TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Lawyers for the late Jeffrey Epstein have formally demanded that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) release all records related to their alleged intelligence ties to the convicted sex offender.
According to a Washington Post report, as cited by Anadolu Agency on Monday, the legal team representing Epstein's estate has requested that the CIA and NSA disclose documents showing any potential operational ties, affiliations, or intelligence connections to Epstein.
The request, based on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), seeks documents that could reveal whether the NSA ever held any information related to Epstein, classified or unclassified.
The move reinforces long-standing allegations of Epstein's possible ties to the intelligence agencies.
When several parties used FOIA to ask the CIA about Epstein in 1999 and 2011, the agency responded that there was no evidence of any overt ties. The CIA also refused to confirm or deny the existence of classified material.
The NSA has also previously neither confirmed nor denied the existence of relevant documents, citing national security concerns and the protection of intelligence sources and methods.
Newly released documents shed new light on Epstein's interactions with former CIA Director William J. Burns.
In 2014, while serving as Deputy Secretary of State, Burns reportedly scheduled several meetings with Epstein, including a luncheon in Washington and a meeting at Epstein's New York residence.
Burns "deeply regrets ever meeting" with Epstein and stated that all contact ceased upon learning of Epstein's criminal conviction, according to a Burns spokesperson.
Burns, a career diplomat, became Director of Central Intelligence under President Joe Biden.
The U.S. Department of Justice's release of millions of Epstein-related documents three weeks ago included documents detailing the planning of meetings between Burns and Epstein.
Two of these documents appear to have occurred, and show Epstein sending text messages to Burns and recommending that others in his circle meet with him.
The meetings and correspondence occurred after Epstein pleaded guilty to prostitution-related charges in Florida in 2008, including solicitation of a minor under 18.
A spokesperson for Burns told the Guardian that the two men had "no relationship," and that Burns "did not know anything about him, other than that he was introduced as an expert in the financial services sector."
The spokesperson said Burns "deeply regrets ever meeting with him." Burns has never been accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein's crimes.
Burns has decades of diplomatic experience under both Republican and Democratic administrations. During his confirmation hearing for CIA director in 2021, even Trump-supporting Senator Lindsey Graham called him an "outstanding choice."
The first mention of Burns in the Epstein dossier dates to April 2013, when Epstein emailed Terje Rød-Larsen, a former Norwegian diplomat and architect of the 1992 Oslo Accords between Israel and Palestine. "lets set a meeimg [sic] with Bill burns in wash or ny."
There is no context in the email, or even a subject line.
Rød-Larsen resigned as head of the International Peace Institute in 2020, after it was revealed that he had received donations from foundations linked to Epstein, as well as personal loans from Epstein. He could not be reached for comment.
At the time, Burns was deputy secretary of state and a key negotiator with Iran under then-Secretary of State John Kerry.
In July 2013, Epstein sent a similar note to Rød-Larsen, apparently as a follow-up. “i suggst [sic] you reach out to Bill Burns and tell him you are there if he needs help. I’lI explain on phone.”
Epstein followed up the next day in an error-filled email. “I think John Kerry , might be busy for awhile. they will turn to Bill Burns who will need more help.”
The following month, Epstein emailed financier Peter Thiel—owner of the technology company Palantir, which has been accused of complicity in Israel’s genocide in Gaza. He claimed that Burns, along with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Rød-Larsen, “will all be at the house on june 1.”
It’s unclear what he meant. There’s no evidence Burns was present, and his spokesman said Burns did not attend the meeting.
In July, Epstein mentioned Burns again when he was invited to Russia by an official at the Russian central bank. “At some point I would love bill burns views on whether I should or not,” Epstein wrote to Rød-Larsen.
There is no evidence that Epstein or anyone else actually sought Burns's views at the time, and Burns's spokesperson said there was no correspondence.
The following month, the actual meeting took place.
Epstein's assistant emailed the financier on August 19th. "Bill Burns is in a meeting now ... his assistant will have him call you once he is out of the meeting."
Burns finally met with Epstein on August 21st at the D.C. office of Steptoe Law, a prominent law firm, for lunch, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal in a 2023 story about Epstein's calendar.
Epstein, then a convicted sex offender, had gone to the U.S. Treasury Department that morning, according to his calendar. There was no indication as to why. Later that afternoon, he met with Burns.
Burns's spokesperson said the subject of discussion concerned Burns's career advancement after leaving government. Ten days later, on September 1st, Epstein began texting Burns, following up on the meeting.
“Bill,” Epstein wrote, “Peter thiel will be with me 13,14 in ny . I think it would be nice for you to meet if convenient for you . There is an apt for you to use if you choose.”
In April 2014, Burns announced his retirement after 32 years in government. He was such a powerful figure in diplomacy that the New York Times, NPR, and other media outlets covered his decision to leave the government.
Read: Dalai Lama Denies Ever Meeting Jeffrey Epstein
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