Jeffrey Epstein had built a vast network of powerful and affluent acquaintances by the time he entered a guilty plea in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from a minor.
Emails that were made public this week demonstrate that the network's determination to maintain contact with the rich financier was unaffected by the crime.
The House Oversight Committee's release of thousands of documents on Wednesday provides a fresh look into Epstein's interactions during a ten year period with business leaders, reporters, academics, and political figures.
From the time he completed his Florida term in 2009 to the months leading up to his arrest on federal sex trafficking allegations in 2019, they begin with communications he sent and received.
Epstein's network at the time was diverse, ranging from liberal scholar Noam Chomsky to President Donald Trump's longstanding ally Steve Bannon.
While some sought introductions or guidance on anything from dating to oil prices, others came out to support Epstein during lawsuits and prosecutions. He was advised by one on how to handle claims of sexual harassment.
After being accused of sex trafficking in 2019, Epstein committed suicide while incarcerated a month later. Conspiracy theorists and internet investigators looking for evidence of a cover up have been drawn to Epstein's case because of his misdeeds, high profile connections, and jailhouse suicide.
His contacts are not connected to those claimed offenses via the emails. Rather, they depict Epstein's relationships and impact during his years as a registered sexual offender.
Epstein had a varied political network. Epstein sent news clippings and discussed strategy or gossip to current and former political figures on all sides via email.
These emails were frequently brief, jumbled, and full of grammatical and spelling mistakes. Epstein gave Bannon advice on his political tour of Europe in a number of emails in 2018 after Bannon sent Epstein a news clip claiming that Bannon was "As Dangerous as Ever" and that the German media had undervalued him."Luv it," Epstein said.
After speaking with "one of the country leaders that we discussed," Epstein said, "we should lay out a strategy plan. how much fun."
A few months later, Epstein said, "If you are going to play here, you'll have to spend time, Europe by remote doesn't work." In a follow up email, Epstein added, "it's doable but time consuming; there are many leaders of countries we can organize for you to have one on ones."
A few months prior, in emails to Kathryn Ruemmler, the former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, Epstein was disparaging Trump, whose movement Bannon represented.
In a message to Epstein, Ruemmler referred to Trump as "so gross." Epstein responded, "worse in real life and upclose." A chunk of the message was censored.
Epstein described a flurry of well known individuals he seems to have been meeting, hosting, or conversing with that week in additional emails with Ruemmler.
These individuals included an ambassador, a tech giant, international businesspeople, professors, and a film director. "You are a welcome guest at any," he wrote.
A representative at Goldman Sachs, where Ruemmler currently works, Jennifer Zuccarelli, declined to comment. Epstein's affluent social circles The banker frequently corresponded via email with individuals in the world's highest social classes, facilitating introductions and engaging in political and international conversations.
Among them was Peter Thiel, a Silicon Valley investor to whom Epstein wrote in 2014, "that was fun, see you in 3 weeks."
It's unclear if Thiel ever replied when Epstein inquired about his enjoyment of Los Angeles four years later. After Thiel said he couldn't complain, Epstein responded, "Dec visit me Caribbean."
Epstein praised Bannon in emails with Emirati investor Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, stating in 2018 that "We have become friends you will like him."
"Trump doesn't like him," Sulayem retorted. A year prior, Sulayem asked Epstein, "Do you think it will be possible to shake hand with trump?" in reference to an event where it seemed Trump will be present. "Call to discuss," Epstein said.
While biotech venture entrepreneur Boris Nikolic was in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum in January 2010, Epstein sent him an email asking, "Any fun?" In response, Nikolic said he had met then French President Nicholas Sarkozy, "your other friend," Prince Andrew, and "your friend" Bill Clinton, "as he has some questions re microsoft."
However, Nikolic later stated that he was growing weary of meetings. He later wrote to Epstein, saying, "It would be blast that you are here." He talked of making advances on a 22 year old woman.
As it happens, she is with her husband. didn't get a chance to look him over. However, we came to the conclusion that anything worthwhile is rented.
Nikolic penned. Epstein maintained contact with scholars Among them was Laurence Krauss, a cosmologist and theoretical physicist. In 2017, Krauss emailed Epstein to ask for guidance on how to handle a reporter's story about allegations of sexual harassment. "Is this a sensible answer? Do I even need to reply? "Could use some guidance," Krauss said to Epstein.
In a direct conversation, Epstein questioned Krauss about having sex with the subject before advising him not to respond to the reporter. "No. There was no sex between us. Krauss, who has previously refuted all claims of sexual harassment and assault, said, "Decided it wasn't a good idea."
In an August 2015 email discussion, Epstein joked that he had previously had to send an aircraft for another "lefty friend" to see a doctor in New York and advised renowned linguist and social scientist Chomsky to only travel to Greece if he felt healthy.
Epstein offered Chomsky access to his homes during the same conversation, which veered into scholarly debates on warning indicators of currency collapses, behavioural science models, and Big Data.
"you are of course welcome to use apt in new york with your new leisure time, or visit new Mexico again," Epstein stated. Additionally, the emails reveal that Epstein had a cordial relationship with Larry Summers, the former president of Harvard University and Treasury Secretary under President Bill Clinton, with whom he joked about Trump and the 2016 presidential contest.
A closer relationship was evident in other communications. Summers wrote to Epstein in 2019 about his encounters with a woman, saying, "I said what are you up to." "I'm busy," she said. I remarked, "You are really coy."
Epstein responded, "you reacted well.. annoyed shows caring. , no whining showed strentgh." In a statement, Summers said he has "great regrets in my life."
"As I have said before, my association with Jeffrey Epstein was a major error of judgement," the statement continued. Requests for comment submitted to Chomsky, Thiel, Bannon, Krauss, and Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem via email addresses accessible on their own or their organizations' websites were not immediately answered.
