The latest batch from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s e-mails illustrates the extraordinary scope of his contacts with powerful people, ranging from a top Trump adviser to Britain’s ex-prince Andrew.
The US House of Representatives is expected to vote this week on trying to force release of evidence gathered on Epstein by law enforcement over the years — including the identities of the men suspected of participating in his alleged sex trafficking ring.
However, a slew of e-mails released this week have already opened new windows to the extent of Epstein’s network.
Photo: AFP
These include multiple references to US President Donald Trump, who is calling the push for more transparency a “hoax” — while simultaneously demanding a probe of Epstein’s links to others, including former US president Bill Clinton.
Documents already released by Democrats in US Congress include e-mail exchanges running from 2009 to 2019, when Epstein died in detention while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide.
These are just three of the prominent men — and one woman — found in the e-mail threads.
One exchange in the typo-strewn e-mails confirms that contact between Epstein and Andrew, who was stripped of his royal title last month, did not definitively end in late 2010, as his brother King Charles III has stated.
As late as March 4, 2011, Epstein wrote to Andrew with several questions addressed to long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking after Epstein’s death.
“Please make sure that every statement or legal letter states clearly that I am NOT involved and that I knew and know NOTHING about any of these allegations. I can’t take any more of this my end,” Andrew wrote.
Two days later Epstein wrote back: “you ok? these stories are complete and utter fantasy.”
Epstein had a long e-mail correspondence in 2018 with Steve Bannon, an adviser to Trump in his first term and a chief ideologue of the hard-right “Make America Great Again” movement.
In July 2018, Epstein suggested he help Bannon spread his far-right ideas in Europe.
Epstein: “It’s doable, but time consuming, there are many leaders of countries we can organize for you to have one on ones.”
“Agree 100% How do I do that???” Bannon asked.
“We can talk about at your convenience,” Epstein said.
“How is life among the lucrative and louche?” asked Larry Summers, who served as treasury secretary under former US president Barack Obama, in an e-mail to Epstein on Oct. 27, 2017, during Trump’s first term.
“When we meet I will endeavor to mesmerize you with stories of D.C. so wild !!!” Epstein replied.
Epstein asked what people attending a conference with Summers think of Trump.
“Hard to tell. General view Donald is a clown, increasingly dangerous on foreign policy,” Summers said.
Epstein in December 2018: “trump — borderline insane.”
Epstein also traded e-mails with Kathryn Ruemmler, a lawyer who served as an adviser to Obama until 2014. Their exchange began that year and ran until 2019.
“I am about to go on stage. The first part of my presentation is about Trump,” Ruemmler wrote in May 2016.
“Con man, says it all,” Epstein replied.
In August 2018 he wrote to her: “I know how dirty donald is. my guess is that non lawyers ny biz people have no idea.”
That December Epstein wrote: “you might want to tell your dem friends that treating trump like a mafia don, ignores the fact that he has great dangerous power.”
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