Raskin argues Epstein emails show lobbying on behalf of foreign governments

Emails from Jeffrey Epstein to world leaders indicate he should have registered as a foreign agent, House Judiciary Democrats argue, including messages showing he sought to capitalize on his relationship to President Trump.

In a letter to top Trump administration officials, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said the communications from the deceased sex offender that have been publicly released show significant conversations that raise “serious questions about the extent to which he wielded his ties to President Trump in dealings with foreign governments.”

Epstein has long come under fire for his significant foreign ties and has been trailed by conspiracy theories he was a spy, accusations Vice President Vance referenced last week in telling podcaster Joe Rogan that the financier surely must have had connections to American and Israeli intelligence at the highest levels. 

The letter from Raskin makes no such claim but argues that even if unpaid, the work performed by Epstein would have required registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as required of all who lobby on behalf of foreign governments.

“We find substantial evidence that Mr. Epstein acted to advance the interests of the governments of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait; advised the government of Russia on how to shape its dealings with President Trump; worked as an ongoing consultant for Ehud Barak, the former Prime Minister of the government of Israel; and repeatedly capitalized on his long-term friendship with President Donald Trump to sign up business from these and other foreign governments and actors in the aftermath of President Trump’s first........

© The Hill