Gates also said the photographs with unidentified women were taken because Epstein asked him to pose for them.

Stephen Hawking

The late physicist also appeared in the files. One photograph shows him sitting between two women in bikinis whose identities were redacted by the Department of Justice. His name reportedly appeared in the documents more than 250 times, though he has not been accused of any criminal behavior.

On 25 February, Hawking’s family clarified that the photo was taken in 2006 while he was staying at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in St Thomas. At the time, he was attending a scientific conference titled Energy of Empty Space That Isn’t Zero, funded by Epstein.

According to his family, the women in the photo were his “long term carers.”

Additional images show Hawking attending a dinner on Epstein’s private island, Little Saint James, and participating in a submarine tour.

A representative for the family stated: “Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct on his part is wrong and far-fetched in the extreme.”

Lord Peter Mandelson

The files also included images of the UK ambassador to the United States, including one showing him speaking to an unidentified woman while in his underwear. The photo was undated, though Sky News reported that it appeared to have been taken in Epstein’s Paris apartment.

A spokesperson for Mandelson responded: “No one can say who or where the photo was taken. Lord Mandelson has absolutely no idea or indeed whether it has any connection to Epstein at all.”

Documents within the files also alleged that Epstein made three payments totaling $75,000 in 2003 and 2004 to Mandelson. Mandelson has denied the claims, saying he believes them “to be false” and stating he has “no record or recollection” of such payments.

Shortly after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, Mandelson himself was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was later released on bail while investigations continue.

According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, around 300 celebrities were mentioned in the files, though she noted that their names appeared in a “wide variety of contexts.”