Epstein appeared to offer political advice on how to deal with Trump in 2018: emails

Jeffrey Epstein, already a convicted sex offender, was still actively marketing his political and financial acumen to major players on the international stage in 2018, according to messages in the trove of records released by the House Oversight Committee this week.

Epstein appeared to welcome that influence-bearing role, even presenting himself as a guru on how world leaders should handle then-newly elected President Donald Trump. Epstein even boasted that he advised a top Russian diplomat on Trump’s psyche.

Months later, Epstein would be arrested on sex trafficking charges.

“I think I could suggest to Putin that Lavrov can get information by talking to me,” Epstein said in a typo-riddled email to then Council of Europe Secretary-General Thørbjorn Jagland on June 24, 2018. “Vitaly Churkin used to do it, but he died.” he added, referring to Russia’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

“I will meet with Lavrov’s assistant on Monday and suggest something,” Jagland responded. “Thanks for [sic] a lovely evening. I will come for a high-level week.”

“Churkin was great,” Epstein told Jagland. “He understood Trump after our conversations. It’s not complex. You have to see that he understands something. It’s that simple.”

In January 2013, the then president of the Maldives, Mohamed Waheed Hassan, already in correspondence with Epstein, asked him for financial guidance.

“Jeffrey, I need your advice,” Hassan said. “My Finance Minister tells me that he has an anonymous fund manager who is willing to deposit $4 billion in the Maldives and who is willing to lend a percentage of that in exchange for government promissory notes,” he said, going on to describe what he worried was an incomplete deal.

“What do you think I should do? I feel very uncomfortable. In addition to the Minister of Finance, behind this is a prominent politician and leader of the coalition parliamentary group. He could be my main candidate for the presidency. Does all this seem ridiculous to you? I have a strange feeling about this whole matter,” Hassan continued. The note ends with “Sent from the president’s iPad.”

“It’s a scam,” Epstein responded and then detailed the reasons why Hassan should abandon the proposal.

In an exchange from January 2017, seven days after Trump’s inauguration, Epstein reaches out to someone who will be hobnobbing with influential politicians and businessmen in Washington, D.C., the next day, and wants his advice.

“I’m watching BG tmr. He’ll be in DC for the Alfalfa dinner, but he has meetings most of the day, including Jared Kushner. Should I ask him to talk about the surgeon general or mention him or wait? I’m not sure Kushner cares about that stuff,” asked the person, whose identity is redacted.

“Kushner doesn’t care,” Epstein responded. The person responded, “K will wait.”

“Ask him if he’ll see Tom Barrack, that’s the most important thing,” Epstein said. “He’s free to call me for intramural baseball.”

Tom Barrack, a billionaire real estate investor, was a longtime Trump ally and a visible part of the campaign, chairing the inaugural committee that raised more than $100 million.

In 2021, Barrack was charged with acting as a foreign agent for allegedly attempting to use his influence with the new president on behalf of the United Arab Emirates. He was finally declared innocent.

Later in their conversation, Epstein said that “Bill met my friend Kathy Ruemmler, Obama’s lawyer for five years. She would love to sit down with Melinda and show her the other side of Jeffrey.”

“I can try it, it won’t hurt me,” the person responded.

“Hillary loves Kathy and so does Obama. She is an arch-feminist and my biggest supporter,” Epstein said.

“I’m not sure individuals can influence it once impressions have been made. But I’ll try,” the person said. “I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think he would be willing to talk to her about it.”

Epstein was also in fairly regular contact with Steve Bannon, Trump’s longtime adviser and former chief White House strategist, and referred to him in emails as a friend.

In a December 2018 conversation, Epstein weighed in on President Trump’s Cabinet picks.

“Mnuchin is fine,” Epstein said, referring to then-Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “It’s simple, 15 years ago. Nursing homes understood that the Internet was like telephones. Just connections, then my nerds taught them that. [sic] Cyber ​​is a weapon, the same goes for the feds… it is a weapon that must be used with sophistication.”

“Can you get rid of Powell or really get rid of Mnuchin?” Bannon said, referring to Jerome Powell, whom Trump had chosen to serve as chairman of the Federal Reserve.

“Getting rid of Powell is much more important than Syria and Mattis,” Epstein responded, referring to then-Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. “I guess Pompeo, there’s only one left,” he said, referring to then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. “Unless Ambassador Heather has a brilliant idea. – a first… jared and ivanka, you have to go!!!” Epstein added, referring to Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner and his daughter Ivanka Trump.

in a In a March 2018 exchange, Bannon sent Epstein a headline that read: “German media confesses to underestimating Steve Bannon; he’s ‘as dangerous as ever.'”

Bannon sent it with the message: “The Germans get it.”

“I love it,” Epstein responded, to which Bannon said, “Pretty powerful.”

“Unfortunately, I just spoke with one of the leaders of the countries we discussed, I will fly there tomorrow.” [sic] night occasionally to new york on wednesday night. I’m sorry. We will be in New York on Thursday and Friday,” Epstein told Bannon. “We should establish a strategic plan. . How fun… travel safely.”