Leaked Emails Show Epstein Maintained Elite Ties After Sex Crime Conviction/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Thousands of emails released by Congress reveal that Jeffrey Epstein continued to engage with powerful political, academic, and business elites long after his 2008 sex crime conviction. The documents show he gave advice, made introductions, and stayed socially active across global circles. While the messages don’t implicate his contacts in criminal activity, they highlight his lasting influence.
Epstein’s Elite Ties Revealed: Quick Looks
- House Oversight Committee releases thousands of Epstein emails
- Epstein maintained contact with high-profile figures after conviction
- Emails span 2009 to months before 2019 arrest
- Notable contacts include Steve Bannon, Noam Chomsky, Peter Thiel
- Correspondents sought advice, introductions, and support
- Epstein commented on politics, foreign affairs, and media
- No criminal conduct confirmed among email recipients
- Documents reignite scrutiny of Epstein’s vast social reach
Leaked Emails Show Epstein Maintained Elite Ties After Sex Crime Conviction
Deep Look
WASHINGTON (AP)- Despite being a registered sex offender after his 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from an underage girl, Jeffrey Epstein remained tightly woven into elite global networks for over a decade. A trove of emails released by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday paints a startling picture of Epstein’s enduring access to powerful political insiders, global business leaders, and academic thinkers — even as legal scrutiny around him intensified.
The thousands of newly disclosed emails span from 2009, shortly after Epstein served time in Florida, to the months leading up to his 2019 arrest on federal sex trafficking charges. Epstein died by suicide in jail shortly after that arrest.
The emails don’t implicate the high-profile recipients in any of Epstein’s crimes. But they do offer a window into how frequently Epstein communicated with people across the political spectrum — and how easily many remained in his orbit even after his conviction became public.
A Political and Intellectual Web
Epstein’s outreach covered a wide range of political ideologies. He corresponded frequently with figures such as Steve Bannon, a former strategist for Donald Trump, and Noam Chomsky, the well-known liberal academic. In 2018, Epstein even offered political strategy advice to Bannon while Bannon was touring Europe. One message from Epstein said, “We should lay out a strategy plan. . how much fun.”
In stark contrast, Epstein also exchanged criticisms of Trump in conversations with Kathryn Ruemmler, former White House counsel under President Barack Obama. In one email, Ruemmler called Trump “so gross,” to which Epstein replied: “Worse in real life and up close.”
Other emails with Ruemmler show Epstein referring to meetings with ambassadors, business magnates, and foreign dignitaries, describing an active and influential social calendar.
Epstein’s Reach Into the Business World
Epstein also maintained connections with major figures in finance and tech. One 2014 email shows him chatting with Silicon Valley investor Peter Thiel, and later inviting him to visit Epstein’s Caribbean property. It’s unclear whether Thiel responded.
In 2018, Epstein messaged Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, a powerful Emirati businessman, to praise Bannon.
Sulayem responded, “Trump doesn’t like him,” highlighting the complex triangulation of relationships Epstein navigated.
In a separate 2010 exchange, Epstein emailed biotech investor Boris Nikolic during the Davos World Economic Forum. Nikolic responded with tales of meeting Bill Clinton, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and Prince Andrew, adding flirtatious details about a 22-year-old woman he encountered. Epstein’s reply included a lewd joke about relationships, reflecting the tone of some of their exchanges.
Connections to Academia and Science
Epstein’s ties to academia were equally robust. He was frequently in touch with renowned thinkers, including Laurence Krauss, a physicist facing sexual harassment allegations in 2017. Krauss asked Epstein for advice on how to respond to a reporter. In one exchange, Epstein asked if Krauss had slept with the accuser. Krauss replied, “No. We didn’t have sex. Decided it wasn’t a good idea.”
Epstein also maintained contact with Noam Chomsky, offering access to his apartments in New York and New Mexico and joking about flying another “lefty friend” to New York for medical care. Their conversations touched on economics, behavioral science, and global finance.
Another notable name in the email dump is Larry Summers, the former Harvard University president and Treasury Secretary under Bill Clinton. Summers engaged in banter with Epstein, discussing women and political gossip. In 2019, Summers wrote about a woman he met, and Epstein responded with encouragement that included, “no whining showed strength.”
Summers later issued a public statement, calling his relationship with Epstein “a major error of judgment.”
No Legal Charges, but Ongoing Fallout
While none of the individuals mentioned in the emails have been charged in relation to Epstein’s crimes, the documents show that many maintained relationships with him well after his conviction was public knowledge. For some, the emails reflect social, professional, or intellectual exchanges. For others, the correspondence carries uncomfortable questions about why they remained connected to a convicted sex offender.
The Epstein saga, already surrounded by conspiracy theories, continues to prompt investigations, including one in New Mexico regarding activities at his secluded desert ranch. Meanwhile, calls for deeper transparency into his connections persist.
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