Musk, Thiel and Bannon appear in newly released Epstein records, years after sex-offender plea
Newly disclosed records from Jeffrey Epstein‘s estate, released Friday by the House Oversight Committee Democrats, show that Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Peter Thiel and Steve Bannon were all listed on Epstein’s calendars in the years before his 2019 arrest.
The tranche — more than 8,500 documents including phone logs, flight manifests and daily schedules — suggests that Epstein maintained ties with more of the world’s wealthiest and most politically connected figures than previously known after his 2007 plea deal that forced him to register as a sex offender.
The documents don’t necessarily implicate wrongdoing by Musk, Thiel, Bannon, or others mentioned. Still, the schedules highlight how Epstein’s social circle included tech moguls, financiers, royals, and political strategists years after his first conviction.
High-profile names, tentative meetings
A December 2014 schedule includes the entry: “Reminder: Elon Musk to island Dec. 6 (is this still happening?).” At the time, Epstein owned a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands that became infamous for serving as the site of sex trafficking.
Later entries show Epstein penciling in a lunch with Thiel, the billionaire venture capitalist and GOP donor, on November 27, 2017, and a breakfast with Bannon on February 16, 2019 — just months before Epstein was charged with sex trafficking. That meeting came while Bannon remained a prominent figure in Trump’s political orbit.
Other pages reference Prince Andrew on a May 2000 flight with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell from New Jersey to Florida.
Democrats on the Oversight Committee framed the releases as a step toward transparency.
“It should be clear to every American that Jeffrey Epstein was friends with some of the most powerful and wealthiest men in the world,” spokesperson Sara Guerrero said in a press release. “Every new document produced provides new information as we work to bring justice for the survivors and victims.”
The references to Musk, Thiel, and Bannon tie them to Epstein years after his 2007 conviction — a time when critics say he leveraged weak oversight to maintain connections with powerful figures.
Musk’s mention is notable as he has publicly accused Trump of hiding Epstein-related records earlier this year, saying the files should be released in full.
Representatives for Musk, Bannon, and Thiel did not respond to requests for comment.
