Josh Harris and Jeffrey Epstein: Unveiling the Business Ties
Recent disclosures from the U.S. Department of Justice have brought to light a series of emails detailing an ongoing business relationship between Philadelphia 76ers co-owner Josh Harris and the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The released documents, part of the broader ‘Epstein Files,’ cover a period following Epstein’s 2008 conviction for solicitation of sex with a minor and before his 2019 arrest on child sex trafficking charges.
A Years-Long Correspondence
The emails reveal numerous phone calls and at least one documented visit to Epstein’s Manhattan home. While the records contain no indication of Harris’s involvement in any sexual misconduct, they shed light on a years-long correspondence within the circles of Wall Street financial brokers. Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management, engaged in multiple email and phone exchanges with Epstein between 2013 and 2016.
Attempts to Distance and Avoid Meetings
Jonathan Rosen, a spokesperson for Harris, stated that many of Epstein’s attempts to forge a deeper relationship were unsuccessful. Rosen emphasized that Harris “never had an independent relationship with Jeffrey Epstein” and actively sought to prevent Epstein from establishing a corporate connection with Apollo. According to Rosen, the emails demonstrate Harris’s efforts to avoid meetings with Epstein, often canceling them or delegating calls to others.
Documented Meetings and Financial Discussions
Earlier records, first reported by the Daily Pennsylvanian, detailed a meeting between Harris and Epstein. Newly released emails expand on this, revealing discussions about a potential meeting at Epstein’s home in October 2013, involving Apollo CEO Leon Black and billionaire Marc Rowan. An email from October 2013 confirmed the arrangement: “Just reconfirming Leon, Josh and Marc will all go see Jeffrey at his home…tomorrow, Tues. Oct. 22nd at 7am for a breakfast meeting.”
Rowan, a significant donor to the University of Pennsylvania and chair of the Wharton School’s advisory board, has not yet commented on the matter. It’s worth noting that Black previously paid Epstein $158 million for “financial advice,” a decision that ultimately led to his removal as head of Apollo.
Further Correspondence and Proposed Payments
The correspondence continued into 2014, with Epstein’s assistant requesting organizational documents from Harris. A June 2014 email detailed a proposed $2.4 million payment from Harris to Melanie Spinella, Black’s former executive assistant, though the details and whether the payment occurred remain unclear.
A Breakfast with Bill Gates and Others
Later in 2014, Epstein proposed another breakfast meeting at his home, inviting Harris, Black, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, tech investor Reid Hoffman, and Ron Baron, founder of Baron Capital. An email invitation described the event as “intimate…less than 6 people.”
Harris and Epstein discussed the meeting directly. Harris wrote to Epstein in November 2014, “Sorry i missed you…Whats this Bill Gates thing about? Tks for thinking about me.” Epstein responded, “I thought you might like to schmooze…nothing but fun friday 5th breakfast.” Emails suggest the meeting did take place, with Harris expressing his gratitude for the invitation.
Epstein’s Bragging and Continued Contact
Epstein even boasted about the breakfast meeting to Bank of America President Paul Morris in a typo-filled email in January 2015: “as you might know I had a recent breadkfst at the hosue with ron baron. josh harris, and billgates.”
The email exchanges continued sporadically until at least 2016. In that year, Robert Bodian, a managing partner at Mintz, contacted Epstein “at Josh’s request” regarding a tax issue. Epstein also directly emailed Harris in September 2016, requesting a call about an unspecified matter, writing, “Any conversation that you prefer to stay between just us. will. its my financial confessional booth for jews.” Harris responded positively, offering to catch up.
The Bigger Picture
These revelations add another layer to the ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s network and the individuals who interacted with him. The extent of Harris’s involvement remains a subject of public interest, as investigations continue to unfold. For more information on the Epstein case, you can refer to resources like the U.S. Department of Justice’s website and reporting from The New York Times.
