.

On the morning of August 10, as guards distributed breakfast, Epstein was found dead in his cell. The scene resembled that of a suicide. The New York City chief medical examiner later determined that Epstein had hanged himself.

Since his death, and more so since President Donald Trump’s recent inauguration, the existence of Epstein’s client list, often dubbed “the Epstein files,” has been in the public eye. In February, Attorney-General Pam Bondi claimed to be in possession of the list, although her office hasn’t released anything resembling a client list, and the Department of Justice stated that the list did not exist.

Recent efforts by the US House of Representatives have raised serious concerns that the Department of Justice could be forced to release Epstein case files.

This push has been bipartisan, with notable Republicans such as Lauren Boebert joining in on the effort.

This is significant because at least 218 members of the House calling for the files to be released could force a vote on the House floor. And just last Wednesday, enough congressmen have officially banded together to do just that.

The effort has become divisive in the Republican Party due to Epstein's numerous established links with Trump.

Just days ago, House Democrats released thousands of emails involving Epstein, some of which referenced Trump in association with Epstein. Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing despite their close connection, described the affair as “the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax,” and an attempt to distract from current issues.

The Democrats released messages between Epstein and author Michael Wolff and Ghislaine Maxwell, a British socialite who is serving a 20-year prison sentence on charges related to her role in facilitating Epstein's sex trafficking. In one 2019 email to Wolff, Epstein, a convicted sex offender, wrote that Trump "knew about the girls," though it was not clear what that phrase meant.

In another 2019 email, Epstein said Trump "came to my house many times" and "never got a massage." That email was part of a trove of documents released later on Wednesday by a Republican-led congressional committee.

Later in the day, Republicans released a cache of 20,000 Epstein-related documents in which Trump's name surfaces frequently, though typically in the context of his political career or allegations of sexual behavior. In one exchange, Epstein refers to a 20-year-old girlfriend he "gave to Donald" in 1993 and talks about photos of "Donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen," though it is unclear whether he is joking.

Barak has denied any connection to Epstein's crimes. However, this has been contradicted by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges that Epstein forced her to have sex with Barak, along with other high-profile figures.

But the potential scandal may go deeper.

The report, citing what it claims are leaked emails from Barak, also claims Epstein helped create a back-channel communication mechanism with Russia during the Syrian Civil War, allowing Israel to operate against potentially hostile forces in the area.

Barak is not alone in being accused of working closely with Epstein, with documents released by the US also claiming the financier was associated with former prime minister Ehud Olmert.

However, the full extent of their connection remains unknown.