Newly released documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein have drawn attention after the name of French President Emmanuel Macron appeared in multiple files made public by U.S. authorities.

The documents were released following an announcement by U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who confirmed that more than three million additional files connected to the Epstein investigation had been disclosed. The material has reignited international debate over Epstein’s political and elite connections.

According to the files, Macron’s name appears in documents dating from both before and after his election as president in 2017. In several instances, Epstein is seen claiming that Macron sought his views on a range of political, institutional, and economic matters. The documents do not contain allegations of criminal conduct by Macron but detail communications and references involving Epstein’s own assertions.

Emails, Elysee claims and political backlash

One of the documents includes an email sent by Jeffrey Epstein on September 17, 2018, to World Economic Forum (WEF) President and CEO Borge Brende. Marked as confidential, the message contains remarks Epstein attributed to Macron concerning global governance, international institutions, and the need for new socio-economic frameworks.

Another email highlighted in the files was sent on March 22, 2016, by Emirati businessman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem. In the message, bin Sulayem stated that he had attended a lunch at the Élysée Palace and held what he described as a productive discussion with Macron—then France’s finance minister—regarding business interests in France.

In separate correspondence dated August 2018, Epstein claimed that Macron regularly asked him for advice on topics ranging from institutions and policy to science. In the same exchange, Epstein described Macron as someone who “wants to lead Europe — perhaps even the world.”

The revelations prompted reactions within France’s political landscape. Florian Philippot, leader of the Patriots Party, criticized any direct or indirect links between Macron and Epstein, arguing that such connections raise serious concerns for France’s national security. Philippot called for a formal investigation to clarify the nature of the contacts referenced in the documents.

The Epstein case and his death

Jeffrey Epstein was facing charges related to the sexual abuse of dozens of underage girls and the operation of a sex trafficking network when he was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan on August 10, 2019.

Previously released court documents had mentioned numerous high-profile figures, including Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak, Al Gore, Kevin Spacey and Michael Jackson. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), following a joint review with the Department of Justice, stated that there was no evidence of a so-called “client list” and concluded that Epstein died by suicide.