Lutnick replied the same day, opting for Sunday lunch. Subsequent correspondence released by the Justice Department shows Lutnick’s spouse, Allison, coordinating times and logistics with Groff. On Dec. 21 she confirmed the couple’s plan to bring a sizable group of friends and family, proposing a 1:00 p.m. or 1:30 p.m. start. Groff answered that Epstein preferred a 1:30 p.m. arrival.
Two days later Allison Lutnick asked for precise anchoring instructions as the party departed from St. Thomas. On Dec. 24, Groff sent another email to Howard Lutnick conveying Epstein’s brief note that it had been “nice seeing you,” implying the gathering had taken place.
Neither the emails nor the DOJ summary accuse Lutnick of criminal conduct. A Commerce Department spokesperson, in a statement responding to the release, said the secretary’s interactions with Epstein were limited, took place in the presence of his wife, and have never been the subject of any allegation of wrongdoing.
Post-prison networking with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor
The same document tranche outlines nearly two months of 2010 correspondence between Epstein and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then the Duke of York and ninth in line to the British throne. The emails begin roughly six weeks after Epstein completed a custodial sentence that had allowed daily work release privileges.
In an Aug. 11 message, Epstein told a contact identified as “The Duke” that he wished to introduce a friend who would be in London from Aug. 20 to Aug. 24. Andrew responded from Geneva that he would “be delighted” to meet her and asked whether she carried a message from Epstein. The former prince also requested background details, inquiring what Epstein had already shared with the woman and whether she possessed Andrew’s direct email address.
Epstein replied the same evening, describing the acquaintance as a 26-year-old Russian national whom he characterized as intelligent and trustworthy, and confirmed that she had Andrew’s contact information. Within hours, the Duke wrote back, expressing surprise at the swift arrangement and briefly asking after Epstein’s well-being.
Imagem: Internet
Emails over the next several weeks document Epstein’s arrival in London, proposals to meet in various European cities, and repeated efforts by both men to secure private time together. On one occasion Andrew suggested dining at Buckingham Palace, noting that the royal residence would ensure discretion. Another exchange shows him offering one of his houses after a lunch with a Saudi dignitary and a visit to a “secret intelligence firm.” Epstein accepted the Buckingham Palace option and asked whether he should bring his entire traveling party “to add some life” before reiterating the need for private conversation.
Andrew’s relationship with Epstein later attracted intense public scrutiny. In 2025, amid mounting backlash, Buckingham Palace confirmed that King Charles III had stripped Andrew of his remaining royal patronages and military titles. Andrew has consistently denied any criminal conduct linked to either Epstein or longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. A representative for the former prince did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest release.
Context of the release
The newly public emails form part of a broader cache of material collected during multiple federal inquiries into Epstein’s activities. Friday’s release included flight manifests, contact lists, and internal schedules alongside the personal correspondence. Attorneys for several Epstein survivors criticized the Justice Department for publishing some documents without fully redacting victims’ names, arguing that the action contradicts earlier government assurances of privacy protections.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges of soliciting prostitution, including with a minor, in what critics later labeled a “sweetheart deal.” Department of Justice records show that federal prosecutors at the time agreed not to pursue related federal charges. Epstein died in a Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on separate federal sex-trafficking counts; the New York City medical examiner ruled his death a suicide.
During an October 2025 interview, Lutnick described Epstein as “the greatest blackmailer ever” and recounted noticing massage tables throughout Epstein’s residence. Lutnick speculated that Epstein might have leveraged compromising material to negotiate lenient treatment in his 2008 case. The secretary’s remarks resurfaced Friday as reporters sought clarification on the newly released emails.
The Justice Department has not announced further investigative steps in response to the correspondence. Officials indicated that the document release followed a comprehensive review aimed at closing outstanding Freedom of Information Act requests. Advocates for Epstein’s victims have urged additional transparency, calling for the disclosure of any remaining names of influential figures who had financial or social ties to the financier.
Crédito da imagem: Markus Schreiber / AP; Max Mumby / Indigo / Getty Images
