Jeffrey Epstein was likely acting as a Russian intelligence asset, Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said, following the release of millions of US justice department documents linked to the late pedophile and convicted sex offender.In a rare move, Tusk said Poland would look into Epstein’s suspected ties to Russian intelligence, warning that the issue could have serious consequences for Poland and its wider security interests.
“More and more leads, more and more information, and more and more commentary in the global press all relate to the suspicion that this unprecedented paedophilia scandal was co-organised by Russian intelligence services,” Tusk was quoted as saying according to the Telegraph.“I don’t need to tell you how serious the increasingly likely possibility that Russian intelligence services co-organised this operation is for the security of the Polish state,” he added. Tusk said: “This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today.”The remarks followed the DOJ’s release of millions of documents connected to Epstein, which showed his extensive contacts with powerful political figures. More than 1,056 documents mention Russian president Vladimir Putin, while over 9,000 refer to Moscow.The files show that Epstein was granted meetings with Putin, including after he was convicted in 2008 of procuring a minor for prostitution. In a 2010 email, Epstein offered to help an associate obtain a Russian visa, writing: “I have a friend of Putin’s, should I ask him?”Documents also suggest Epstein had several meetings with Putin. In September 2011, an associate referred to “an appointment with Putin” during a visit to Russia. Files released on Friday also point to a possible meeting planned in 2014.The documents reveal repeated references to Russian women and officials, raising questions about whether Epstein was involved in a classic “kompromat” operation. Such operations involve gathering compromising material on influential figures for blackmail.Emails show Epstein and his associates frequently recruited young Russian women. In one 2010 email, Epstein wrote: “Tomorrow I’m organising a dinner for some new Russian girls … see you at 10.” Other emails include requests to book flights for models and escorts between Moscow, Paris and New York.Epstein also offered to introduce Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to a “beautiful” 26-year-old Russian woman named “Irina.” The former prince denies wrongdoing and has not responded to the latest document release.Tanya Kozyreva, a Kyiv-based reporter specialising in corruption, said the material pointed to a familiar pattern. She wrote: “Epstein reportedly had contact with Russian officials and Putin himself. Many of his girls were Russian. Powerful Western elites passed through his orbit. What are the odds this wasn’t a classic Russian ‘kompromat’ operation – and that DoJ is just ignoring the elephant in the room?”The files also show Epstein offering to provide “insight” on Donald Trump to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov. “It is not complex. He must be seen to get something. It’s that simple,” Epstein wrote.Russia’s foreign ministry has not commented on Tusk’s remarks. In December, spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the files exposed Western hypocrisy.