Music Industry Shaken: Jay-Z And Pusha T Named In Newly Released Epstein DOJ Files

The music world is reeling after the U.S. Department of Justice released a massive new tranche of documents on Friday, January 30, 2026, related to the investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among the three million pages of records, the names of hip-hop moguls Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) and Pusha T (Terrence Thornton) appear in a disturbing report originally filed with the FBI in 2019.

The documents, released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, include thousands of reports from the FBI’s National Threat Operations Center. While the names of Beyoncé’s husband and Pusha T do not appear in Epstein’s personal flight logs or address books, they are cited in a detailed public complaint that alleges a predatory link between the artists and disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.

1. The 1996 Allegation: Jay-Z and Harvey Weinstein

According to the unsealed records, a report filed in 2019 details an incident that purportedly took place nearly three decades ago.

• The Claim: The victim alleged that in 1996, she woke up in a room to find herself in the presence of both Harvey Weinstein and Shawn Carter (Jay-Z).
• The Abuse: The report claims Weinstein was engaging in sexual abuse at the time. The victim stated she believed she had been drugged, clouding her memory of how she arrived at the location.
• The Significance: This is one of the few instances where a major music figure is directly placed in a room with Weinstein in an investigative file related to the broader Epstein inquiry.

2. Pusha T’s Alleged Role as a “Handler”

The documents also contain a startling reference to Pusha T, describing a role often associated with organized sex trafficking.

• The “Handler” Label: The complainant identified Pusha T as a “handler”—a person tasked with establishing “friendships” with potential victims to lure them into vulnerable situations.
• Coordinated Abuse: The report further alleges that both Weinstein and Pusha T attended a party where the victim was drugged before being subjected to sexual abuse.

3. Context: A Turbulent Legal Year for Jay-Z

The release of these DOJ files comes at a time of intense legal scrutiny for Jay-Z.

• The 2000 Civil Suit: Jay-Z is currently fighting a lawsuit from an anonymous woman who claims he and Sean “Diddy” Combs raped her at a 2000 MTV VMA afterparty when she was just 13.
• Denials: Jay-Z’s legal team has called these allegations “frivolous” and “blackmail,” noting inconsistencies in the accuser’s story.
• Industry Fallout: On social media, fans and critics are pointing to Jay-Z’s past associations with R. Kelly, Diddy, and Weinstein as a cause for concern. “Now he’s popping up in Epstein files… Interesting,” noted one viral post on X.

4. Summary of the Latest DOJ Release

Friday’s document dump is the largest to date and includes several high-profile names, though many—like Jay-Z—are mentioned via unverified tips rather than personal records.