Newly released documents detail a years-long relationship between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and Brad Karp, the chairman of powerhouse New York law firm Paul Weiss.
The disturbing email and text message correspondence was part of roughly 3 million documents released by the Department of Justice on Friday, showing that the disgraced financier sought to ingratiate himself with one of Wall Street’s most influential legal figures.
In April 2019, just three months before his arrest on federal child sex trafficking charges, Epstein enlisted former White House strategist Steve Bannon to pull strings to get Karp into the ultra-exclusive Augusta Golf Club in Georgia, the Financial Times reported Sunday.
“Need to work magic to get brad Karp admitted to augusta golf club,” Epstein texted to someone whose name was redacted in April that year. The receiver of the text was Bannon, according to the report.
“The head of Paul Weiss Brad Karp?” he replied.
“Yes,” Epstein replied, before making a crude joke about Karp.
It was not immediately clear whether Karp knew Bannon, had asked for help in joining the club or had ever been admitted to the club where business titans such as Warren Buffett were members.
The newly released files also revealed that Epstein hosted Karp at exclusive events.
Karp once arranged through the powerful pedophile’s assistant for his son and daughter to attend a small Woody Allen film screening in New York in 2014. It is unclear whether they actually attended.
The following year, an email appears to reference a 2015 dinner with Allen and Karp, according to the Financial Times.
“I can’t thank you enough for including me in an evening I’ll never forget. It was truly “once in a lifetime” in every way, though I hope to be invited again. You are an extraordinary host — and your home . . .!!!” Karp wrote the day after the scheduled dinner.
“There are many many nights of unique talents. you will be invited often,” Epstein replied, according to the files.
“You’re amazing . . . and thank you!” Karp, who has been Chairman of Paul, Weiss since 2008, responded.
The DOJ files showed additional plans for Karp’s son to attend Woody Allen screenings in 2016 and 2018, the report said.
In October 2018, Epstein sought Karp’s help in an apparent fee dispute with Apollo co-founder Leon Black.
“Can you please ha=e the discussion re my fees. I m leaving it to you to resolve. Thx,” Epstein emailed Karp.
“I brought it up today and made no progress,” Karp replied. “Let me try again, in a different way.”
The next day, Epstein reached out again to ask Karp about the dispute, to which the head of the white-shoe law firm maintained, “He [Black] just waved me off.”
The documents also showed Epstein and Karp corresponding in February 2019 about New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former Citigroup president John Havens, who were tangled up in a Florida prostitution probe.
On Feb. 22, Epstein emailed the Harvard Law School alum, “If your buddy Kraft, needs local palm rep. let me know,” to which Karp responded, “I’m sure he will need the best there is.”
Roughly half an hour later, the high-powered attorney emailed Epstein, “just called and needs immediate help…Who’s the best lawyer you can think of to help.”
Epstein replied, “they re talking right now,” to which Karp responded, “thanks so much,” the documents showed.
Kraft and Havens both pleaded not guilty, and the charges against them were later dropped.
Black stepped down as Apollo’s CEO in 2021 amid scrutiny over his ties to Epstein.
“Paul Weiss was retained by Leon Black, then the CEO of the firm’s longtime client Apollo, to negotiate a series of fee disputes with Jeffrey Epstein that spanned several years,” a Paul Weiss spokesperson told the Financial Times.
“The firm was adverse to Epstein and at no point did Paul Weiss or Brad Karp ever represent him,” the spokesperson said.
Paul Weiss did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
Records also referenced planned meetings between Epstein, Karp and Kathy Ruemmler — now Goldman Sachs’ general counsel and a former Obama White House lawyer — though it is unclear whether they all took place, the outlet reported.
Epstein paid for Ruemmler’s spa treatments and various luxury gifts, including an Hermes bag, on several occasions, documents showed, according to the report.
In January 2019, Reummler, who left the White House in 2014 and joined Goldman Sachs in 2020, wrote, “Am totally tricked out by Uncle Jeffrey today! Jeffrey boots, handbag, and w=tch!”
A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told the Financial Times: “As is common in professional services businesses, Epstein routinely gave unsolicited gifts and services to his many business acquaintances.”
Other prominent figures named in the newly released Epstein files include former UK Ambassador to the US Peter Mandelson, ex-Duke of York Prince Andrew, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Giants owner Steve Tisch.
Epstein committed suicide in his New York City jail cell in August 2019 while facing federal charges of sex trafficking of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors.
