Epstein Files release: Microsoft permanently banned Jeffrey Epstein from Xbox Live

Another new batch of Epstein files was released by the DOJ on Friday, and it was a huge batch. More than three million documents were included in the release regarding deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Among the revelations hidden in the latest Epstein files? The emails showed that Epstein was forbidden of Microsoft’s Xbox Live.

On Thursday, December 19, 2013, Epstein received an official email from Microsoft to his [email protected] personal email address with the title “Xbox LIVE – Application Action Notification”. Being locked out of Xbox Live essentially means that Epstein’s account would not have been able to play online games through his Xbox console.

The email from Microsoft informed Epstein that his “Xbox Live account privileges have been permanently suspended.” The email lists the reasons for suspension as “harassment, threats and/or abuse towards other players” and describes them as “deemed serious, repeated and/or excessive.”

Microsoft’s email regarding Epstein’s Xbox Live ban appears to be a default email sent to all users banned under this policy. It does not describe the actions of a specific user. However, the latest version of the Epstein files includes another follow-up email from Xbox Live sent later the same day, which provides more details about the ban. Microsoft banned Jeffrey Epstein from Xbox Live because Epstein was a registered sex offender.

In 2012, Microsoft join an initiative from the New York Attorney General to ban sex offenders from online platforms. According to the Xbox Live follow-up email, this is why Epstein was removed from the online gaming platform.

“This message is to inform you that Xbox LIVE has permanently suspended the Xbox LIVE account associated with this email address,” the 2013 email read. “This action is based on the New York Attorney General’s partnership with Microsoft and other online gaming companies to remove New York registered sex offenders from online gaming services to minimize risk to others, especially children.”

Epstein became a registered sex offender in 2009 after serving a 13-month prison sentence for solicitation of prostitution and solicitation of prostitution with a minor under 18 years of age. Another email released in Epstein’s files appears to show that Epstein created his Xbox Live account in 2012, meaning it took Microsoft about a year to take action to ban his account.

As The Verge points out, there are other emails from Epstein referencing Xbox that make it unclear whether Epstein was actively using the service or simply had an account in his name for someone else to use.