The House Judiciary Committee, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin, has launched an investigation into important evidence that Jeffrey Epstein built relationships with foreign governments in order to influence Trump administration policy.
The investigation by the committee, which began in July 2026, alleges that Epstein developed relationships with the governments of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, and Israel without registering as a foreign agent.
Acting on behalf of foreign governments without registering as required under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) could violate federal law and raise national security concerns.
Private communications show Epstein acting as an intermediary for foreign governments seeking influence with his longtime friend, President Trump. After the 2016 election, Epstein told multiple contacts that he was traveling to Florida and New York to meet with “trump people” and “trump boys,” and to visit “trump tower,” according to the committee.
Instead of serving the interests of the Trump administration, Epstein allegedly sought opportunities to help foreign governments influence Trump and those around him.
Following the 2016 election, Epstein reached out to officials in the Gulf region to build relationships with the incoming Trump administration. In one communication, he urged a contact to “please transmit to HE [his excellency]” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) an offer to “represent [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] interests. period.”
Epstein also described possible roles for himself as a “financial bodyguard” and “financial architect” for the Saudi leadership during the Trump Administration. At the same time, he reportedly visited Trump Tower in New York and attended gatherings with “trump people” in Palm Beach during the 2016 presidential transition. Around this period, Epstein also used his connections within Trump’s circle to get “in” with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment.
The files also show Epstein discussing how foreign officials should interact with President Trump before his May 2017 trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Trump’s first overseas trip as president.
In one exchange, Epstein said he had “much to do around the trump trip” and explained that his advice to the Emir of Kuwait “depends on which subject: economic, military, tech.”
Epstein also discussed the war in Yemen with a contact connected to the Emir, stressing the importance of making “concrete” requests. These included supporting Kuwait’s role in Yemen peace negotiations and exploring possible diplomatic outcomes tied to a peace agreement.
However, the records do not identify which U.S. officials Epstein planned to contact or explain how requests made on Kuwait’s behalf would be communicated.
“[T]hese events demonstrate why FARA is critical and why violations must be investigated to protect national security and sovereignty. An unrepentant global sex trafficker who described himself as the ‘best friend’ of the President for many years interacted with foreign governments at the highest levels and offered them advice on how to deal with the President and influence his Administration. A close presidential advisor who was fired from the White House may have helped that criminal operation. They appear to have acted in concert with high-ranking foreign government officials without any notification to the U.S. government that their advice and advocacy on behalf of foreign nations was being used to influence U.S. government officials and institutions,” Raskin wrote in a committee press release.
The documents also suggest that Epstein provided advice related to Russia’s interactions with the Trump administration. In one exchange, he advised Russia’s then-U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin that President Trump “must be seen to get something,” and that negotiations were “not complex.”
Before a planned summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Trump, Epstein also proposed a possible communication channel. In a message to Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, he wrote, “I think you might suggest to putin, that lavrov, can get insight on talking to me.”
According to the documents, Jagland indicated that he would raise the idea with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s office.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, has also been involved in Epstein-related matters. Those include the handling of investigative records, the release of materials that critics say exposed victims while limiting accountability, and the ending of criminal investigations into Epstein’s network.
Clayton has now been nominated to lead the nation’s intelligence agencies, a position that would give him oversight of intelligence related to Epstein’s contacts with foreign adversaries. According to the committee’s press release, those contacts appear to have included efforts focused on Donald Trump.
The files also describe Epstein’s extensive advisory and consulting relationship with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. In 2013, Epstein advised Barak on his interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Epstein also helped Barak draft a New York Times opinion piece urging Moscow to end its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The documents state that Epstein helped arrange meetings between Barak and Russian officials and shared information about U.S. political figures.
Raskin argues that these actions may have posed a national security risk. He is asking the Justice Department and State Department to release additional records, explain whether Epstein was investigated for possible FARA violations, and clarify why no enforcement action was taken.
The committee’s findings are allegations based on its review of the documents and have not been proven in court.