Which high‑profile names appear in the DOJ’s released Epstein flight logs and what context do the logs provide for each entry?
Executive summary
The Department of Justice’s released Epstein files and flight logs name a long list of well-known figures — from former presidents and royals to tech billionaires and entertainers — but the documents generally record presence, contact or correspondence rather than allegations or convictions tied to most listed individuals [1] [2]. Appearances on a flight manifest or in an address book are different evidentiary categories than victim testimony, charging decisions or criminal findings, and many named people have publicly denied wrongdoing or been explicitly described in the files as not targets [3] [2].
1. Who appears on Epstein’s flight logs and what the logs show
The flight logs released by the DOJ list passengers and travel dates; entries therefore show that particular people were on particular flights or otherwise associated with travel arrangements, and the DOJ release package includes flight manifests and related correspondence that place names like Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor), and others in Epstein’s records [4] [5] [2]. The DOJ and accompanying reportage consistently note that presence in the logs is not proof of criminal conduct — the files are primarily documentary evidence of contacts, travel and communications [1] [2].
2. Presidents and high‑level politicians: Clinton, Trump and others
Bill Clinton appears repeatedly in the broader files and in related court materials and photographs; media reporting and the DOJ materials emphasize Clinton is named in flight logs and other records but has not been charged and denies knowledge of Epstein’s crimes [4] [3]. Donald Trump’s name appears in flight logs several times according to multiple outlets; reporting notes Trump flew on Epstein’s plane in the 1990s and that none of the identified flights in some releases were to Epstein’s private island, while Trump has denied visiting the island [6] [5]. The DOJ’s public documents and journalists stress that being listed in logs does not equate to an allegation of trafficking or abuse [2].
3. Royals and close associates: Prince Andrew and others
Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor) is named in the released files; prior unsealed court materials and the 2024 public record include allegations that led to litigation and a settlement, and Andrew has publicly denied the accusations while acknowledging regret over his association with Epstein [7] [4] [6]. The files’ references to the prince in flight and contact records provide corroboration of social contact but do not, on their face, adjudicate criminal responsibility — that distinction is highlighted in BBC and DOJ coverage [4] [3].
4. Tech, finance and media figures: Gates, Musk, Staley, Summers and others
Billionaires such as Bill Gates and Elon Musk appear in the released communications and flight‑related documents; PBS and other outlets note email exchanges and mentions that place them within Epstein’s circle of contacts, with Gates linked to post‑conviction meetings and Musk appearing in email threads and, by some accounts, logs [7] [2]. Financial executives — including Jes Staley and Larry Summers — and media figures like Steve Bannon and Steve Tisch are referenced in the DOJ trove in ways that document meetings, correspondence and, in financial cases, estate duties, but the materials do not uniformly allege criminal conduct by those named [7] [8] [9].
5. Entertainment figures and photographs: Jackson, Spacey and others
Photographs and court records in the wider DOJ library show entertainers such as Michael Jackson and Kevin Spacey in social images tied to Epstein’s milieu; outlets report those images and document appearances in social settings, and reporting makes clear that photographs and presence in group images are descriptive evidence rather than proof of illicit acts [10] [3]. The DOJ has redacted victim identities and withheld material that would invade privacy, so some visual context remains limited in the public release [1].
6. What the logs prove, what they don’t, and why context matters
The flight logs and contact lists are powerful for mapping networks, travel and meetings — they corroborate that Epstein moved in elite circles and maintained connections with a range of public figures — but DOJ disclosures, journalists and commentators uniformly emphasize that names in logs are not indictments and that the documents must be read alongside sworn testimony, investigative findings and prosecutorial decisions to assess culpability [1] [2] [3]. Some files explicitly note exculpatory findings for individuals or state that allegations were unsubstantiated; others remain ambiguous or redacted, and reporters continue to parse the trove for clarifying context [3] [11].