Deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had scheduled multiple meetings with conservative financial operatives, including billionaire Peter Thiel and real-estate mogul Thomas Barrack, in the lead-up to the 2016 election, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. Epstein, known for his connections in politics, industry, and society, was involved in a sex trafficking ring that exploited underage girls. In 2008, he used his connections to secure a non-prosecution deal when faced with charges related to procuring underage girls for sex work. Epstein died in jail in 2019 after being arrested again on sex trafficking charges.
According to documents and calendars reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Epstein attempted to arrange meetings between Thiel, Barrack, and former Russian United Nations Ambassador Vitaly Churkin in 2016. Other notable figures identified in Epstein’s calendar include CIA director William Burns and scholar Noam Chomsky. At the time of these meetings, both Thiel and Barrack were prominent supporters of then-candidate Donald Trump. However, the documents reviewed by the Journal do not indicate any conversations between Epstein and Trump.
Thiel stated that he had been “naive” and had not considered Epstein’s agenda when he agreed to the meeting, adding that he had previously declined meetings with Epstein and only took this one because he was referred by a friend. Barrack declined to comment on the matter.
The Journal also revealed that between 2014 and 2016, Thiel had multiple meetings with Epstein at his New York home. Barrack, who had a longstanding relationship with Epstein, attended lunches at Epstein’s townhouse. Other guests included filmmaker Woody Allen and former Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler.
Epstein’s extensive network included notable individuals such as Prince Andrew, former President Bill Clinton, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bill Cosby, Rupert Murdoch, former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and John Kerry, and former President Donald Trump. Trump, in a recent interview, referred to Epstein as a “fixture in Palm Beach” and claimed to have distanced himself from him, stating that he had not spoken to Epstein in over a decade. A spokesperson for Trump also mentioned that Epstein had been banned from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
While Epstein is deceased, his longtime associate and partner Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy, and transportation of a minor with the intent to engage in illegal sexual activity. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
Author: Ryan Scott
Just a guy
