Dorothy

Newly released Justice Department documents confirm that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein made at least three payments totaling $75,000 to former UK Labour Party power broker Peter Mandelson, according to the Financial Times. The same trove of files also includes references to other high-profile individuals, including U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and former President Donald Trump, with emails suggesting Lutnick visited Epstein’s private island after publicly claiming to have severed ties. CNBC highlights these connections as part of a broader release of previously sealed materials, while the Financial Times focuses on the financial trail linking Epstein to political figures. No source confirms any illegal activity by the named individuals, and none of the documents released thus far establish direct knowledge or involvement in Epstein’s criminal conduct. Separately, in a distinct development unrelated to the Epstein files, Waymo — Google’s autonomous vehicle subsidiary — finalized a $16 billion funding round that values the company at $110 billion, as reported by the Financial Times. This capital infusion supports its expanding robotaxi rollout amid growing competition from Tesla and other mobility firms. While the Epstein-related disclosures have drawn public and political scrutiny over associations with powerful figures, the Waymo funding news reflects a major milestone in the autonomous transportation sector, with no connection to the legal or ethical controversies surrounding Epstein. Sources differ in emphasis: U.S.-based outlets like CNBC focus on the political implications of the Epstein documents, while the Financial Times gives equal weight to both the scandal and major business developments.