A newly released cache of documents from Epstein’s files on Friday showed that Elon Musk appeared to correspond with the convicted sex offender in 2012 and 2013, discussing meeting at Jeffrey Epstein’s private island and at Musk’s SpaceX facility in Southern California.
Emails show that Mr. Musk was asked about attending the “wildest parties” that Mr. Epstein was hosting on the island.
Mr. Musk, who serves as CEO, tesla SpaceX has long downplayed its ties to Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019.
“Epstein tried to send me to his island, but I refused,” Musk said in a post on his social network X in September. He also complained that Sky News linked his name to Mr Epstein before naming Britain’s Prince Andrew, who visited the island.
The U.S. Virgin Islands issued a subpoena to Musk in 2023 over suspicions that Epstein “introduced or may have attempted to introduce” Musk as a client. JP Morgan Chase.
The Justice Department on Friday released millions of additional pages of documents related to Epstein, along with more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, according to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The release comes after weeks of criticism that the Justice Department has not complied with a requirement under a federal law passed in November to release all files related to Epstein by Dec. 19.
The documents released Friday include emails from 2012 and 2013 that show Musk’s name but with his email address redacted.
“The world needs more romance,” Musk wrote to Epstein in October 2012, according to the documents. He told Epstein that he was planning to travel to St. Barts with his then-partner, British actress Talulah Riley, and was exploring possible contacts on Epstein Island.
In a November 2013 email, Mr. Epstein suggested that Mr. Musk send a private helicopter to transport him to the island, asking, “How many people are you going to take in the helicopter to the island?” Mr. Musk replied that it was just him and Riley and asked, “What day/night is the wildest party on your island?”
In a December 2013 email, Mr. Musk again wrote to Mr. Epstein: “I will be in the BVI/St. Barts area during the holidays for Christmas and New Years. Is there a good time to visit?”
Mr. Epstein responded, “I’ll send a helicopter,” and Mr. Musk responded, “Thank you.”
“Actually, I can fly home early on the 3rd. I’ll be in St. Barts,” Musk said in a follow-up email on Dec. 25. He asked if he should head to the island with Riley the day before.
CNBC has not confirmed whether Musk has ever visited the island, but he denies having ever traveled.
Mr. Musk did not respond to requests for comment.
Emails released Friday also show that in October 2012, Mr. Musk forwarded questions from Mr. Epstein to his cousin, SolarCity founder Peter Liv. Musk was a personal investor in SolarCity and served on the company’s board.
In his email, Epstein asked if solar installers could power ranches and private islands in New Mexico. In an Oct. 4, 2012 email, Musk asked Liv, “Are we in New Mexico?”
Tesla acquired SolarCity in a controversial deal in 2016 and integrated it into what became the company’s energy division.
Last June, Musk said in a post on X that he believed President Donald Trump and his administration were hiding Epstein-related files from public view to protect the president’s reputation.
“Time to drop a really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein file,” wrote Musk, who was in the midst of a public spat with the president at the time. “That’s the real reason it hasn’t been made public. DJT, have a nice day!”
Days later, he apologized for his post about Trump, saying it had gone “too far.”
WATCH: House votes to release more Epstein investigation files
