Tesla CEO Elon Musk apparently expressed an interest in visiting Jeffrey Epstein’s Caribbean island numerous times in email correspondence between the pair that lasted for more than a year, according to files released by the Justice Department on Friday.
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The files, part of a release of millions of documents related to various investigations into Epstein, include 16 emails between Musk and the disgraced financier sent in 2012 and 2013.
Musk appeared to acknowledge on Saturday that the emails were genuine, but denied any close connection to Epstein.
Read More: How the Victims of Jeffrey Epstein Beat Washington at Its Own Game
“No one pushed harder than me to have the Epstein files released and I’m glad that has finally happened,” Musk said early Saturday morning on X after the files were released. He maintained that he continually “declined” to go to Epstein’s island but was aware that the emails could be “misinterpreted.”
“I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express’, but was well aware that some email correspondence with him could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name,” he said.
Musk has said for years that he did not know Epstein well, and that Epstein had “tried repeatedly to get me to visit his island,” but that he had refused.
But the emails appear to include multiple instances in which Musk expressed an interest in visiting the island.
“What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?” Musk wrote in an email to Epstein in November 2012. In another in December 2013, he asked, “Will be in the BVI/St Bart’s area over the holidays. Is there a good time to visit?”
There is no indication in the emails of any wrongdoing by Musk.
Epstein’s Caribbean island, Little Saint James, is now infamous for being the site of dozens of claims of sex trafficking and abuse of young women and girls.
Epstein’s most serious crimes were not public at the time when Musk was in communication with him, but he had been convicted in 2008 on state charges of solicitation of prostitution and of solicitation of prostitution with a minor under the age of 18. He was released after serving 13 months in a minimum-security prison following a plea deal that granted him federal immunity.
It wasn’t until 2015 that some of the more serious allegations about Epstein became public, when Virginia Giuffre sued his longtime collaborator Ghislaine Maxwell for defamation. Epstein was eventually arrested in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges, months after a series of investigative reports from the Miami Herald sparked wider interest in his actions and connections to powerful people.
Here are the key emails between the two:
September 24, 2012: ‘Very enjoyable conversation’
The earliest email between Musk and Epstein in the files dates to late 2012, when Musk writes that they had a “very enjoyable conversation!”
Epstein writes back, “Hopefully the first of many.”
Soon after, Epstein writes to Musk asking for help electrifying his Caribbean island or his New Mexico ranch with solar power, since Musk was then chairman of SolarCity.
November 24, 2012: ‘heli to island’
The two discussed a possible meetup on Epstein’s island in the Caribbean over Christmas. It is unclear if Epstein invited Musk or if Musk requested a visit. During the exchange, Epstein asks Musk how many people would “heli to island,” likely meaning helicopter.
“Probably just Talulah and me,” Musk said, referring to his then-wife Talulah Riley. “What day/night will be the wildest party on =our island?”
December 25, 2012: ‘Do you have any parties planned?’
On Christmas Day 2012, at 6am, Musk sent Epstein an email asking if he had “any parties planned?”
He continued, “I’ve been working to the edge of sanity this year and so, once my kids head home after Christmas, I really want to hit the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose. The invitation is much appreciated, but a peaceful island experience is the opposite of what I’m looking for.”
“Understood , I will see you on st Barth, the ratio on my island might make Talilah uncomfortable,” Epstein responded.
“Ratio is not a problem for Talulah,” Musk said.
On January 2, 2013, Musk seemingly cancelled the visit, telling Epstein that “Logistics won’t work this time around.”
February 26, 2013: ‘thanks for the tour’
Epstein thanks Musk for a tour of SpaceX. Musk has said previously that Epstein didn’t tour SpaceX, writing on July 4, 2020: “To the best our knowledge, he never toured SpaceX. Don’t know where that comes from.”
Yet, calendar invites in February 2013 show that Epstein was scheduled to have lunch with Musk while visiting the company’s headquarters.
On February 26, Epstein sent Musk an email, “thanks for the tour,” adding that he “would have had fun at xmas.”
In his response, Musk writes: “I see,” with an accompanying smiley face.
December, 14 2013: ‘Is there a good time to visit?’
Musk and Epstein seemed to try one more time to arrange a visit to the island, with Musk asking in December 2013, “Is there a good time to visit?”
“I will send heli for you,” Epstein said.. Musk replied: “Thanks.”
After a series of back-and-forth emails on scheduling, Epstein emailed to cancel:
“Bad news- Unfortunately , my schedule will keep me in New York,” he told Musk on Dec. 30, 2013. “I was really looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun as the agenda. so i am very disappointed. Hopefully we can schedule another time in the near future.”
Musk responded: “No problem.”
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