Epstein Monitored Saudi Arabia’s Corruption Purge Amid Ties with Crown Prince

Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was closely monitoring the upheaval in Saudi Arabia during the 2017 purge of the kingdom’s royal family and financial elite. A tranche of documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice reveals Epstein’s correspondence regarding the event, with one email from an unknown sender advising him on November 4, 2017, to "keep a close eye on what is going on in Saudi right now." Epstein clarified his focus, asking whether it was related to "the missile or the anti-corruption," before being told it was the "anti-corruption" campaign.

This email exchange came just before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman initiated the unprecedented crackdown in Riyadh, where scores of Saudi royals and business figures were detained at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, pressured to pay billions of dollars in alleged corruption fines. Those who resisted were reportedly moved to prisons, with some even suffering abuse.

The documents also shed light on Epstein's deep connections with the Gulf elite. In a previous exchange with a New York Times reporter, Epstein referenced his relationship with Crown Prince bin Salman, attempting to foster closer ties between Saudi officials and influential figures, including Bill Gates and Donald Trump. A photograph released in the documents shows Epstein alongside the Saudi Crown Prince, further emphasizing the extent of their relationship.

Epstein’s interactions also extended to high-level figures in other Gulf states, including former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and former Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani. Additionally, Dubai Port's CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem appears prominently in several email exchanges, revealing Epstein’s deep entanglements with Gulf elites.

Epstein’s correspondence also offered insights into Saudi Arabia’s internal politics. In one email, Epstein analyzed how low oil prices were impacting the Saudi royal family, providing a glimpse into the complex dynamics of the ruling house, which he described as "misleading" due to its 20,000 members. He also suggested that reforms like women driving were driven by external pressure, rather than by the Saudi public itself.
 

These newly uncovered documents illustrate Epstein’s close monitoring of Saudi affairs and his influential network within the Gulf region, including key political, financial, and business figures.