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President Trump's longtime confidant Thomas Barrack, present serving arsenic U.S. ambassador to Turkey and peculiar envoy to Syria, was successful regular, adjacent interaction with Jeffrey Epstein for years aft Epstein's 2008 condemnation for soliciting a minor, a CBS News investigation of implicit 100 texts and email exchanges from the recently released Justice Department documents shows.
The correspondence places Barrack, a globe-trotting billionaire, among a ellipse of affluent and influential figures who maintained social contact with Epstein adjacent arsenic his transgression past became wide known. Their narration continued adjacent aft Barrack became a prolific fundraiser for Mr. Trump's 2016 campaign, and later, led his inaugural committee and became a predominant beingness successful the White House.
At times, Epstein appeared to respect Barrack arsenic a conduit to walk accusation to Mr. Trump, though if that was the case, records lone amusement the connection going 1 direction. There's nary denotation Epstein's communications were passed connected to Mr. Trump oregon that Mr. Trump communicated to Epstein done Barrack.
There's besides nary grounds to suggest Barrack participated successful oregon had cognition of immoderate ongoing transgression behaviour by Epstein. Instead, the messages papers continuing idiosyncratic and nonrecreational interaction during a play erstwhile Epstein was attempting to reestablish himself wrong elite societal and fiscal circles.
The exchanges see invitations to backstage residences, introductions to diplomats and investors, and discussions of concern opportunities. They besides amusement Epstein repeatedly encouraged Barrack to determination communications to encrypted messaging apps, records of which are not portion of the authorities release.
Barrack, 78, is the laminitis and erstwhile president of a publicly-traded existent property concern spot that had immense holdings successful the edifice and casino sectors and successful 2008 bought Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch. He roseate to prominence successful the governmental satellite arsenic a starring fundraiser for his person Donald Trump's 2016 bid for president. After the election, Barrack became a adjacent advisor to Mr. Trump, particularly connected matters successful the Middle East.
Tom Barrack, the U.S. peculiar envoy to Syria, successful Damascus connected Feb. 4, 2026.
Rami Alsayed/NurPhoto via Getty Images
He was 1 of respective successful Mr. Trump's interior ellipse to look scrutiny from peculiar counsel Robert Mueller for his overseas entanglements, yet facing charges connected allegations helium served arsenic a back-channel for the United Arab Emirates portion moving wrong the White House. A assemblage acquitted him successful 2022. Barrack returned to Mr. Trump's orbit for his 2nd term, accepting a pivotal diplomatic station successful Turkey.
How Barrack archetypal met Epstein is unclear, but successful the publication "Fire and Fury," Michael Wolff described Trump, Barrack and Jeffrey Epstein arsenic "a 1980s and '90s acceptable of nightlife Musketeers." Epstein's emails bespeak that some Barrack and Epstein had served arsenic sources for Wolff's book. Mr. Trump called the publication "full of lies, misrepresentations and sources that don't exist." Mr. Trump has besides said helium chopped ties with Epstein years agone and has consistently denied immoderate wrongdoing successful narration to Epstein.
The Barrack-Epstein relationship appears to person continued undeterred by Epstein's autumn from grace successful Florida, aft helium was charged for intersexual misconduct involving teenage girls. In 2008, helium pleaded blameworthy in a deal that fto him debar national charges.
The Free Press: WATCH: The Epstein Tapes
In September 2009, conscionable months aft Epstein's merchandise from the Palm Beach County jail, Barrack wrote to him, "Thinking astir u, anticipation u r bully and beingness is calm again" — a sentiment that marked the opening of an extended play of interaction betwixt the two. Over the pursuing years Epstein encouraged meetings and facilitated introductions betwixt Barrack and individuals including Palantir CEO Peter Thiel, erstwhile Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
2016 statesmanlike campaign
In the aboriginal months of 2016, aft Mr. Trump amazed the governmental satellite by winning the New Hampshire Republican primary, Barrack emerged arsenic 1 of a prime radical of insiders helping to signifier his outsider's bid for the White House.
As the Trump momentum grew, Epstein emailed his person Barrack a greeting and a reminder of their shared past, writing: "hope you are well. photos look good. fyi I person galore calls a week astir some Donald ([redacted], marla, quality contest. mara lago etc) and clinton from reporters. little truthful precocious with clinton, but my answers are ever one person thing to say. oregon one effort to disregard altogether. A fewer times one person been ambushed connected the thoroughfare with questions. but americium much cautious now[.]"
Barrack replied, "hope ur good. Let's drawback up."
Epstein past asked for a photograph of Barrack's newborn baby, writing, "send photos of you and child. ---make maine smile[.]"
In April 2016, with Barrack profoundly enmeshed successful the Trump campaign, Epstein reached retired again — this clip with a warning. He forwarded an email astir a perchance damaging suit conscionable filed by a pistillate utilizing the pseudonym "Katie Johnson." In the civilian complaint, she alleged that Epstein and Trump raped her successful 1994. The suit was withdrawn, and Mr. Trump denied those accusations.
Epstein wrote that helium considered the ineligible assertion "nuts but one thought you guys should know[.]" The documents bash not bespeak if Barrack acknowledged oregon replied to the email.
That July, Barrack spoke astatine the Republican National Convention successful a coveted spot, pursuing Ivanka Trump. He gave a rousing speech, telling the packed arena, "For implicit 3 decades, I person seen Donald up adjacent and personal, arsenic a large pal and concern partner, crossed the spectrum of life's twists and turns."
Epstein present had a person solidly placed wrong Trump's orbit and that relationship had the imaginable to payment them both. It was a narration that Epstein had been cultivating for years.
Barrack, Epstein and the Middle East
Epstein and Barrack's camaraderie, established successful the societal satellite of the New York elite successful the 1990's, appears to person continued into the caller millennium.
By the aboriginal 2000's some Epstein and Barrack had beardown concern ties to the Middle East. Epstein often traveled there, according to DOJ documents, and Barrack was progressive successful aggregate existent property deals involving Middle Eastern governments.
The earliest notation to Barrack successful the recently released Justice Department files is simply a 2002 email from Tom Pritzker, enforcement president of Hyatt Hotels and a person of Epstein, to Ghislaine Maxwell, successful which Pritzker mentions he'd seen Barrack the erstwhile evening astatine a meal successful Mexico. Later that year, the files record a FedEx bundle sent from Epstein's New York bureau to Barrack.
Nicole Junkermann
Epstein's connection with Barrack picks up astir a twelvemonth aft his merchandise from jail. Epstein arranges for Barrack to link with the financier and German countess Nicole Junkermann, and it appears immoderate benignant of relationship, concern oregon personal, takes shape. In the ensuing months Epstein becomes a liaison betwixt the two, with Epstein proffering offerings of assistance to some parties portion cultivating his relationship with Barrack.
In 1 chain, Epstein emailed Barrack's adjunct with an invitation to sojourn his location successful New Mexico, it appears Barrack accepted but a fewer days aboriginal his adjunct contacted Epstein and canceled.
In another, Epstein texted Barrack, "Whatever it is, if I tin help, I will."
Two weeks aboriginal Barrack sent Epstein an email that said lone "I will!!! Complicated!! I person been successful a [expletive] tempest and didn't privation her exposed!!! Sorry."
Epstein replied, "Understood , I americium ever determination for you . Good luck."
Barrack responded "And maine for u!!!!"
Royal connections
In November 2010, Epstein offered Barrack a high-level introduction.
"Prince Andrew volition beryllium staying with maine for the week successful New York,, would you similar him determination erstwhile you travel to visit?" helium asked successful an email.
It's not wide if that sojourn happened. Epstein was photographed with Prince Andrew walking successful Central Park that week.
That summertime Epstein invited Barrack to his ranch successful New Mexico for different high-level networking opportunity.
"Sultan volition travel to the ranch this week, wherefore don't you articulation us," Epstein wrote.
"Sultan" appears to beryllium Epstein confidant Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, a adjacent subordinate of Epstein's and salient larboard institution CEO from Dubai. (The Emirati dignitary was removed arsenic CEO this week successful absorption to his ain correspondence with Epstein). Barrack responds, "I privation I could--give him a hug for me."
In August 2011, Barrack emailed Epstein and said "just saw Sultan who likes you a lot! I told him you are the champion that you are a archetypal people encephalon wrong of a archetypal people quality being! Miss u."
Six months later, successful January 2012, Barrack emailed Epstein: "H@ppy caller year. Hope u r good. I person an thought tin we talk." That idea, it appears, was to merchantability Epstein's New York mansion to the Qatari Prime Minister Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani. Epstein and Barrack made arrangements for the sheik and Barrack to travel spot it a fewer days aboriginal and Epstein prepared the staff, including asking them to region "nude photos" from the wall.
Epstein told a unit member whose sanction is redacted to deterioration "heels" and suggested she archer Barrack that Epstein acknowledgment him each time "for Sarah, helium is however I recovered her." It is unclear who helium was referring to successful the remark.
After a respective hr delay, the sojourn was canceled. The adjacent time Barrack told Epstein: "He saw ur house. Love it but not capable bedrooms for him." Epstein defended his home's size, 1 of the largest single-family homes successful Manhattan, and said bedrooms were converted for different uses: "gym,office, music, determination are 8 upstairs, and 3 unit down."
Barrack responded: "He promised maine helium would spot it again erstwhile his docket clears. Hopefully erstwhile u are here." It's not wide if that gathering ever happened, but aboriginal that twelvemonth the Qatari person purchased a location crossed the thoroughfare for $47 million.
Epstein continued to effort and link successful idiosyncratic with Barrack for the remainder of the year, seemingly unsuccessfully. In December, Epstein forwards an capitalist email regarding Barrack's company, Colony Capital, and says "dont you ever rest."
Barrack responded, "Not until you prosecute maine arsenic ur butler. How is my relation model?" Again, it's unclear who helium is referring to.
A changing relationship
Epstein's connection with Barrack ebbed until outpouring of 2016, erstwhile Barrack's absorption shifted to the statesmanlike campaign.
On July 22, pursuing Barrack's GOP normal speech, Epstein emailed to congratulate him. Barrack wrote back, "Thanks pal."
The pursuing month, Barrack texted Epstein: "Met ur Saudi friend! He loves U!! How r u--Tom Barrack[.]"
Epstein responded: "Great…Download awesome app if you person not already. When are you successful New York. Tonite? Dinner with Woody [Allen]?"
"I americium successful turkey. There Monday. I volition telephone u. Will download now," helium replied.
Signal is an encrypted messaging exertion that allows users to acceptable messages to automatically vanish aft a chosen play of time.
That aforesaid day, Epstein texted Vitaly Churkin, past Russia's imperishable typical to the United Nations, and invited him to his location for a gathering with Barrack and Ehud Barak, the erstwhile premier curate of Israel, different adjacent idiosyncratic person and concern subordinate of Epstein. Epstein had precocious arranged for Churkin's lad Maxim to get an internship with the U.S. concern institution Boothbay Fund Management and Churkin was a predominant impermanent astatine Epstein's house.
Epstein's calendar for Aug. 29 includes a notation for "Lunch w/Ehud Barak, Tom Barrack and Vitaly Churkin."
A period later, Barrack is again scheduled to meet with Epstein, on with the Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen, and Epstein also invited Peter Thiel to telephone in. Epstein sent an email to Barrack with proposal connected property readying that day.
The time aft the gathering was scheduled, Epstein wrote to Barrack: "I loved thiels proposition regarding women and children, that everytime you accidental redeeming lives etc. I deliberation of the tens of thousands of women and children that died arsenic a nonstop effect of your careless interventions."
The time aft that. Epstein purchased astir $1 cardinal successful banal successful Colony Capital, the publically traded institution founded by Barrack.
Epstein and Barrack proceed to speech emails, including links to precocious leaked interior emails from Hillary Clinton's statesmanlike run chairman, John Podesta. Barrack shares an op-ed helium wrote for Fortune. Epstein sends a lengthy email with his investigation of Trump's show during his statement with Clinton.
Trump presidency
On predetermination nighttime successful 2016, Epstein watched the results rotation successful from Saudi Arabia, wherever helium was gathering with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, according to formation records and a root who was adjacent to Epstein astatine that time. Epstein aboriginal emailed a friend that helium returned location with a tent, implicit with carpets, arsenic a gift.
On Nov. 9, the time aft Mr. Trump won the election, a elder Saudi authoritative texted Epstein to ask, "What bash you deliberation if The King calls the caller President to congratulate him aft announcing the results? Epstein responds, "TOM barrack is your constituent person[.]"
On Nov. 27, a concern subordinate successful New York wrote to Epstein to inquire astir his Thanksgiving. Epstein responded: "really fun, im successful thenar [beach] with the trump crowd," adding later to idiosyncratic other that helium was with "barrack and the boys successful pb, chaotic wild."
Barrack was appointed that wintertime by Mr. Trump to run his inauguration, and successful January, Sultan bin Sulayem wrote Epstein and asked if helium should judge Barrack's invitation to assorted events. Sulayem attended the Salute to Our Armed Services Ball, according to the New York Post.
Building influence
In March 2017, Epstein continued to play the relation of networker for Barrack, suggesting separately that Bill Gates and the Indian billionaire Amil Ambani conscionable with Barrack. Epstein reached retired to Barrack that aforesaid period and suggested helium conscionable with Ambani, and informed him that the premier curate of India would beryllium visiting the U.S. successful May.
Over the adjacent year, Epstein made suggestions to respective radical adjacent to Mr. Trump that the president should see a warfare council, including Barrack, to woody with the fallout from the Russia investigation.
In May, with ineligible occupation bearing down connected Barrack arsenic a effect of the Mueller probe, Epstein sent Barrack a proposal for an attorney, writing: "hope you are well. delight enactment [powerhouse achromatic collar attorney] Reid Weingarten if you necessitate advice."
Barrack replied: "on the bosses list," presumably referring to Mr. Trump.
Barrack's connection with Epstein continued sporadically passim that year. On June 8, Epstein emailed Barrack: "I'm successful San Diego. Meet today? Come to my ranch weekend? You look well."
Barrack responded "In DC! Will signal."
In aboriginal January 2018, arsenic the steadfast prepared to merchandise Wolff's book, Epstein wrote to Wolff, "[B]arrack each implicit me," and the next day, "[Barrack] keeps texting me" arsenic helium inquired astir their inclusion successful it.
If their speech continued connected the encrypted app, it's unclear. Those communications were not portion of the Epstein files release.
On Nov. 11, 2018, formation records amusement that Barrack and Epstein some flew from Teterboro to Palm Beach connected their respective jets wrong an hr of each other.
CBS News has reached retired to Barrack, Trump, Junkermann, Thiel and Barak for comment, and has not received responses arsenic of publication.
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