Raskin argues Epstein emails show lobbying on behalf of foreign governments

Emails from Jeffrey Epstein to world leaders indicate he should have registered as a foreign agent, House Judiciary Democrats argue, including messages showing he sought to capitalize on his relationship to President Trump.

In a letter to top Trump administration officials, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said the communications from the deceased sex offender that have been publicly released show significant conversations that raise 'serious questions about the extent to which he wielded his ties to President Trump in dealings with foreign governments.'

Epstein has long come under fire for his significant foreign ties and has been trailed by conspiracy theories he was a spy, accusations Vice President Vance referenced last week in telling podcaster Joe Rogan that the financier surely must have had connections to American and Israeli intelligence at the highest levels.

The letter from Raskin makes no such claim but argues that even if unpaid, the work performed by Epstein would have required registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as required of all who lobby on behalf of foreign governments.

'We find substantial evidence that Mr. Epstein acted to advance the interests of the governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; advised the government of Russia on how to shape its dealings with President Trump; worked as an ongoing consultant for Ehud Barak, the former Prime Minister of the government of Israel; and repeatedly capitalized on his long-term friendship with President Donald Trump to sign up business from these and other foreign governments and actors in the aftermath of President Trump's first election, without ever registering as a foreign agent,' Raskin wrote.

'Notoriously sparing with his (typo-ridden) words, Mr. Epstein did not set forth his plans and interactions with foreign dignitaries and state actors in detail. ...But our examination of available evidence has already revealed damning indications of Mr. Epstein's activities on behalf of foreign states.'

The letter asks the Justice Department (DOJ) to turn over files referencing Epstein and a number of countries as well as whether DOJ ever launched a FARA investigation into the financier and 'and if not, on what basis the DOJ declined to initiate such investigations.'

DOJ did not respond to request for comment.

In exchanges over Saudi matters, Epstein sought to ferry a message to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman saying he was happy to become a 'financial confidant' to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), writing 'whatever entity suits you . . .I am happy to represent KSA interests.'

The committee has no response from bin Salmon, only an email from Epstein in which he said he had received numerous gifts from the prince — 'carpets and all' — and told his assistant the Saudis' would be arranging his accommodations.

In other emails, Epstein boasted of helping Russian figures approach Trump, in one case writing that Russia's United Nations Representative, Vitaly Churkin, saying the leader 'understood trump after our conversations. it is not complex. he must be seen to get something its that simple.'

Before a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump, Epstein wrote to Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland, telling him, 'I think you might suggest to putin, that [Russian Foreign Minister Sergey] lavrov, can get insight on talking to me.'

Another exchange with a figure whose email is fully redacted also seems to indicate Epstein was communicating with Kuwait officials, with the sender asking for advice on 'how to communicate with him' and Epstein asking what they were hoping to gain from the U.S.

'[A] good word about the Amir's effort to host the yemen peace talk will be great, i think..and if peace agreement was signed in kuwait that would be [thumbs-up emojis],' the sender replied.

The letter also details Epstein's work for Israel, a relationship largely focused on navigating dealings with Russia, though Raskin said Epstein also 'funneled information about U.S. officials to [former Israeli President] Mr. [Ehud] Barak, [and] advised on strategy to lobby the Obama Administration to take a harder stance toward Iran and Syria.'

Beyond his entanglements with foreign leaders, Raskin accuses Epstein of benefitting from his close friendship with Trump, noting that numerous people wrote to the financier asking for help securing a political appointment and that he frequently was in touch with former White House advisor Steve Bannon.

'The tenor of the emails clearly indicates he possessed influence in the Trump world,' Raskin wrote, pointing to one email in which Epstein wrote to Bannon referencing he just spoke to 'one of the country leaders that we discussed,' adding, 'we should lay out a strategy plan.'

'Given the information Mr. Epstein possessed about President Trump and his easy access to high-level officials in the President's inner circle, Mr. Epstein's relationships with foreign leaders, including adversaries, posed a major national security liability,' Raskin wrote.

'These messages raise many questions about the full extent of Jeffrey Epstein's interactions with foreign governments and what information he may have fed to foreign powers about the President.'