Newly revealed text messages show that months before financier Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 arrest, the governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands offered assistance to him during a dispute related to his activities on the island, raising fresh questions about the territory’s relationship with the disgraced figure.
According to court filings tied to ongoing civil litigation, the messages included a note from the governor saying “we got u,” suggesting a willingness to provide support as Epstein faced regulatory and business concerns involving his private island and surrounding operations. The communication reportedly occurred while authorities and local agencies were examining issues related to permits, infrastructure, and financial oversight.
Epstein, who owned Little St. James in the U.S. Virgin Islands, had long maintained connections in political and business circles. After his arrest in July 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges, scrutiny intensified over whether officials or institutions had enabled his activities, either knowingly or through lack of oversight.
Lawyers involved in the case argue the texts demonstrate unusually close contact between Epstein and senior officials, while representatives for the governor say the messages have been taken out of context and were part of routine government communication with a prominent resident and employer in the territory at the time.
The U.S. Virgin Islands government has previously filed lawsuits seeking damages from financial institutions linked to Epstein, claiming they benefited from or failed to report suspicious activity. The newly surfaced communications are expected to play a role in ongoing legal battles over accountability.
Epstein died in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial. His case continues to generate legal and political fallout, as courts examine the broader network of people and organizations connected to him and whether warning signs were ignored.
