Elon Musk and Prince Andrew named in latest release of unsealed Epstein documents

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice has released a new set of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case, detailing the late financier’s connections to high-profile figures including Elon Musk, Prince Andrew, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The disclosure follows a Dec. 19 legal deadline. While previous filings mentioned former Presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton among other celebrities, those individuals have not been charged with any wrongdoing.

The latest records include photographs appearing to show Prince Andrew crawling on an unidentified woman. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suggested that Andrew should provide information to American investigators regarding the matter.

Emails within the cache show Elon Musk communicating with Epstein about parties and vacations in the Caribbean. Musk has previously denied ever visiting Epstein’s private island.

The documents also allege that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and his family visited Epstein’s island in 2012. The report contradicts Lutnick’s previous claims that he had severed ties with Epstein in 2005.

Additionally, New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch was mentioned in email exchanges with Epstein regarding multiple women.

The persistent unsealing of Jeffrey Epstein’s legal records, years after his death, underscores a scandal with the enduring power to destabilize the highest echelons of government and business. The latest disclosures have placed U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at the center of a burgeoning credibility crisis. While Lutnick has publicly maintained that he severed ties with Epstein in 2005, internal emails from 2012 detailing plans for a family excursion directly contradict that timeline. This discrepancy poses a significant liability for both the Secretary and the administration he serves, potentially fueling political pressure for his resignation as questions mount over the transparency of his prior disclosures.

For Elon Musk, the fallout is primarily reputational but carries significant weight for his corporate empire. Emails detailing a search for "wild" social engagements clash with his carefully curated persona as a work-obsessed visionary. For a figure whose personal brand is inextricably linked to the market valuation of his companies, such revelations risk eroding investor confidence and consumer trust.

Meanwhile, the latest developments reinforce the pariah status of Prince Andrew. The emergence of new photographic evidence, coupled with public pressure from the British Prime Minister, ensures that the Duke of York remains a central figure of scrutiny. This reinforces that the Epstein scandal is not merely a domestic legal matter but a persistent friction point in transatlantic diplomacy, with implications that transcend borders and political cycles.

Much like the broader American public, the Vietnamese-American community has followed the Epstein scandal with a keen interest in its themes of power, justice, and elite accountability. However, the controversy has had no direct or tangible impact on the community’s daily life or core business sectors. From the vibrant hubs of Little Saigon to the local nail salon industry and phở restaurants, operations remain unaffected. Likewise, the scandal has no bearing on vital community matters such as remittances or standard immigration processes, including F2B, H-1B, TPS, and EB-5 visa categories.