Mira Nair Named in Newly Released Epstein Files

Filmmaker Mira Nair, mother of New York mayor Zohran Mamdani, has surfaced in a newly released cache of documents linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, reigniting scrutiny around the sprawling social network tied to the disgraced financier.

The mention appears in an email dated October 21, 2009, sent by publicist Peggy Siegal to Epstein shortly after she attended an afterparty hosted at Ghislaine Maxwell’s townhouse. The gathering followed a screening linked to Nair’s biographical film Amelia.

The email—now public—lists several high-profile attendees, including former US President Bill Clinton, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, photographer Jean Pigozzi, and filmmaker Mira Nair. The message, cited by US media, also offers candid commentary on the film’s reception and the evening’s atmosphere.

“Just left Ghislaine’s townhouse… after party for film,” Siegal wrote. “Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos were there… Jean Pigozzi, director Mira Nair… etc. Film received tepid reaction though women like it much more…”

The email continues with offhand remarks about other celebrities, retail-sponsored events, and upcoming plans, underscoring the casual tone in which Epstein and his circle once exchanged messages.

A massive disclosure

The email is part of a vast release of more than three million pages of FBI records made public by the US Justice Department on Friday. The disclosure includes 2,000 videos and approximately 1,80,000 images, marking one of the largest document releases connected to the Epstein case.

The publication came six weeks after the Justice Department missed a legal deadline, mandated by a law signed by President Donald Trump, requiring all Epstein-related federal documents to be disclosed.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, addressing the media, said the release concluded an exhaustive review process aimed at balancing transparency with victim protection.

“Today’s release marks the end of a very comprehensive document identification and review process,” Blanche said, rejecting claims that powerful individuals were being shielded from scrutiny.

Who is—and isn’t—implicated

The documents include emails, images and videos referencing numerous public figures. Among them are images reportedly showing Bill Gates, Steve Bannon, Woody Allen, and Bill Clinton socialising with Epstein, sometimes on his private island. None of those individuals have been charged in connection with the case.

The Justice Department clarified that, apart from Ghislaine Maxwell, all women appearing in released images and videos have been obscured to protect identities. Materials deemed capable of compromising ongoing investigations or exposing victims were withheld.

Despite this, some Epstein victims have criticised the extent of redactions, arguing that information previously in the public domain was unnecessarily blacked out.

Maxwell, Epstein, and the wider web

Ghislaine Maxwell—Epstein’s former partner—was convicted of sex trafficking a minor and related charges and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.

Epstein himself died by apparent suicide in a New York jail in August 2019, a month after being arrested on federal sex trafficking charges. Earlier, he had served 13 months in Florida following a widely criticised plea deal in 2008.

The latest document trove also includes an email exchange between Epstein and Elon Musk, in which Epstein invited the billionaire to visit his island.

President Trump has acknowledged a past friendship with Epstein but has denied knowledge of the underage sex-trafficking network prosecutors say Epstein operated.

Transparency, delayed

The disclosures stem from the Epstein Files Transparency Act, passed with bipartisan support in November to compel full public access to federal records tied to Epstein. An earlier batch of documents released in December fell short of the law’s requirements, though it included flight logs from the 1990s.

With this latest release, US authorities insist the process is complete—even as public debate over accountability, influence, and transparency continues.

(With inputs from ANI)