File 030335
Guardian Newspaper Media Inquiry About Jeffrey Epstein's Swiss Bank Accounts and Tax Affairs (File 030335)
A journalist from The Guardian newspaper formally inquires with Jeffrey Epstein's attorney Martin Weinberg regarding an upcoming article about Epstein's Swiss bank accounts, offshore assets, tax practices, and associations with public figures.
Summary
David Pegg, an investigative journalist at The Guardian, sends a detailed media inquiry to Jeffrey Epstein's attorney Martin Weinberg regarding a collaborative survey with US media about Swiss bank accounts. The inquiry specifically addresses Epstein's accounts at HSBC Suisse containing up to $3.5 million, questions about tax avoidance, his 2008 guilty plea to solicitation of prostitution and procuring minors, his financial ties to Leslie Wexner, and his well-documented associations with Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Kevin Spacey. The journalist requests substantive responses to seven numbered points by February 2, 2015, before publication of the Guardian's findings.
From: Martin WeinbergSent: 1/30/2015 5:54:21 PMTo: Jeff Epstein [jeeyacation@gmail.com]; Darren lndykeSubject: Fwd: Media Enquiry - The Guardian - Re: Jeffrey EpsteinImportance: HighSent from my iPhoneBegin forwarded message:From: David Pegg <_____________________________Date: January 30, 2015, 12:00:34 PM ESTTo:Subject: Fwd: Media Enquiry - The Guardian - Re: Jeffrey EpsteinDear Mr Weinberg,I hope this email finds you well. I am a journalist at The Guardian newspaper in London.We are preparing for publication an article in which we may mention Mr Jeffrey Epstein, who is your client.We have sent Mr Epstein an email concerning this article and made a number of attempts to contact him, towhich he has not responded.Please see the email in question below. Should Mr Epstein wish to respond, please ensure that we receive hisresponse by no later than 18:00 on Monday 2nd February 2015.I would be grateful if you could acknowledge receipt of this email.Yours faithfully,David PeggThe GuardianKings Place90 York WayLondonNi 9GUTel:Email:----------Forwarded message----------From: David Pegg <1_________________________________Date: 29 January 2015 at 16:49Subject: Re: Media Enquiry - The Guardian - Re: Jeffrey EpsteinTo: Jeffrey(kjeffreyepstein.orgDear Mr Epstein,I write further to an email sent to you earlier this month, concerning an article we are preparing for publicationin which you may be mentioned.HOUSE OVERSIGHT 030335We have not received a response from you. If you wish to respond, please do so as soon as possible and no laterthan 18:00 on Monday 2nd February 2015.For your convenience, please see the original letter below,.Yours faithfully,David PeggThe GuardianKings Place90 York WayLondonNi 9GUTel:Email:On 5 January 2015 at 11:14, David Pegg<_______________________________wrote:Swiss Accounts SurveyDear Mr Epstein,We are writing because a US media organisation, in concert with ourselves at the Guardian newspaper inLondon, is currently conducting a detailed survey of Swiss bank accounts, past and present.It is not illegal to have Swiss accounts. But as you may know, it is a topic of considerable public debate, andseveral governments have been investigating the owners of such accounts.There are a number of ways such accounts and also offshore trusts have been used to avoid inheritance tax, UKdomestic tax, or tax imposed by other countries. Such accounts have also been used to launder money.We have seen records held in the US identifying you among those who have held accounts. These accountscontained assets of up to USD 3.5m, and include:HSBC (Suisse) SAFAMILY INTEREST L.P.22079BESSIEJEFFREY EPSTEIN1) You may therefore have been a person evading or avoiding tax, or laundering money.We will be particularly concerned with these questions:2) Why you had Swiss accounts.3) How much back tax you have settled with the tax authorities following their investigation of your affairs.Additionally, from public records and from material we have seen we note that:4) In 2008 you pleaded guilty to solicitation of prostitution and procuring minors for prostitution. You weresentenced to 18 months in prison.HOUSE OVERSIGHT 0303365) Your above accounts were also linked with Mr Leslie Wexner.6) You are known to be or have previously been closely associated with Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew andKevin Spacey.7) You have made substantial contributions to the Clintons' philanthropic causes. Tax reform campaignershave previously been critical of those who engage in public life or the political process while avoiding orevading tax. Hilary Clinton herself, speaking in 2012, noted the importance of elites paying a substantial shareof tax: "One of the issues that I have been preaching about around the world is collecting taxes in an equitablemanner — especially from the elites in every country."It is intended shortly to publish the results of our survey in both the US and the UK.As responsible journalists acting in the public interest, we would first like to give you the opportunity tocomment.If we do not hear from you by 18:00 on Monday 12th January 2015 (preferably by email towe shall proceed on the basis that you do not wish to comment on or amendour information.But we have approached you in a straightforward fashion and hope you will take this opportunity to respond ifyou wish. Your substantive responses to each of our numbered points will be carefully considered andpublished if appropriate.(For the avoidance of doubt, we do not normally regard any generalised assertion of "inaccuracies" as asubstantive response; nor any generalised statement that the holders acted on advice. Neither will we regard assubstantive any comment that only refers to the present state of affairs and not to the past.)We are, of course, happy to discuss directly any concerns you may have.We would be most grateful if you would acknowledge receipt of this letter. This will save us from chasing.Yours faithfully,David PeggThe GuardianKings Place90 York WayLondonNi 9GUTel:Email:Visit theguardian.com. On your mobile and tablet, download the Guardian iPhone and Android appstheguardian.com/guardianapp and our tablet editions theguardian.com/editions. Save up to 57% by subscribing to theGuardian and Observer - choose the papers you want and get full digital access. Visit subscribe.thequardian.comHOUSE OVERSIGHT 030337This e-mail and all attachments are confidential and may also be privileged. If you are not the named recipient, pleasenotify the sender and delete the e-mail and all attachments immediately. Do not disclose the contents to another person.You may not use the information for any purpose, or store, or copy, it in any way. Guardian News & Media Limited is notliable for any computer viruses or other material transmitted with or as part of this e-mail. You should employ viruschecking software.Guardian News & Media Limited is a member of Guardian Media Group plc. Registered Office: PO Box 68164, KingsPlace, 90 York Way, London, N1P 2AP. Registered in England Number 908396HOUSE OVERSIGHT 030338