Jacob Phillips
Live reporter

Yesterday over three million pages of documents related to the late sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein were released - six weeks after a deadline mandated in a law signed by President Donald Trump.

We’ve been working our way through the files and, in our previous post, we recapped the latest.

The files, some of which are heavily redacted, also include details about Epstein's time in prison and emails showing Epstein sent £10,000 ($13,692) to Lord Peter Mandelson's husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva in 2009.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suggested Andrew should testify before the US Congress over his dealings with Epstein.

Meanwhile, survivors of Epstein's abuse have called on the justice department to continue to release all the Epstein files "until every legally required document is released and every abuser and enabler is fully exposed".

Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips when asked by the BBC what closure would look like said: "All the files."

Similarly Democrat lawmakers have questioned who only half of the estimated six million pages of files have been released.

That brings our live coverage to an end, we have analysis from our royal correspondent and key takeaways.

And, in the past few minutes we've also reported a second Epstein victim claims she was sent to UK for sex with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, according to her lawyer.

Image source, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

We'll shortly be bringing our coverage to an end. Before we do, here's a reminder of what we've seen so far in the latest batch of the Epstein files:

Images appearing to show the former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground have been released. BBC Verify has found the decor seen in the photos appears to match those of Epstein's New York City mansion.

This latest information digs an even deeper hole for Andrew, our royal correspondent writes.

Epstein seemingly writes in an email that "Fergie" - believed to be in reference to Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson - "can now say I am not a pedo". Another email exchange appears to show Epstein claiming to have helped Ferguson financially for 15 years.

In another email, Richard Branson appears to tell Epstein: "Any time you're in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!"

Virgin Group has clarified that "harem" referred to three adult members of Epstein's team and stated Branson would not have used the term or had contact if he knew the full facts.

The boss of X, Tesla and Space X Elon Musk appears to have asked Epstein over email what day the 'wildest party' on his island would be. On his platform X, Musk posted that he had "very little correspondence with Epstein" and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his "Lolita Express".

• What are the key takeaways so far?

There is no suggestion that appearing in the documents implies any wrongdoing, and many people who have featured in previous releases have denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.

Image source, PA Media

As we reported earlier the prime minister has suggested Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress over his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.

Sixteen Democrat Members of the House Oversight Committee wrote to Andrew in November asking him to be questioned as part of the ongoing probe into Epstein.

The committee said it would seek information about Epstein and his network “based on the men’s longstanding and well-documented friendship”.

“Andrew has the opportunity to come clean and provide justice for the survivors," Ranking Member Robert Garcia said at the time.

The committee does not have the power to compel Andrew to appear in front of them and is controlled by the Republicans, who have not indicated they would support the move to urge Andrew to testify.

Image source, Getty Images

Billionaire businessman and US Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick planned a visit to Jeffrey Epstein's island Little Saint James with his family, according to emails included in the latest Epstein files’ release.

The emails released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) do not indicate any wrongdoing.

In one email from December 2012, Lutnick's wife Allison wrote to Epstein's assistant: "We are looking forward to visiting you. We will be coming from Caneel Bay in the morning. We are a crowd... 2 families each with 4 kids ranging in age from 7-16! 6 boys and 2 girls. I hope that's okay. We would love to join you for lunch."

Other emails were exchanged in December about Howard Lutnick joining Epstein for lunch on the island.

Lutnick previously claimed in a 2025 interview that he had cut off ties with Epstein in 2005 when the pair were neighbours in New York after Epstein gave him and his wife a tour of his Manhattan townhouse.

The Commerce Department said in a statement to the BBC that "Secretary Lutnick had limited interactions with Mr. Epstein in the presence of his wife and has never been accused of wrongdoing".

More here.

Image source, Getty Images

Norway's Crown Princess Mette-Marit is named in some of the files released in the latest batch of Epstein files by the DOJ, including one which appears to be an email exchange from 2013.

The email, with the subject line "H.K.H. Kronprinsessen, Mette", details a trip the princess seemingly took to Epstein's Palm Beach house in January 2013.

"Mette will arrive Miami airport this Sunday," an email attributed to Lesley Groff, a former assistant to Epstein, says. The email is sent to Janusz Banasiak, Epstein's former Palm Beach house manager.

Janusz was expected to pick up Princess Mette-Marit from the airport and "take her to the PB house" according to the email, which includes the princess's redacted mobile number.

In a statement to Norwegian public broadcaster NRK, the princess said she regretted ever having contact with Epstein, and says she should've checked his background better.

The broadcaster says the princess admitted to having borrowed the Florida home, external for four days. "It is simply embarrassing," it cites her as saying.

Image source, PA Media

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggests Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor should testify before the US Congress over his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein.

Speaking to reporters on his way back from a brief trip to Japan following his China visit, the PM says: "In terms of testifying I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that."

"You can’t be victim-centred if you’re not prepared to do that," he continues. "Epstein's victims have to be the first priority."

Back in November the former prince was asked by Democrats in Congress to answer questions as part of its investigation into Epstein. At the time, Starmer said the invite was a matter for Andrew to consider "personally".

When asked about the revelations surrounding former US Ambassador Peter Mandelson’s husband, the prime minister says Mandelson "was removed as ambassador in relation to the further information that came to light in September of last year.

"I've nothing more to say in relation to Peter Mandelson," he adds.

The challenges in verifying images in the Epstein filespublished at 19:19 GMT 31 January

19:19 GMT 31 January

By Paul Brown

There are several techniques we can use to glean information from these images contained within the Epstein files.

The first is a simple reverse image search, which will show if the image already exists online, but can also assist with geolocation.

For example, the image of Andrew Mountbatten lying across a group of people released in the last batch was geolocated to Sandringham after Google's reverse search tool matched a fireplace seen in the background to other images from the Royal residence.

We also use facial recognition tools to identify individuals. These tools analyse facial details and match to other images of individuals online with similar features. We can then use a face-match software to ensure that they are the same people.

The sheer number of redactions in these releases are, of course, a major hindrance to this process.

Another limitation is assessing timelines - particularly for photographs which have not been previously published online.

Sometimes we can match details like clothing and hairstyles to contemporaneous photos of particular events, but mostly it is impossible to get an exact date.

For example, in the recent batch we see a series of photos of Maxwell sitting next to a cake. The date stamp on the photos reads "24" along with the time.

Knowing that she was born on Christmas Day, we can assume this was a birthday celebration for her - but we can't be sure of the year.

Interiors in photos of Andrew on all fours appear to match Epstein’s mansion​​published at 18:43 GMT 31 January

18:43 GMT 31 January

By Jake Horton​​​​

The photographs of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor kneeling over a female lying on the ground appear to match the interior of Jeffrey Epstein’s New York City mansion.​​​​

BBC Verify has found the decor seen in the photos appears to be consistent with other images of the townhouse’s interior.

​​​​The double doors have the same design features, including the gold bordered panels, and the floor in the corridor floor has the same black diamond-shaped pattern on its tiles.​​​​

We found this by doing a reverse image search of the doors pictured behind Andrew which suggested they were similar to the ones inside Epstein’s townhouse.​​​​

We then found other photos taken inside the house during a 2019 FBI raid which featured the same black diamond tiles and brown and gold doors

Image source, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

We're now seeing an email exchange believed to be between Epstein and three others in 2011, including one person whose name is redacted.

An email from an account believed to belong to Jeffrey Epstein says "I think Fergie can now say, I am not a pedo".

It adds: "She was DUPED into believing false stories."

The email is apparently referring to Sarah Ferguson, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's ex-wife, who is invariably known as Fergie.

The email from Epstein also asks Sarah Ferguson to say she was "told horrible things and she reacted".

The emails do not indicate any wrongdoing. The BBC has contacted Ferguson for a response.

Image source, Department of Justice

Democrat members of the US House Judiciary Committee are seeking access to the full Epstein case files, the BBC's US news partner CBS reports.

The panel has questioned why the Justice Department has released only half of the estimated pages of the Epstein files.

The committee says in a letter that the Justice Department claims to have over six million files and points out that over 200,000 pages of files released are redacted or withheld.

The lawmakers say an "urgent" review of the papers is needed, partly because of an upcoming public hearing with Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Image source, Getty Images

Democrat Congressman Suhas Subramanyam says he has not given up hope that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will give evidence to Congress' House Oversight Committee.

"We do not have jurisdiction over Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor but we are going to continue to put the pressure on making sure he and anyone else with information comes forward," Subramanyam tells BBC Newsnight.

On the latest release of Epstein files by the US Department of Justice, he says he and his Democrat colleagues are "curious" because there are "about three million files that they left out".

"They said they had over six million files and they've only released about half of that."

Asked how this administration could have better handled the realise of these files, Subramanyam says "they could have followed the law".

"They reality is they needed to turn over all of their files more than 40 days ago."

Marc Ashdown
Business correspondent

There are more than 1,000 mentions of Elon Musk in the files, though some may be duplicate references, as we have seen multiple pages repeated throughout the documents so far.

The world's richest man exchanged emails with Epstein on two separate occasions in 2012 and 2013 to make arrangements for Musk to visit his island.

"Probably just Talulah and me", Musk appears to write, in reference to his ex-wife, the British actress Talulah Riley. "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?" he asks.

Epstein replies that the "ratio on my island might make Talulah uncomfortable," before Musk replies that "ratio is not a problem for Talulah".

It appears Musk didn't visit the island on either occasion because of what he referred to in an email as "logistical issues".

On X, Musk posted that he had "very little correspondence with Epstein" and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his "Lolita Express".

A document included in the latest release of Epstein files appears to be a draft indictment with 32 different charges against Epstein.

On the document, there is a hand written note saying "old draft". It's not clear when this document is from, or who wrote the note on it - but it seemingly was created within the US District Court of the Southern District of Florida.

The apparent draft indictment includes prostitution and sex trafficking charges, and also names Epstein as being the owner of a property in Palm Beach, along with several companies.

At the bottom of the document is a space reserved for the signature of US Attorney Alexander Acosta, who struck a deal with Epstein in 2007 that allowed the financier to avoid a potential life sentence.

He instead served 13 months of an 18-month conviction.

During his confirmation hearing for Secretary of Labour in March 2017, Acosta defended the deal, telling lawmakers that it required Epstein to register as a sex offender and go to prison.

Image source, US Department of Justice

Email appears to show Epstein claiming to have helped Sarah Ferguson financially for 15 yearspublished at 16:32 GMT 31 January

16:32 GMT 31 January

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, Sarah Louise Bennett

In 2009, Sarah Ferguson describes Epstein as "the brother I have always wished for" and enthusiastically gives him details of her latest business ideas.

She didn't travel lightly. When visiting him, there's a request on her behalf for four apartments.

Later in the same year, after the crash of a business venture, she writes to Epstein: "I urgently need 20,000 pounds for rent today. The landlord has threatened to go to the newspapers if I don't pay. Any brainwaves?"

There are lawyers' letters about deals to pay off her creditors and an email from Epstein claiming to have helped her financially for 15 years.

The former Duchess of York has been approached for comment.

Behind her back, Epstein seems to have been far from complimentary, sending another contact a link to a newspaper article about Ferguson, with the comment: "Pic of F from Friday not the prettiest sight."

None of this latest information could be called pretty.

Marc Ashdown
Business correspondent

There are hundreds of mentions of Richard Branson's name in the files released by the US justice department yesterday. Some are duplicates, but an email exchange between the two men from 2013 stands out.

Epstein thanks Branson for his recent hospitality, and for his public relations advice.

Branson appears to reply that is was "really nice" seeing him, before adding: "Any time you're in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!"

Virgin Group has clarified that “harem” referred to three adult members of Epstein's team and stated Branson would not have used the term or had contact if he knew the full facts.

In a statement to the BBC, a spokesperson for Virgin Group has said: "Any contact Richard and Joan Branson had with Epstein took place on only a few occasions more than twelve years ago, and was limited to group or business settings, such as a charity tennis event."

Image source, Reuters

An Epstein survivor says it is "heart-wrenching" to hear the Department of Justice say it is not aware of any other men that were involved in the abuse of Epstein’s victims.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche acknowledged the release of these documents would not satisfy that need for more information. He said the files don't contain the names of specific men who abused women and that, if the department had those names, the men would be prosecuted.

He added: "I don’t think the public are going to uncover men within the Epstein files that abused women, unfortunately."

Epstein survivor Lisa Phillips tells BBC Newsnight: "I couldn't believe he could keep a straight face when he said that. It's heart wrenching to hear him say that when the whole Epstein saga is all about other men enabling and abusing."

Phillips says she believes that "not that much information" has been released, but claims that some FBI tips from the latest release do show that other men "were involved in pretty heinous crimes".

Asked what closure would look like, Phillips says "all the files". "When the president signed the bill in November it was to release all the files... they haven't been released."

Latest Epstein revelations dig even deeper hole for Andrewpublished at 15:24 GMT 31 January

15:24 GMT 31 January

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

It doesn't get any better for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor - and this latest batch of documents provide even more evidence of the closeness between him and Epstein.

The public might once again have a collective eye-roll and think here we go again. More unedifying pictures and words.

The newest batch of photos released by the US Department of Justice appear to show the former prince kneeling on all fours over a female lying on the ground.

There are also emails between the pair dated February 2011 - putting more holes in Andrew's assurances that he'd cut off any contact with Epstein the previous year.

In terms of where this story might end up, it is clear from this latest batch of emails how much the US authorities had been trying behind the scenes to get Andrew to give evidence about Epstein.

It remains to be seen whether the public, and the authorities, feel they've seen more than enough, or whether there are even more questions to be answered by the beleaguered former Duke of York.

Andrew has consistently and strenuously always denied any wrongdoing and his office has been contacted for comment.

• Read more analysis from Sean Coughlan

Olivia Davies
BBC News Investigations

Emails in this latest tranche of documents suggest Jeffrey Epstein was concerned that his phone had been hacked by British media and that he had contacted UK authorities.

In an email to his lawyer in July 2011, Epstein wrote: "I'm certain that the news of the world also hacked my phones.

"They called people on their cells that had been working for me for less than a week, I think we should make a request of scotland yard for any and all records for the following phone numbers".

Three weeks later, emails show Epstein contacting "GMax" saying: "we are in contact with scotland yard over the hacking scandal, they have asked me for all uk numbers that might have been the subject .. would you like if i gave yours?"

"GMax" responds: "yes please".

Image source, US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Image source, US Department of Justice

Among the documents released by the US justice department yesterday is an email believed to be from Microsoft informing an account associated with Jeffrey Epstein that an Xbox Live account has been "permanently suspended".

The email states the suspension has been enforced due to either "complaints filed by other Xbox Live users or in the course of our operation of the service".

In another message seemingly from Microsoft, though the sender's email address has been redacted, the company says that the account connected to Epstein has been removed as part of its partnership with the New York attorney general "to remove New York registered offenders" from the platform "to minimize the risk to others, particularly children".

The messages are dated December 2013, several years after Epstein was required to register as a sex offender following his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

Image source, US Department of Justice

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) released over three million pages of documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on Friday.

We are still working through the huge tranche of documents, which included over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

The release comes six weeks after a legal deadline mandated by Congress and signed by US President Donald Trump.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended missing the deadline to release the files, saying "two Eiffel Towers" of documents were reviewed to redact anything that could risk identifying victims.

Our team are continuing to pick through the documents - stay with us here for the latest.