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Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak attempted to enlist convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's assistance in securing an interview with then-candidate Donald Trump for Israeli television, according to newly released documents from the US Department of Justice.
The correspondence, contained in a September 7, 2016 email, shows Barak reached out to Epstein during the presidential race between Trump and Hillary Clinton. Barak noted that Israel's Channel 2 had arranged an exclusive interview with Clinton and asked Epstein to gauge Trump's interest in giving a similar interview to rival Channel 10.
The Israeli broadcaster would send "their leading anchor, a gifted positive (blond) lady" to the United States for the interview, Barak wrote, adding that it would attract "a huge percentage of Israelis and most US citizens in Israel."
The email was part of a new batch of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents released Friday by the Justice Department. The materials were made public under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which President Donald Trump signed into law in November.
The documents include photos of prominent figures, grand jury transcripts and investigative records, though many pages were heavily redacted to protect victims' identities.
Epstein was found dead in his New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had pleaded guilty in a Florida court and was convicted of procuring a minor for prostitution in 2008, though critics characterized the conviction as a "sweetheart deal."
His victims have alleged that he operated a sprawling sex trafficking network used by members of the wealthy and political elite. The case has remained politically charged, with lawmakers and victims' advocates across the political spectrum demanding greater transparency about his network of associates and any individuals who may have facilitated his crimes.
The FBI concluded after investigation that Epstein died by suicide in his cell, despite conspiracy theories suggesting he was killed to protect powerful associates.
Separately, the documents revealed that Epstein considered purchasing a private Boeing Business Jet previously linked to the CIA's extraordinary rendition program. In 2017 correspondence, Epstein's pilot Larry Visoski raised concerns about the aircraft's history and potential complications during international travel.
"Not sure if the BBJ serial number would give us issue flying in the Middle East," Visoski wrote, noting the plane's "past history of owners" included "the CIA in 2007."
The pilot added that a previous registration number indicated the plane "was used as a CIA plane to transport prisoners to Guantanamo Bay" and "was called a Torture Plane." He included a link to an online article detailing the aircraft's alleged use in the CIA's post-9/11 program, in which detainees were secretly transferred to detention sites overseas.
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