Recently, a judge released additional files from a court case involving dead sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, known informally — and misleadingly — as “the list.”

Even before their release, these records, or “the list,” were highly talked about, particularly when it came to notable figures once associated with Epstein, such as former Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. Although there is no proof of either of these being sex offenders, one of Epstein’s past victims, Johanna Sjoberg has said that he once told her that Clinton “said one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls.”

The documents were distorted on social media as a list of probable Epstein clients or co-conspirators, with a particular emphasis on whether notable Epstein connections were overtly linked to his trafficking of minors. In truth, many of the people included in these documents have nothing to do with Epstein’s trafficking of children, although some do, demonstrating that the records are not a “client list” as some had assumed.

“Being named in these documents does not indicate any wrongdoing related to Epstein or anyone else,” journalist Alex Ross explains.

Several renowned politicians and celebrities are featured. In addition to Clinton and Trump, Prince Andrew of the United Kingdom, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (now deceased), and former Senator George Mitchell are among others who appear. Clinton and Trump have both faced charges of sexual misconduct tied to Epstein, though not everyone involved has.

Thus far, the Epstein conspiracies have not resulted in equivalent repercussions, but there are concerns that they may fuel misinformation and similarly explosive scenarios in the highly politicized political context of the 2024 election.