Which other German politicians or public figures are mentioned in the newly released Epstein documents and in what context?
Executive summary
The newly released tranche of Jeffrey Epstein files, as reported, references German political actors primarily in two ways: private exchanges describing efforts by Steve Bannon to promote the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and disparaging remarks about then-chancellor Angela Merkel; the public reporting so far does not identify a long list of named German politicians beyond those themes (The Guardian, Irish Times) [1] [2]. The documents show Bannon briefing Epstein about European meetings and seeking funding for far‑right campaigns, while news outlets caution that name‑mentions in the files are not equivalent to evidence of criminal conduct or direct financial support from Epstein [1] [3].
1. AfD and Bannon’s outreach to German politics
Multiple outlets summarize portions of the files that document Steve Bannon’s 2018–2019 European campaign to build a pan‑European far‑right movement and his reported effort to tap Epstein as a potential source of funds; in that context reporters say Bannon discussed courting Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) and briefed Epstein about meetings with German far‑right actors (The Guardian, Irish Times) [1] [2]. Coverage stresses that the files illuminate Bannon’s aims to unite Eurosceptic and ultra‑right figures across countries including Germany, but the reporting does not provide documentary proof in these excerpts that Epstein actually financed AfD or that AfD figures accepted Epstein money [1].
2. Angela Merkel appears as a target of denigration in exchanges
The Guardian and the Irish Times highlight that some Epstein‑associated messages relay Bannon’s disparaging commentary about then‑chancellor Angela Merkel while promoting AfD, presenting Merkel as a political foil within those discussions [1] [2]. Those reports treat the references as reflective of political strategy and rhetoric being conveyed to Epstein rather than as evidence of Merkel’s association with Epstein; the files as cited do not allege any improper relationship between Merkel and Epstein [1].
3. Peter Thiel and the “US‑German” descriptor — not a mainstream politician’s tie
Aggregated European coverage also flags a separate line in the files describing Epstein’s claims involving figures beyond party politics, including a mention of Peter Thiel identified in one report as a US‑German entrepreneur in connection with alleged meetings involving Norwegian figure Thorbjørn Jagland — a note that places Thiel in the wider network sketched by the documents but does not establish political collaboration in Germany (Euronews) [4]. Reporting makes clear that Thiel is a business figure rather than a German party politician, and that mentions in the trove require careful interpretation rather than automatic inference of wrongdoing [4] [3].
4. What German names are and are not present in the reporting — limits of current coverage
Across the sources provided — mainstream press summaries, encyclopedic aggregates and local European outlets — the specific German public figures repeatedly named in the stories are the AfD as a political target and Angela Merkel as a point of attack within Bannon’s outreach; other high‑profile German politicians do not appear by name in these excerpts, and outlets repeatedly caution that a name appearing in the files is not itself proof of criminality or concrete ties to Epstein [1] [5] [3]. Where documents do mention European heads of state or well‑known elites (for example, Luxembourg’s politicians or Slovakia’s Miroslav Lajčák), those are specifically identified in other regional reporting but are not German and thus fall outside the narrow question about German actors [6] [7] [8].
5. Political fallout, competing narratives and journalistic caution
Coverage underscores competing interpretations: some politicians and commentators demand inquiries into whether external funding or influence was sought or accepted, while others and the outlets note the absence—in the cited reporting—of evidence that Epstein financed specific German parties or politicians; journalists emphasize that the files are a vast, raw trove whose name‑drops require careful verification and legal context rather than immediate guilt by association [1] [3] [2]. In short, current reports identify AfD and Angela Merkel as the principal German‑related references in the newly released documents, document Bannon’s outreach and Epstein mentions of assorted elites, but do not provide named lists of other German politicians tied to criminal allegations in the material cited here [1] [4] [3].