MURTAZA HUSSAIN, [email protected], MazMHussain
Hussain, Ryan Grim and other reporters at Drop Site News have recently written a series of pieces on Jeffrey Epstein and Israel including “‘Ask Jeffrey’: Epstein Ran Wexner’s Pro-Israel Philanthropy Machine, Emails Reveal.”
The latest is “The Israeli Government Installed and Maintained Security System at Epstein Apartment,” which states: “The Israeli government installed security equipment and controlled access to a Manhattan apartment building managed by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to a set of emails recently released by the Department of Justice. The equipment was installed starting in early 2016 at 301 E. 66th Street — the residence where former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak frequently stayed for stretches at a time.
“The security operation at ‘Ehud’s apartment’ was in place for at least two years, emails from the DOJ disclosure show, with officials from the Israeli permanent mission to the United Nations corresponding regularly with Epstein’s staff regarding security. The apartment was technically owned by a company connected to Epstein’s brother, Mark Epstein, but was effectively controlled by Jeffrey Epstein. Units in the building were frequently loaned out to Epstein’s contacts and used to house underage models.
“Rafi Shlomo, then-director of protective service at the Israeli mission to the United Nations in New York and head of Barak’s security, corresponded with Epstein employees to arrange meetings to discuss security and coordinate installation of specialized surveillance equipment at the 66th Street residence. Shlomo personally controlled access to the apartment for guests and even conducted background checks on cleaners and Epstein’s employees.”
Drop Site News also reports: “Wexner says DOJ and FBI never questioned him over Epstein ties: Billionaire retail executive Les Wexner told lawmakers during a congressional deposition at his Ohio mansion that he was never interviewed by the Department of Justice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation about his decades-long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, according to Rep. Robert Garcia and Rep. Yassamin Ansari. Wexner, 88, maintained in his opening statement before the committee that he was ‘duped’ by Epstein, denied knowledge of criminal activity, and said he cut ties in 2007. The lawmakers said during his testimony that he claimed federal authorities never sought to question him during any prior Epstein investigation, even though he provided the financier with roughly $1 billion in financial support. Ansari called the failure to probe him ‘completely inconceivable’ and likened it to one of the largest coverups in history.”
See prior IPA news releases on Epstein.