Newly released Justice Department documents show Jeffrey Epstein sent DNA test kits to Woody Allen and others, and even mocked Allen’s public opposition to a bike lane — a fresh glimpse into the social circles the convicted sex offender cultivated.
What the files reveal
The latest DOJ release, which officials say totals millions of pages, includes emails indicating that on Sept. 21, 2016, Epstein was notified that “23 and Me kits arrived and will be delivered to Woody [Allen] and [wife] Soon Yi [Previn] to their home today….” The archived messages record a terse Epstein reply: “Great.”
Other notes show Epstein’s staff arranging additional kits in April 2017 for Noam and Valeria Chomsky. An Epstein accountant instructed associates to “Please include JE email in the backup for reimbursement,” reflecting how the gifting was tracked inside his circle.
Woody Allen and the bike-lane note
The files also capture Epstein’s dismissal of a small, civic matter: he reportedly called “lame” Woody Allen’s attendance at a 2016 Upper East Side community board meeting, where Allen opposed a proposed bike lane on his block. That detail is one of many mundane-seeming items that surface alongside more consequential documents in the dump.
Why this matters now
These messages matter because they illuminate the reach and everyday behavior of a man whose crimes and relationships have prompted sustained public interest and legal scrutiny. The records, released as part of a broader DOJ disclosure, add context to how Epstein interacted with prominent cultural and intellectual figures.
Who else appears
- Intellectuals: Noam Chomsky and his wife were on a shipping list for kits.
- Business figures: Recipients mentioned include Ariane de Rothschild and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem.
Response and reaction
The documents have revived attention on the breadth of Epstein’s connections. Reporters and researchers are combing the release for patterns; public reaction has been focused less on single items like DNA kits than on the aggregate picture these records create of Epstein’s access to and relationships with prominent people.
What’s next
As journalists process the millions of pages the DOJ has made available, more names and details may emerge. The files already include correspondence about Epstein’s associates and settlements connected to abuse allegations, so follow-up reporting and requests for comment from those named can be expected.
For now, the emails are another reminder that the public record around Epstein remains an evolving story — one that continues to shed light on the private networks of the powerful.