A 2009 email made public this week as part of a vast disclosure of files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein includes a reference to acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, who is the mother of New York City’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The email, sent by publicist Peggy Siegal to Epstein, recounts her departure from an afterparty at the Manhattan townhouse of Ghislaine Maxwell following a screening of Nair’s biographical drama Amelia. The email, dated 21 October 2009, describes Siegal leaving the gathering, which was attended by former U. S. President Bill Clinton and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and notes Nair’s presence alongside other high-profile guests. At the time, Amelia had been showcased to an audience that Siegal characterised in her message as giving it a lukewarm reception, though she added that women like it much more. Siegal also mentioned other industry events she planned to attend later.
The disclosure of this email comes amid the largest release to date of internal Justice Department records tied to Epstein and his network of contacts. More than three million pages of documents, alongside over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images, were posted on the department’s website under the Epstein Files Transparency Act as authorities seek to shed greater light on Epstein’s activities and associations with figures across business, politics and culture.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking at a press briefing accompanying the release, framed the disclosure as the culmination of an extensive review process intended to balance transparency with legal constraints around the protection of victims. The newly available material includes correspondence, guest lists and communications involving a range of well-known individuals, though officials acknowledged that all relevant personal information and images are redacted to safeguard privacy.
Mira Nair, born in India and established as a director of internationally recognised films, made Amelia in 2009, a biographical account of aviator Amelia Earhart starring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere. Her career has spanned decades and includes award-winning projects that often explore complex social and political themes. Zohran Mamdani, her son and a first-term mayor of New York City, previously served in the state assembly before winning the city’s top office at the start of this year.
Epstein, a financier convicted of sex trafficking, died by suicide in a Manhattan jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges. Ghislaine Maxwell, a longtime associate, was later convicted for her role in recruiting minors for Epstein’s abuse and is serving a 20-year sentence. The scope of the document release reflects sustained political and public pressure for the Justice Department to make more of its investigative files available to the public, including records that earlier disclosures had omitted while undergoing review.
The inclusion of the email mentioning Nair’s attendance at a social gathering linked to Maxwell has drawn attention because it touches on the broader scrutiny of Epstein’s circle of acquaintances. Some legal experts and observers have noted that appearances in emails or guest lists do not equate to involvement in criminal activity, and the contents of these files require careful interpretation to distinguish social references from evidence of wrongdoing.
Public reactions to the expanded release of Epstein files have been mixed, with advocates for survivors urging unredacted access to help clarify how individuals and institutions interacted with Epstein over decades. Members of Congress have pressed for further disclosures, arguing that partial redactions and withheld documents hinder a full accounting of the case and its implications. Justice Department officials have maintained that their efforts aim to adhere to legal standards and protect the privacy and safety of those depicted in the records.