Leaked emails reveal Epstein’s central role in pro-Israel causes in US

Newly leaked emails have revealed that Jeffrey Epstein, long known for his criminal exploits, played a far more central role in billionaire Leslie Wexner’s financial empire than previously acknowledged, directly influencing millions of dollars channeled to Israel-linked causes in the United States.

Between 2003 and 2018, the Wexner Foundation, one of the most powerful pro-Israel financial organizations in the US, donated over $128 million to various Jewish and Israeli causes, ranking it the third-largest donor during that period.

Although the foundation had previously claimed Epstein had “no meaningful role” in its finances, emails obtained by the whistleblower nonprofit Distributed Denial of Secrets, via Drop Site News, contradict that assertion.

The emails, spanning 2005 to 2008, show Epstein acting as de facto chief financial officer for both the Wexner family office and the foundation, making decisions on taxes, lines of credit, large fund transfers, and politically sensitive grants.

Many communications were routed through Darren Indyke, Epstein’s personal lawyer and executor of his estate, who functioned as a “middleman,” shielding Epstein’s influence under attorney-client privilege.

Internal correspondence revealed Epstein’s control over the allocation of funds among Wexner family entities and the foundation, with the family’s financial controller routinely seeking Epstein’s approval before approving transfers, even after his supposed resignation as trustee in September 2007. 

Epstein’s involvement extended to Wexner’s broader pro-Israel initiatives, including funding college Hillels, birthright trips, and Harvard’s Wexner Israel Fellowship, which sponsored Israeli officials on full scholarships. 

Emails also revealed Epstein’s coordination with Wexner attorneys to execute large donations, including a $46 million transfer from Epstein-controlled entities to a new Wexner fund created for Abigail Koppel, named after her father, Yehuda Koppel, a figure linked to Israel’s founding military intelligence.

Despite Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea to soliciting a minor, correspondence indicated his continued discreet connection to Wexner’s business dealings, including outreach to global business leaders.

Epstein, Dershowitz, and the secret war to discredit Mearsheimer-Walt Israel lobby study

Jeffrey Epstein and Alan Dershowitz collaborated to discredit Mearsheimer and Walt’s 2006 Israel lobby study, revealing deep, covert Zionist influence and organized backlash.

The foundation has defended its work as guided by “pure Zionistic motivations”, claiming that Epstein’s involvement did not represent undue influence.

The emails also shed light on political entanglements in Israel, as former prime minister Ehud Barak received $2.3 million from the foundation for writing and advisory work, drawing scrutiny from right-wing politicians who sought to link Barak and Epstein to perceived foreign interference. 

The controversy reflects broader domestic battles over Israel’s political and philanthropic networks, with figures like Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Barak publicly disputing claims tied to Epstein. 

Epstein’s deep integration into Wexner’s financial operations underscores the intricate interplay of personal wealth, and political influence, challenging previous narratives of his role and highlighting the broader global reach of his connections. 

In 2019, shortly before Epstein’s death, Wexner characterized himself as a victim, acknowledging he had been “deceived” and that his trust in Epstein was “grossly misplaced,” a statement reflecting the tangled legacy of one of the most controversial figures in modern finance.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk