Sir Richard Branson once encouraged Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted pedophile, to bring his “harem” the next time they crossed paths.

This suggestion surfaced in a September 2013 email exchange following Epstein’s visit to Branson’s private island. During this correspondence, the Virgin Group founder also offered guidance on how Epstein might repair his tarnished reputation.

The emails, accompanied by a casual photo of Branson and Epstein on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, were part of the 3 million documents from the Epstein Files released by the US Department of Justice last Friday.

In an email dated September 11, 2013, Branson wrote, “Dear Jeffrey, it was really nice seeing you yesterday. The boys in watersports can’t stop speaking about it! Any time you’re in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your harem!”

Earlier correspondence from Epstein’s team indicated that his visit included three male business partners and “two Russian girls.”

Branson has strongly refuted any wrongdoing, issuing a statement last night asserting that he and his late wife, Joan, severed all ties with Epstein upon discovering the “abhorrent” nature of his offenses.

But in the 2013 email exchange the entrepreneur seems to offer advice to Epstein to improve his image after he pleaded guilty to producing a minor for prostitution in 2008. 

Sir Richard wrote that if Microsoft founder Bill Gates was willing to vouch for him that would help Epstein’s rehabilitation.

Jeffrey Epstein with Richard Branson. In emails from the Epstein files, In an email exchange from September 2013 Sir Richard offered advice about how the convicted child sex offender could rehabilitate his image

The world’s richest man Elon Musk emailed Epstein in November 2012 to ask: ‘What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?’

On Friday, billionaire Gates was forced to issue a strenuous denial to claims Epstein made in the newly released documents that he caught a sexually transmitted disease from ‘Russian girls’ and had asked Epstein to procure antibiotics for him.

Sir Richard wrote to Epstein: ‘I think if Bill Gates was willing to say that you’ve been a brilliant advisor to him, that you slipped up many years ago by sleeping with a 17½-year-old woman and were punished for it, that you’ve more than learnt your lesson and have done nothing that’s against the law since and, yes, as a single man you seem to have a penchant for women. But there’s nothing wrong with that.’

In setting up the visit to Necker, Epstein’s assistant asked if he could bring Boris Nikolic, an associate of Bill Gates When Branson responds: ‘That’s fine. How many people? Could we have all names please?’ 

The assistant replies that Epstein will come with a number of other people and ‘the two Russian girl[s]’ – with both names redacted. It adds that they ‘don’t have UK visas’.

Sir Richard is not the only high-profile name to become embroiled in the latest scandal surrounding the Epstein Files.

The world’s richest man Elon Musk emailed Epstein in November 2012 to ask: ‘What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?’

He said he would be bringing his then wife, British actress Talulah Riley, who starred in the St Trinian’s movies. Tesla boss Musk has always insisted he never visited Little St James, Epstein’s Caribbean hideaway nicknamed ‘Paedo Island’.

But the following year, Musk wrote to Epstein again asking: ‘Will be in the BVI/St Bart’s area over the holidays. Is there a good time to visit?’ Epstein immediately replied: ‘Any day, 1st-8th, play it by ear if you want. Always space for you.’

In an email exchange uncovered in the files, Sir Richard told Epstein to ‘bring his harem’ the next time they met

Epstein with billionaire Bill Gates. Sir Richard wrote that if the Microsoft founder was willing to vouch for him that would help Epstein’s rehabilitation

When Musk responds ‘OK’, Epstein writes back: ‘I will come and get you.’ Musk then bows out of the trip saying: ‘Bad news. Unfortunately my schedule will keep me in New York. I was really looking forward to finally spending some time together with just fun as the agenda so I am very disappointed. Hopefully we can schedule another time in the near future.’

The new documents again names Labour grandee Peter Mandelson, who was sacked as the UK’s ambassador to Washington last year over his close friendship with the paedophile. They reveal Epstein paid £10,000 to put Mandelson’s Brazilian husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva through osteopathy school in 2009.

Da Silva asked Epstein to pay for the course saying: ‘I sent you a couple of emails last week regarding my osteo course expenses incl [sic] fee, anatomical models, laptop if you can help me with this. I hope you received them.’

Epstein responded: ‘I will wire your loan amount immediately.’

Mandelson apologised last night saying: ‘I was wrong to believe Epstein following his conviction and to continue my association with him afterwards.’

And a spokesman for Sir Richard said: ‘Any contact Richard and Joan Branson had with Epstein took place on only a few occasions more than 12 years ago and was limited to group or business settings, such as a charity tennis event.

‘When Epstein offered a charity donation, the Bransons asked their team to carry out due diligence before accepting the donation which uncovered serious allegations. As a result, Virgin Unite did not take the donation and Richard and Joan decided not to meet or speak with Epstein again.

‘Had they had the full picture and information there would have been no contact whatsoever. Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.’

Peter Mandelson pictured in the Epstein files. The new documents again names Labour grandee Peter Mandelson and reveal Epstein paid £10,000 to put Mandelson’s Brazilian husband Reinaldo Avila da Silva through osteopathy school in 2009

A spokesman for Mr Gates said: ‘The claims are absolutely absurd and completely false.’

Mr Musk posted on X on Friday night: ‘I had very little correspondence with Epstein and declined repeated invitations to go to his island or fly on his ‘Lolita Express’ but was well aware that some email correspondence with him could be misinterpreted and used by detractors to smear my name.’

The newly released files include more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, with ‘extensive redactions’ to protect the identity of victims of Epstein, who died in 2019.

However some are ‘furious’ that their names were not fully hidden. Brad Edwards who represented dozens of Epstein’s victims said the Justice Department ‘had violated the trust, privacy and the rights of more victims than ever before.’