The Epstein Case and Foreign Influence

On The Jeffrey Epstein Theories and the Right-wing Influencers Promoting Them

With the ongoing discussion surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein case, this AG report focuses on foreign influence operations and related information about individuals promoting associated theories on the right.

It has become widely accepted—almost as fact rather than theory or conspiracy—among many right-wing influencers that Jeffrey Epstein was an intelligence asset, likely working for a foreign intelligence service.

But what evidence supports this claim?

Direct Evidence:

- In 2019, The Daily Beast published an anonymously sourced quote suggesting that during Alex Acosta’s vetting for the Trump administration, he claimed he gave Jeffrey Epstein a lenient deal in the original criminal case because he was told to “back off” as Epstein “belonged to intelligence.”

Notably, when asked specifically about that, Acosta denied having any knowledge of Epstein being an intelligence asset when he was interviewed by OPR during their investigation into him, which concluded he exercised “poor judgment” during the prosecution of the Epstein case. That same OPR report also concluded there was no evidence that Epstein was an intelligence asset or a government informant.

Vicky Ward, the author of the Daily Beast article and one of the main people who has focused on covering Epstein over the last decade, does not believe he was working for any particular government.

- A 2001 Evening Standard article reported that Epstein “once claimed to work for the CIA, although he now denies it.”

- Juliette Bryant, an alleged Epstein victim, has claimed that he told her he worked with the CIA.

Indirect Evidence: