2026-02-14T12:00:00-0500 / 哥伦比亚广播公司新闻
哥伦比亚广播公司新闻对司法部新公布的超过100条文本和电子邮件交流记录进行的分析显示，美国总统特朗普的长期密友、现任美国驻土耳其大使兼叙利亚特使托马斯·巴拉克在爱泼斯坦2008年因引诱未成年人罪被定罪后，多年来一直与他保持定期、密切的联系。
这些往来信件显示，这位环游世界的亿万富翁巴拉克与一群富有的有影响力人物一样，即便爱泼斯坦的犯罪史广为人知，仍与他保持社交联系。他们的关系甚至在巴拉克成为特朗普2016年竞选活动的大量筹款人、后来领导其就职委员会并频繁出现在白宫后，仍持续不断。
有时，爱泼斯坦似乎将巴拉克视为向特朗普传递信息的潜在渠道，尽管现有记录显示交流仅单向进行。没有迹象表明爱泼斯坦的信息被传递给特朗普，或特朗普通过巴拉克与爱泼斯坦沟通。
也没有证据表明巴拉克参与或知晓爱泼斯坦任何持续的犯罪行为。相反，这些信息记录了在爱泼斯坦试图重新融入精英社交和金融圈期间，两人持续的个人和专业联系。
交流内容包括私人住所邀请、外交家和投资者介绍，以及商业机会讨论。记录还显示，爱泼斯坦多次鼓励巴拉克使用加密通讯应用进行交流，而这些记录不在政府公布的文件范围内。
78岁的巴拉克是一家上市公司房地产投资信托基金的创始人兼前董事长，该基金在酒店和赌场行业拥有大量资产，并于2008年收购了迈克尔·杰克逊的梦幻庄园。他在政治界崭露头角，作为朋友唐纳德·特朗普2016年总统竞选的主要筹款人。选举后，巴拉克成为特朗普的亲密顾问，尤其在中东事务上。
他是特朗普核心圈中因与外国有牵连而受到特别检察官罗伯特·穆勒审查的几人之一，最终面临指控称他在白宫工作期间充当阿联酋的秘密渠道。2022年，陪审团宣告他无罪。巴拉克在特朗普的第二个任期内重返其圈子，接受了土耳其的关键外交职位。
巴拉克与爱泼斯坦最初相识的经过尚不清楚，但迈克尔·沃尔夫在其著作《火与怒》中描述特朗普、巴拉克和杰弗里·爱泼斯坦是”20世纪80至90年代的一群夜生活火枪手”。爱泼斯坦的电子邮件显示，巴拉克和爱泼斯坦都曾是沃尔夫著作的消息来源。特朗普称该书”充满谎言、歪曲和不存在的消息来源”。特朗普还表示，他多年前就与爱泼斯坦断绝了联系，并一直否认与爱泼斯坦有任何不当行为。
爱泼斯坦在佛罗里达州失势后，两人的友谊似乎并未因此受到阻碍。在他因涉及少女的性行为不当被指控后，这段友谊继续发展。2008年，他在一项协议中认罪，避免了联邦指控。
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自由新闻:[观看：爱泼斯坦录音带]
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2009年9月，就在爱泼斯坦从棕榈滩县监狱获释数月后，巴拉克写信给他：”想你了，希望你一切安好，生活重归平静”——这句话标志着两人长期联系的开始。在接下来的几年里，爱泼斯坦鼓励会面，并促成巴拉克与包括Palantir首席执行官彼得·蒂尔、以色列前总理埃胡德·巴拉克和俄罗斯常驻联合国代表维塔利·丘尔金在内的人士建立联系。
2016年总统竞选
2016年初，在特朗普意外赢得新罕布什尔州共和党初选后，巴拉克成为帮助塑造其”局外人”竞选白宫形象的核心圈内人士之一。
随着特朗普的势头增长，爱泼斯坦给朋友巴拉克发了一条问候信息，并提醒他们共同的过去：”希望你一切都好。照片看起来不错。顺便说一句，我每周都会接到很多关于唐纳德（[已编辑]，玛拉，选美比赛，马拉·拉戈等）和克林顿的电话。最近关于克林顿的电话少了一些，但我的回答总是’我没什么好说的’。或者我尽量完全不理会。有几次我在街上被突然问到问题，但现在我更谨慎了。”
巴拉克回复：”希望你一切都好。我们找个时间聚聚。”
爱泼斯坦随后索要巴拉克新生儿的照片，写道：”发你和孩子的照片。——让我开心一下。”
2016年4月，在巴拉克深度参与特朗普竞选活动期间，爱泼斯坦再次联系——这次是带着警告。他转发了一封关于一名使用化名”凯蒂·约翰逊”的女性刚刚提起的潜在不利诉讼的电子邮件。在民事诉讼中，她指控爱泼斯坦和特朗普在1994年对其实施了强奸。诉讼被撤回，特朗普否认了这些指控。
爱泼斯坦写道：”我觉得这个法律诉求很荒谬，但我想你们应该知道。”文件未显示巴拉克是否确认收到或回复了该电子邮件。
同年7月，巴拉克在共和党全国代表大会上获得了备受瞩目的发言位置，紧随伊万卡·特朗普之后。他在拥挤的会场发表了激动人心的演讲，称：”三十多年来，我近距离了解唐纳德，作为一位好朋友和商业伙伴，见证了他人生的起起落落。”
爱泼斯坦现在有了一位坚定置身于特朗普圈子内的朋友，这种友谊对双方都可能带来好处。这是爱泼斯坦多年来一直培养的关系。
巴拉克、爱泼斯坦与中东
爱泼斯坦和巴拉克在20世纪90年代纽约精英社交圈建立的友谊似乎延续到了新千年。
到21世纪初，爱泼斯坦和巴拉克都与中东有着密切的商业联系。根据司法部文件，爱泼斯坦经常前往中东，而巴拉克参与了多笔涉及中东政府的房地产交易。
新公布的司法部文件中最早提到巴拉克的是2002年汤姆·普里茨克（凯悦酒店执行董事长，爱泼斯坦的朋友）发给吉斯莱恩·麦克斯韦的电子邮件，其中普里茨克提到前一晚在墨西哥的一次晚餐上见到了巴拉克。同年晚些时候，文件记录了从爱泼斯坦纽约办公室寄给巴拉克的一个联邦快递包裹。
妮可·容克曼
爱泼斯坦与巴拉克的交流在他出狱一年后重新活跃起来。爱泼斯坦安排巴拉克与金融家、德国女伯爵妮可·容克曼建立联系，两人之间似乎形成了某种商业或个人关系。在随后的几个月里，爱泼斯坦成为两人之间的联络人，为双方提供帮助，并巩固他与巴拉克的友谊。
在一条交流链中，爱泼斯坦给巴拉克的助手发了一封邀请信，邀请其访问他在新墨西哥州的家，巴拉克似乎接受了，但几天后他的助手联系爱泼斯坦取消了行程。
在另一条信息中，爱泼斯坦给巴拉克发短信：”无论什么事，只要我能帮忙，我都会做。”
两周后，巴拉克给爱泼斯坦发了一封仅写着”我会的！！！太复杂了！我正处于一场该死的风暴中，不想让她暴露！！！抱歉。”
爱泼斯坦回复：”我明白，我永远支持你。祝你好运。”
巴拉克回应：”我也支持你！！！”
王室联系
2010年11月，爱泼斯坦为巴拉克提供了一次高层介绍。
“安德鲁王子这周将在纽约住在我这里，你想来的时候他会在吗？”他在电子邮件中问道。
目前尚不清楚这次会面是否发生。有照片显示爱泼斯坦在那周与安德鲁王子在中央公园散步。
同年夏天，爱泼斯坦邀请巴拉克到他在新墨西哥州的牧场参加另一个高层社交活动。
“苏丹这周会来牧场，你为什么不加入我们呢？”爱泼斯坦写道。
“苏丹”似乎是爱泼斯坦的密友、迪拜重要港口公司首席执行官苏丹·艾哈迈德·本·苏莱曼（本周因与爱泼斯坦的通信被罢免首席执行官）。巴拉克回复：”我希望我能去——替我给他一个拥抱。”
2011年8月，巴拉克给爱泼斯坦发电子邮件说：”刚见到苏丹，他很喜欢你！我告诉他你是最棒的，你是一个一流的头脑，也是一个一流的人！想你。”
六个月后的2012年1月，巴拉克给爱泼斯坦发电子邮件：”新年快乐。希望你一切都好。我有个想法，我们能谈谈吗？”这个想法似乎是将爱泼斯坦的纽约豪宅卖给卡塔尔首相谢赫哈马德·本·贾西姆·本·贾比尔·阿勒萨尼。爱泼斯坦和巴拉克安排谢赫和巴拉克几天后来看房，爱泼斯坦还准备了工作人员，包括要求他们取下墙上的”裸照”。
爱泼斯坦告诉一名姓名被编辑的员工穿上”高跟鞋”，并建议她告诉巴拉克，爱泼斯坦每天都感谢他”找到萨拉，是他帮我找到她的”。目前尚不清楚他指的是谁。
经过几个小时的延迟后，参观被取消。第二天，巴拉克告诉爱泼斯坦：”他看了你的房子。很喜欢，但卧室不够他住。”爱泼斯坦为自己的房子辩护，称其是曼哈顿最大的独栋住宅之一，卧室被改作其他用途：”健身房、办公室、音乐室，楼上有8间，楼下有3名工作人员。”
巴拉克回应：”他答应我，日程安排好后会再来看。希望你也在那里的时候。”这次会面是否发生尚不清楚，但同年晚些时候，这位卡塔尔领导人以4700万美元的价格购买了街对面的一栋房子。
爱泼斯坦在当年剩下的时间里继续试图与巴拉克当面联系，但显然没有成功。12月，爱泼斯坦转发了一封关于巴拉克公司Colony Capital的投资者电子邮件，并说”你就不能休息一下吗”。
巴拉克回复：”除非你雇我当你的管家。我的榜样怎么样？”同样，目前尚不清楚他指的是谁。
关系变化
爱泼斯坦与巴拉克的联系在2016年春天巴拉克将注意力转向总统竞选后有所减少。
7月22日，在巴拉克发表共和党全国代表大会演讲后，爱泼斯坦发电子邮件表示祝贺。巴拉克回复：”谢谢，朋友。”
一个月后，巴拉克给爱泼斯坦发短信：”见到你那位沙特朋友了！他很喜欢你！你怎么样——汤姆·巴拉克。”
爱泼斯坦回复：”很好……如果你还没下载，下载Signal应用。你今晚在纽约吗？和伍迪[艾伦]共进晚餐？”
“我在土耳其。周一回来。我会给你打电话。现在就下载，”他回复。
Signal是一款加密通讯应用，允许用户设置消息在选定时间后自动消失。
同一天，爱泼斯坦给俄罗斯常驻联合国代表维塔利·丘尔金发短信，邀请他到家中与巴拉克和前以色列总理埃胡德·巴拉克（爱泼斯坦的另一位亲密私人朋友和商业伙伴）会面。爱泼斯坦最近安排丘尔金的儿子马克西姆获得了美国金融公司Boothbay Fund Management的实习机会，丘尔金是爱泼斯坦家的常客。
8月29日的日程显示，爱泼斯坦有一项”与埃胡德·巴拉克、汤姆·巴拉克和维塔利·丘尔金共进午餐”的安排。
一个月后，巴拉克再次与爱泼斯坦、挪威外交官特耶·罗德-拉森会面，爱泼斯坦还邀请彼得·蒂尔加入通话。爱泼斯坦当天给巴拉克发电子邮件，提供了遗产规划建议。
会面安排的第二天，爱泼斯坦给巴拉克写信：”我喜欢蒂尔关于妇女和儿童的建议，每次你说拯救生命等等，我都会想到成千上万因你草率干预而死亡的妇女和儿童。”
第二天，爱泼斯坦购买了约100万美元的巴拉克创立的上市公司Colony Capital股票。
爱泼斯坦和巴拉克继续交换电子邮件，包括希拉里·克林顿竞选主席约翰·波德斯塔内部电子邮件泄露的链接。巴拉克分享了他为《财富》杂志撰写的专栏文章。爱泼斯坦发送了一封长篇电子邮件，分析特朗普在与克林顿辩论中的表现。
特朗普总统任期
根据飞行记录和一位与爱泼斯坦关系密切的消息人士称，2016年选举之夜，爱泼斯坦在沙特阿拉伯与沙特国王萨勒曼·本·阿卜杜勒阿齐兹·沙特会面时观看了计票结果。爱泼斯坦后来给一位朋友发电子邮件说，他带着一个帐篷（包括地毯）作为礼物回国。
11月9日，特朗普获胜的第二天，一位沙特高级官员给爱泼斯坦发短信询问：”你觉得国王在宣布结果后打电话给新总统表示祝贺怎么样？”爱泼斯坦回复：”汤姆·巴拉克是你的联络人。”
11月27日，纽约的一位商业伙伴给爱泼斯坦发邮件询问他的感恩节情况。爱泼斯坦回复：”非常有趣，我在棕榈滩和特朗普的人在一起。”他后来补充说，他和”巴拉克以及其他朋友在棕榈滩，非常疯狂”。
巴拉克在那个冬天被特朗普任命为其就职典礼负责人。1月，苏丹·本·苏莱曼给爱泼斯坦写信，询问是否应该接受巴拉克的邀请参加各种活动。据《纽约邮报》报道，苏莱曼参加了向武装部队致敬的舞会。
建立影响力
2017年3月，爱泼斯坦继续为爱泼斯坦为巴拉克充当联络人，分别建议比尔·盖茨和印度亿万富翁阿米特·安巴尼与巴拉克会面。爱泼斯坦当月联系巴拉克，建议他与安巴尼会面，并告知他印度总理将于5月访问美国。
在接下来的一年里，爱泼斯坦向几位与特朗普关系密切的人建议，总统应该考虑组建一个包括巴拉克在内的战争委员会，以应对俄罗斯调查的影响。
5月，由于穆勒调查带来的法律麻烦，爱泼斯坦给巴拉克推荐了一位律师：”希望你一切都好。请注意[实力雄厚的白领律师]里德·魏因加滕，如果你需要建议的话。”
巴拉克回复：”在老板的名单上，”可能指的是特朗普。
巴拉克与爱泼斯坦的交流在当年仍断断续续。6月8日，爱泼斯坦给巴拉克发电子邮件：”我在圣地亚哥。今天见面吗？周末来我的牧场？你看起来不错。”
巴拉克回复：”在华盛顿！会用Signal联系你。”
2018年初，在出版商准备发布沃尔夫的书时，爱泼斯坦给沃尔夫发邮件：”巴拉克一直找我，”第二天又说”巴拉克一直给我发短信”，询问他们是否被包括在书中。
如果他们在加密应用上继续交流，目前尚不清楚。这些通讯不在爱泼斯坦文件的公布范围内。
2018年11月11日，飞行记录显示巴拉克和爱泼斯坦各自乘坐私人飞机，在一小时内先后从泰特伯勒飞往棕榈滩。
哥伦比亚广播公司新闻已联系巴拉克、特朗普、容克曼、蒂尔和巴拉克寻求置评，截至发稿时未收到回复。
涉及人物：
- 汤姆·巴拉克
- 杰弗里·爱泼斯坦
Trump insider Tom Barrack kept in regular contact with Jeffrey Epstein for years, files show
2026-02-14T12:00:00-0500 / CBS News
President Trump’s longtime confidant Thomas Barrack, now serving as U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, was in regular, close contact with Jeffrey Epstein for years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, a CBS News analysis of over 100 texts and email exchanges from the newly released Justice Department documents shows.
The correspondence places Barrack, a globe-trotting billionaire, among a circle of wealthy and influential figures who maintained social contact with Epstein even as his criminal history became widely known. Their relationship continued even after Barrack became a prolific fundraiser for Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign, and later, led his inaugural committee and became a frequent presence in the White House.
At times, Epstein appeared to regard Barrack as a potential conduit for passing information to Mr. Trump, though available records show the communication going only in one direction. There’s no indication Epstein’s communications were passed on to Mr. Trump or that Mr. Trump communicated to Epstein through Barrack.
There’s also no evidence to suggest Barrack participated in or had knowledge of any ongoing criminal conduct by Epstein. Instead, the messages document continuing personal and professional contact during a period when Epstein was attempting to reestablish himself within elite social and financial circles.
The exchanges include invitations to private residences, introductions to diplomats and investors, and discussions of business opportunities. They also show Epstein repeatedly encouraged Barrack to move communications to encrypted messaging apps, records of which are not part of the government release.
Barrack, 78, is the founder and former chairman of a publicly-traded real estate investment trust that had vast holdings in the hotel and casino sectors and in 2008 bought Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. He rose to prominence in the political world as a leading fundraiser for his friend Donald Trump’s 2016 bid for president. After the election, Barrack became a close adviser to Mr. Trump, especially on matters in the Middle East.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy to Syria, in Damascus on Feb. 4, 2026. Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images
He was one of several in Mr. Trump’s inner circle to face scrutiny from special counsel Robert Mueller for his foreign entanglements, eventually facing charges on allegations he served as a back-channel for the United Arab Emirates while working inside the White House. A jury acquitted him in 2022. Barrack returned to Mr. Trump’s orbit for his second term, accepting a pivotal diplomatic post in Turkey.
How Barrack first met Epstein is unclear, but in the book “Fire and Fury,” Michael Wolff described Trump, Barrack and Jeffrey Epstein as “a 1980s and ’90s set of nightlife Musketeers.” Epstein’s emails indicate that both Barrack and Epstein had served as sources for Wolff’s book. Mr. Trump called the book “full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don’t exist.” Mr. Trump has also said he cut ties with Epstein years ago and has consistently denied any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
The Barrack-Epstein friendship appears to have continued undeterred by Epstein’s fall from grace in Florida, after he was charged for sexual misconduct involving teenage girls. In 2008, he pleaded guilty in a deal that let him avoid federal charges.
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The Free Press:[WATCH: The Epstein Tapes]
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In September 2009, just months after Epstein’s release from the Palm Beach County jail, Barrack wrote to him, “Thinking about u, hope u r good and life is calm again” — a sentiment that marked the beginning of an extended period of contact between the two. Over the following years Epstein encouraged meetings and facilitated introductions between Barrack and individuals including Palantir CEO Peter Thiel, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
2016 presidential campaign
In the early months of 2016, after Mr. Trump surprised the political world by winning the New Hampshire Republican primary, Barrack emerged as one of a select group of insiders helping to shape his outsider’s bid for the White House.
As the Trump momentum grew, Epstein emailed his friend Barrack a greeting and a reminder of their shared past, writing: “hope you are well. photos look good. fyi I receive many calls a week about both Donald ([redacted], marla, beauty contest. mara lago etc) and clinton from reporters. less so recently with clinton, but my answers are always i have nothing to say. or i try to ignore altogether. A few times i have been ambushed on the street with questions. but am more careful now[.]”
Barrack replied, “hope ur good. Let’s catch up.”
Epstein then asked for a photo of Barrack’s newborn baby, writing, “send photos of you and child. —make me smile[.]”
In April 2016, with Barrack deeply enmeshed in the Trump campaign, Epstein reached out again — this time with a warning. He forwarded an email about a potentially damaging lawsuit just filed by a woman using the pseudonym “Katie Johnson.” In the civil complaint, she alleged that Epstein and Trump raped her in 1994. The lawsuit was withdrawn, and Mr. Trump denied those accusations.
Epstein wrote that he considered the legal claim “nuts but i thought you guys should know[.]” The documents do not indicate if Barrack acknowledged or replied to the email.
That July, Barrack spoke at the Republican National Convention in a coveted spot, following Ivanka Trump. He gave a rousing speech, telling the packed arena, “For over three decades, I have seen Donald up close and personal, as a great pal and business partner, across the spectrum of life’s twists and turns.”
Epstein now had a friend solidly placed within Trump’s orbit and that friendship had the potential to benefit them both. It was a relationship that Epstein had been cultivating for years.
Barrack, Epstein and the Middle East
Epstein and Barrack’s camaraderie, established in the social world of the New York elite in the 1990’s, appears to have continued into the new millennium.
By the early 2000’s both Epstein and Barrack had strong business ties to the Middle East. Epstein frequently traveled there, according to DOJ documents, and Barrack was involved in multiple real estate deals involving Middle Eastern governments.
The earliest reference to Barrack in the newly released Justice Department files is a 2002 email from Tom Pritzker, executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels and a friend of Epstein, to Ghislaine Maxwell, in which Pritzker mentions he’d seen Barrack the previous evening at a dinner in Mexico. Later that year, the files record a FedEx package sent from Epstein’s New York office to Barrack.
Nicole Junkermann
Epstein’s communication with Barrack picks up about a year after his release from jail. Epstein arranges for Barrack to connect with the financier and German countess Nicole Junkermann, and it appears some sort of relationship, business or personal, takes shape. In the ensuing months Epstein becomes a liaison between the two, with Epstein proffering offerings of assistance to both parties while cultivating his friendship with Barrack.
In one chain, Epstein emailed Barrack’s assistant with an invitation to visit his home in New Mexico, it appears Barrack accepted but a few days later his assistant contacted Epstein and canceled.
In another, Epstein texted Barrack, “Whatever it is, if I can help, I will.”
Two weeks later Barrack sent Epstein an email that said only “I will!!! Complicated!! I have been in a [expletive] storm and didn’t want her exposed!!! Sorry.”
Epstein replied, “Understood , I am always there for you . Good luck.”
Barrack responded “And me for u!!!!”
Royal connections
In November 2010, Epstein offered Barrack a high-level introduction.
“Prince Andrew will be staying with me for the week in New York,, would you like him there when you come to visit?” he asked in an email.
It’s not clear if that visit happened. Epstein was photographed with Prince Andrew walking in Central Park that week.
That summer Epstein invited Barrack to his ranch in New Mexico for another high-level networking opportunity.
“Sultan will come to the ranch this week, why don’t you join us,” Epstein wrote.
“Sultan” appears to be Epstein confidant Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, a close associate of Epstein’s and prominent port company CEO from Dubai. (The Emirati dignitary was removed as CEO this week in reaction to his own correspondence with Epstein). Barrack responds, “I wish I could–give him a hug for me.”
In August 2011, Barrack emailed Epstein and said “just saw Sultan who likes you a lot! I told him you are the best that you are a first class brain inside of a first class human being! Miss u.”
Six months later, in January 2012, Barrack emailed Epstein: “H@ppy new year. Hope u r good. I have an idea can we talk.” That idea, it appears, was to sell Epstein’s New York mansion to the Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani. Epstein and Barrack made arrangements for the sheik and Barrack to come see it a few days later and Epstein prepared the staff, including asking them to remove “nude photos” from the wall.
Epstein told a staff member whose name is redacted to wear “heels” and suggested she tell Barrack that Epstein thanks him every day “for Sarah, he is how I found her.” It is unclear who he was referring to in the remark.
After a several hour delay, the visit was canceled. The next day Barrack told Epstein: “He saw ur house. Love it but not enough bedrooms for him.” Epstein defended his home’s size, one of the largest single-family homes in Manhattan, and said bedrooms were converted for other uses: “gym,office, music, there are 8 upstairs, and three staff down.”
Barrack responded: “He promised me he would see it again when his schedule clears. Hopefully when u are here.” It’s not clear if that meeting ever happened, but later that year the Qatari leader purchased a house across the street for $47 million.
Epstein continued to try and connect in person with Barrack for the rest of the year, apparently unsuccessfully. In December, Epstein forwards an investor email regarding Barrack’s company, Colony Capital, and says “dont you ever rest.”
Barrack responded, “Not until you hire me as ur butler. How is my role model?” Again, it’s unclear who he is referring to.
A changing relationship
Epstein’s communication with Barrack ebbed until spring of 2016, when Barrack’s focus shifted to the presidential campaign.
On July 22, following Barrack’s GOP convention speech, Epstein emailed to congratulate him. Barrack wrote back, “Thanks pal.”
The following month, Barrack texted Epstein: “Met ur Saudi friend! He loves U!! How r u–Tom Barrack[.]”
Epstein responded: “Great…Download signal app if you have not already. When are you in New York. Tonite? Dinner with Woody [Allen]?”
“I am in turkey. There Monday. I will call u. Will download now,” he replied.
Signal is an encrypted messaging application that allows users to set messages to automatically disappear after a chosen period of time.
That same day, Epstein texted Vitaly Churkin, then Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, and invited him to his house for a meeting with Barrack and Ehud Barak, the former prime minister of Israel, another close personal friend and business associate of Epstein. Epstein had recently arranged for Churkin’s son Maxim to obtain an internship with the U.S. finance company Boothbay Fund Management and Churkin was a frequent guest at Epstein’s house.
Epstein’s calendar for Aug. 29 includes a notation for “Lunch w/Ehud Barak, Tom Barrack and Vitaly Churkin.”
A month later, Barrack is again scheduled to meet with Epstein, along with the Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen, and Epstein also invited Peter Thiel to call in. Epstein sent an email to Barrack with advice on estate planning that day.
The day after the meeting was scheduled, Epstein wrote to Barrack: “I loved thiels suggestion regarding women and children, that everytime you say saving lives etc. I think of the tens of thousands of women and children that died as a direct result of your careless interventions.”
The day after that. Epstein purchased approximately $1 million in stock in Colony Capital, the publicly traded company founded by Barrack.
Epstein and Barrack continue to exchange emails, including links to recently leaked internal emails from Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign chairman, John Podesta. Barrack shares an op-ed he wrote for Fortune. Epstein sends a lengthy email with his analysis of Trump’s performance during his debate with Clinton.
Trump presidency
On election night in 2016, Epstein watched the results roll in from Saudi Arabia, where he was meeting with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, according to flight records and a source who was close to Epstein at that time. Epstein later emailed a friend that he returned home with a tent, complete with carpets, as a gift.
On Nov. 9, the day after Mr. Trump won the election, a senior Saudi official texted Epstein to ask, “What do you think if The King calls the new President to congratulate him after announcing the results? Epstein responds, “TOM barrack is your point person[.]”
On Nov. 27, a business associate in New York wrote to Epstein to ask about his Thanksgiving. Epstein responded: “really fun, im in palm [beach] with the trump crowd,” adding later to someone else that he was with “barrack and the boys in pb, wild wild.”
Barrack was appointed that winter by Mr. Trump to run his inauguration, and in January, Sultan bin Sulayem wrote Epstein and asked if he should accept Barrack’s invitation to various events. Sulayem attended the Salute to Our Armed Services Ball, according to the New York Post.
Building influence
In March 2017, Epstein continued to play the role of networker for Barrack, suggesting separately that Bill Gates and the Indian billionaire Amil Ambani meet with Barrack. Epstein reached out to Barrack that same month and suggested he meet with Ambani, and informed him that the prime minister of India would be visiting the U.S. in May.
Over the next year, Epstein made suggestions to several people close to Mr. Trump that the president should consider a war council, including Barrack, to deal with the fallout from the Russia investigation.
In May, with legal trouble bearing down on Barrack as a result of the Mueller probe, Epstein sent Barrack a recommendation for an attorney, writing: “hope you are well. please note [powerhouse white collar attorney] Reid Weingarten if you require advice.”
Barrack replied: “on the bosses list,” presumably referring to Mr. Trump.
Barrack’s communication with Epstein continued sporadically throughout that year. On June 8, Epstein emailed Barrack: “I’m in San Diego. Meet today? Come to my ranch weekend? You look well.”
Barrack responded “In DC! Will signal.”
In early January 2018, as the publisher prepared to release Wolff’s book, Epstein wrote to Wolff, “[B]arrack all over me,” and the next day, “[Barrack] keeps texting me” as he inquired about their inclusion in it.
If their conversation continued on the encrypted app, it’s unclear. Those communications were not part of the Epstein files release.
On Nov. 11, 2018, flight records show that Barrack and Epstein both flew from Teterboro to Palm Beach on their respective jets within an hour of each other.
CBS News has reached out to Barrack, Trump, Junkermann, Thiel and Barak for comment, and has not received responses as of publication.
In:
- Tom Barrack
- Jeffrey Epstein
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