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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak issued a public apology Thursday for his years-long association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, addressing revelations from recently released U.S. Justice Department documents that detail their extensive correspondence and multiple meetings.
“I am responsible for all my actions and decisions, and there is definitely room to ask if there wasn’t room for more in-depth judgment on my part and a more thorough examination of what the details really are,” Barak said in an exclusive interview with Israel’s Channel 12.
The former Israeli leader, who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2001 and later as defense minister, apologized to those “who feel deeply uncomfortable” about his association with Epstein. While Barak has not been implicated in any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s crimes and faces no accusations of misconduct, the newly released documents reveal a relationship that continued even after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl.
The Justice Department documents show regular correspondence between Barak, his wife Nili, and Epstein spanning several years. These communications include arrangements for stays at Epstein’s Manhattan residence, meetings, phone calls, and social gatherings. In one 2013 email, Epstein’s assistant coordinated a dinner including Barak, his wife, and several celebrities, including Woody Allen.
Barak acknowledged visiting Epstein “numerous times,” flying on his private jet, and staying at his New York apartment when out of public office. He also confirmed that he, along with his wife and security personnel, made a three-hour visit to Epstein’s property in the U.S. Virgin Islands, though he claimed to have encountered only Epstein and maintenance staff during that visit.
The former prime minister is among several high-profile political, business, and cultural figures shown to have maintained relationships with Epstein even after his initial conviction. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while in detention awaiting trial on federal charges of sexually abusing and trafficking dozens of underage girls.
Barak has insisted that he never observed or participated in any inappropriate behavior. He said he was aware of Epstein’s earlier legal troubles but believed the financier had paid his debt to society following the 2008 conviction.
“Only in 2019, when a reinvestigation of the whole story begins, does the breadth and depth of the man’s heinous crimes become apparent and I cut off relations with him, and everyone cuts off relations with him,” Barak explained in the interview.
Barak’s connections to Epstein initially surfaced in 2016 when he launched an unsuccessful political comeback aimed at unseating then-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. At that time, U.S. tax records revealed Barak had received approximately $2 million in grants for unspecified “research” from the Wexner Foundation, where Epstein served as a trustee. Barak downplayed these financial connections when they first emerged, stating that Epstein “didn’t support me or pay me.”
The newly released documents also reveal that Epstein facilitated connections between Barak and Steve Bannon, former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, who was reportedly seeking greater involvement in Israeli politics. Emails from 2018 describe Epstein arranging dinners or meetings between the two men. Bannon has not been implicated in any wrongdoing related to Epstein.
Just a week before Epstein’s 2019 arrest, an exchange between Epstein and an unidentified person shows Epstein commenting that he was “dealing with Ehud in Israel. Making me crazy.”
In Thursday’s interview, Barak acknowledged that more information might surface as additional documents are examined but maintained his innocence. “I promise you that nothing will be discovered, because there is nothing,” he said.
The documents are being reviewed by a consortium of news organizations including the Associated Press, CBS, NBC, MS NOW, and CNBC, who are collaborating to examine the files while each producing independent coverage of their contents.
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7 Comments
This is a concerning revelation about Barak’s long association with Epstein. While he hasn’t been implicated in wrongdoing, the extensive correspondence and meetings raise questions about the nature of their relationship. It’s good he’s acknowledging the need for more scrutiny around this.
It’s troubling to see the extent of the relationship between a former Israeli PM and a convicted sex offender like Epstein. While the details are still emerging, Barak’s acknowledgment of the need for more scrutiny is a reasonable first step.
The revelations about Barak’s long-standing ties to Epstein are certainly unsettling, even if he has not been implicated in wrongdoing. His apology suggests an awareness that maintaining such a relationship, especially after Epstein’s conviction, was a questionable decision.
Agreed. Barak’s acknowledgment of the need for more thorough examination of the details is prudent, given the gravity of the situation.
Barak’s apology for the ‘deeply uncomfortable’ association with Epstein seems appropriate given the severity of Epstein’s crimes. Though not accused of misconduct himself, Barak’s judgment in maintaining ties appears questionable in hindsight.
Agreed. Even if Barak was not directly involved, his continued interactions with Epstein after the latter’s conviction raise ethical concerns that warrant further examination.
This is a complex and concerning situation. While Barak has not been accused of misconduct, the extent of his relationship with Epstein, even after the latter’s conviction, raises serious questions about Barak’s judgment and the nature of their interactions.