Ranking Member Raskin Launches Investigation Into Evidence Epstein Acted as Unregistered Agent for Foreign Powers, Leveraging Ties to Trump

Washington, D.C. (July 21, 2026)—Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Director of National Intelligence-nominee and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton, demanding information about an extensive foreign influence operation involving Jeffrey Epstein uncovered by Committee investigators.

The request follows the Committee’s review of newly surfaced Epstein files showing that Epstein cultivated relationships with foreign governments—including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia, and Israel—while apparently seeking to influence Trump Administration policy on those nations’ behalf, all without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a federal crime that implicates U.S. national security.

“Jeffrey Epstein never registered as a foreign agent. Yet numerous recently released documents now show he acted aggressively on behalf of multiple foreign governments, including several with interests adverse to the United States, in order to influence policies of the first Trump Administration,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

Private communications show Epstein actively positioning himself as an intermediary for foreign governments seeking influence with his longtime friend, President Trump. Epstein told numerous contacts after the 2016 election that he was going to Florida and New York to be with “trump people” and “trump boys,” and to visit “trump tower.” He told another friend just after the election that, “trump gives many new things to do.” Epstein even succeeded in convincing multiple correspondents that his relationship with President Trump was sufficiently close to secure presidential appointments for himself and others. Rather than serve in the Trump Administration, however, Epstein sought opportunities to help foreign governments influence Trump and people in Trump’s orbit.

Epstein-Saudia Arabia-Kuwait

In outreach to Gulf officials following the 2016 election, Epstein 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.” He outlined potential roles for himself as a “financial bodyguard” and “financial architect” for Saudi leadership during the Trump Administration. Epstein apparently interspersed his outreach to the Saudi royal family with visits to Trump Tower in New York and gatherings with “trump people” in Palm Beach during the 2016 presidential transition. Around this time, he also leveraged his connections to Trump-world to get “in” with the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Investment.

The files also show Epstein discussing how foreign officials should approach engagement with President Trump during the lead-up to Trump’s May 2017 trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—the President’s first overseas trip. In one exchange, Epstein said he had “much to do around the trump trip” and advised that his advice to the Emir of Kuwait “depends on which subject—economic, military, tech.” He then discussed the Yemen war with a contact for the Emir, emphasizing the need for “concrete” asks, such as support for Kuwait’s role in Yemen peace talks and potential diplomatic outcomes tied to a peace agreement. The records do not specify which U.S. officials Epstein intended to engage or how such requests on Kuwait’s behalf would be relayed.

Epstein-Russia

Documents also indicate Epstein provided guidance connected to Russian engagement with the Trump Administration, including advising Russia’s then–U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin that President Trump “must be seen to get something,” and that negotiations were “not complex.” He later suggested a channel for influence ahead of a Putin–Trump summit, writing to Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland: “I think you might suggest to putin, that lavrov, can get insight on talking to me,” with Jagland reportedly indicating he would raise the idea with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s office.
Epstein-Israel

Files also describe Epstein’s extensive advisory and consulting relationship with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. In 2013, Epstein advised Barak on engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, assisted him in drafting a New York Times op-ed urging Moscow to abandon support for Bashar al-Assad, and helped facilitate meetings with Russian officials, while also relaying information about U.S. political figures. 

Despite these extensive activities, Epstein never registered under FARA as required by law. In fact, Epstein advised former Trump White House Chief Strategist and campaign Chief Executive Steve Bannon on avoiding FARA requirements by structuring activity through nonprofits, NGOs, media entities, and intermediaries to remain “surgically pure.”

Taken together, these communications depict Epstein’s effort to sell access, strategy, and influence tied directly to President Trump and his Administration while evading transparency laws designed to protect U.S. policymaking from undisclosed foreign intervention. They also reflect Epstein’s own portrayal of himself to others as possessing leverage over the President, stating he was “the one able to take him [Trump] down,” and repeatedly discussing how such leverage could be deployed. Such leverage may have included the fact that the President “knew about the girls” or that his foreign business relationships present conflicts of interest for the White House.

“[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. That criminal operation may have been assisted by a close presidential advisor who was fired from the White House. 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,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

These developments also come against the backdrop of White House meetings held in the Situation Room to discuss the Epstein matter, suggesting the contents of the Epstein files carry serious implications for national security.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence, has been involved in Epstein-related matters, including the handling of investigative records, the release of materials that impeded accountability while exposing victims, and the curtailment of criminal investigations into Epstein’s network. He is now being rewarded by the President with a promotion that puts him squarely in control over intelligence relating to Epstein’s extensive contacts with foreign adversaries—contacts which appear to focus on Donald Trump.

Ranking Member Raskin is requesting that the Department of Justice and State Department produce all records related to Epstein’s contacts with foreign governments, identify any investigations into potential FARA violations, and explain why enforcement actions were not pursued.

Click here to read the letter.