The countless headlines and document dumps surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case often promise a single, definitive “client list”—a roll call of the damned that will finally expose everyone who partook in his horrific sex-trafficking ring. However, as over three million pages of files have been released by the Department of Justice and the House Oversight Committee, a more complex and unsettling picture has emerged . It’s a picture not just of individual criminals, but of an entire ecosystem of wealth and power—what has quickly become known as the “Epstein class.”
This term, which has moved from social media comments to the floors of Congress, encapsulates a profound truth about the case: the circle around Epstein was not merely a list of abusers, but a self-protecting network of the global elite who, whether complicit or willfully blind, enabled his crimes for decades .
The Making of a Moniker: What is the “Epstein Class”?
The phrase gained national traction when Senator Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) used it in a February 2026 speech, declaring, “This is the government of, by, and for the ultra-rich. This is the Epstein class.” He was referring to the impunity enjoyed by the wealthy figures connected to Epstein, contrasting it with the working-class base many of them court politically. “They are the elites they pretend to hate,” Ossoff stated .
Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who helped popularize the term, explained its purpose: to challenge the “elite” and unaccountable wealthy individuals who believe they can “play by a different set of rules.” “Americans are sick of elite impunity,” Khanna told HuffPost. “There cannot be two tiers of justice, where wealthy men who abused young girls are protected while survivors are silenced” .
Academics studying the term note its power lies in its ability to cut across partisanship and profession. “Americans recognize that wealth is bipartisan, and wealth contributes to abuse,” said Josephine Lukito, a professor at the University of Southern Denmark. “‘Epstein class’ encapsulates a lot of that” .
A Who’s Who of Power, Politics, and Academia
The recently unsealed documents and emails don’t just show fleeting connections; they reveal sustained relationships with Epstein long after his 2008 conviction as a sex offender . The list of names is a dizzying cross-section of the establishment, exposing the hypocrisy of an elite that spans the ideological spectrum .
The Political Sphere
The files are replete with familiar names from both sides of the aisle. Donald Trump, who had famously said in 2002 that he had known Epstein for 15 years, appears in hundreds of documents, including photos and videos from the early 1990s . His former strategist, Steve Bannon, engaged in extensive correspondence with Epstein, who advised Bannon on his political tours and even offered use of his private jet . In one surreal 2019 exchange, Bannon conducted a media training session with Epstein at his Manhattan townhouse, where Epstein chillingly referred to himself as a “Tier 1” sexual predator, the “lowest” kind .
On the other side, former President Bill Clinton traveled on Epstein’s private jet for charitable trips, a connection facilitated by aide Doug Band . Ehud Barak, the former Israeli Prime Minister, maintained a close, years-long relationship with Epstein . Even British royalty was ensnared, with extensive details emerging about Prince Andrew’s association with Epstein, including emails and photos from after the financier’s 2008 conviction .
The Intellectual and Financial Elite
Perhaps the most jarring revelations are those connecting Epstein to revered academic and philanthropic figures. The files show a friendly and advising relationship with the legendary left-wing thinker Noam Chomsky. Epstein offered Chomsky use of his apartments and even joked about sending a plane for another “lefty friend” . In a 2015 email exchange about academic theories, Epstein told Chomsky, “you are of course welcome to use apt in new york with your new leisure time” .
Similarly, Larry Summers, the former Harvard president and Treasury Secretary, exchanged emails with Epstein that revealed a personal familiarity. In one 2019 email, Summers discussed a mundane social interaction with a woman, to which Epstein replied with dating advice. Summers later issued a statement expressing “great regrets” and calling his association with Epstein a “major error of judgement” .
The financial entanglements were deep. Newly released documents identified two ultra-wealthy clients who paid Epstein extraordinary sums: real estate mogul Mortimer Zuckerman and banking heiress Ariane de Rothschild. Together, they appear to have paid Epstein $45 million for financial and estate planning services between 2013 and 2015—work for which Epstein, who was not an accountant or lawyer, lacked conventional credentials. Experts called the fees “crazy” and “anomalous,” suggesting they were far beyond market rates .
A Culture of Corruption and Complicity
The exposure of the “Epstein class” has done more than just embarrass the powerful; it has laid bare a culture of corruption. The files reveal that even after his conviction, Epstein continued to move freely among the world’s most influential people. He mingled with tech billionaires like Peter Thiel (who was invited to Epstein’s Caribbean island), Elon Musk, and Bill Gates . He hosted dinners attended by ambassadors, CIA directors like William Burns, and White House counsels like Kathryn Ruemmler .
This network wasn’t just social; it was transactional. In a shocking allegation, former British cabinet member Peter Mandelson was reportedly sacked from his role as ambassador to the U.S. due to his friendship with Epstein, who allegedly paid him for information regarding British fiscal decisions . Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, an Emirati businessman, corresponded with Epstein about arranging meetings with Trump advisers, showing how Epstein positioned himself as a gatekeeper to power .
The Fight Over the Files and the Demand for Accountability
Despite the massive document dumps, the pursuit of full transparency continues to be a political football. While Attorney General Pam Bondi initially claimed the client list was on her desk, the DOJ later stated there is no single “list,” but rather redacted documents containing allegations .
Epstein’s former lawyers, Alan Dershowitz and David Schoen, have insisted there was never a blackmail list, arguing that the speculation is based on fallacies. However, Dershowitz acknowledged that the names of people accused by victims remain redacted in FBI files, held up in Manhattan courts to protect accusers’ privacy—or, as critics argue, to protect the powerful .
This obfuscation is precisely why the term “Epstein class” resonates. As an editorial in The Indian Express noted, the case exposes a “blind spot” for progressives and conservatives alike: “When consequences are rare and reputations endlessly salvageable, abuse finds cover” .
Conclusion
Jeffrey Epstein is dead, but the “Epstein class” he personified remains very much alive. The recent releases have moved the conversation from morbid curiosity about a single predator to a necessary reckoning with the systems that protect predators. It is a story of billionaires, presidents, and intellectuals who found it convenient to associate with a man who exploited children, and whose collective power created a shield of impunity .
As Rep. Khanna demands a committee to haul “everyone who emailed Epstein about abusing young girls in front of Congress,” the question is no longer just about who was on the list, but about how a class of people so powerful came to believe they were beyond the reach of justice .