Sir Richard Branson told Jeffrey Epstein he would love to see him again “as long as you bring your harem” in emails newly-released from the Epstein files.
In the exchange, from September 2013, the disgraced financier also asked for Sir Richard’s “thoughts” on a “public relations” matter, apparently after visiting him the previous day.
The Virgin boss responded saying it was “really nice seeing you” and that Epstein would be welcome to visit again, adding: “as long as you bring your harem!”
Sir Richard’s team say he would never have used this term if the full facts had been known.
Sir Richard then turned to the public relations matter.
He advised: “I think if Bill Gates was willing to say that you’ve been a brilliant advisor to him, that you slipped up many years ago by sleeping with a 17 1/2 year old woman and were punished for it, that you’ve more than learnt your lesson and have done nothing that’s against the law since and, yes, as a single man you seem to have a penchant for women. But there’s nothing wrong with that. Anyway something along those lines.”
In earlier email correspondence, from April 2013, plans were discussed for Epstein to visit Sir Richard’s private island, Necker.
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Writing to Sir Richard, Epstein’s assistant asks about bringing along an associate of Bill Gates, Boris Nikolic.
A subsequent email adds more names to Epstein’s entourage, along with “2 Russian girls”.
Sir Richard’s team is understood to acknowledge Epstein’s presence at two brief business meetings on Necker Island in April and September 2013. It is claimed both meetings were organised by an unnamed American entrepreneur.
At the second, Epstein is said by Sir Richard’s team, to have arrived on the entrepreneur’s helicopter, with three adult women who did not attend their meeting but socialised with a sports team on the island. Epstein is later said to have referred to the women as his “harem”.
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Epstein is also said, by Sir Richard’s team, to have mentioned that he’d served time in prison for a consensual relationship with someone who was nearly 18, and asked for Sir Richard’s public relations advice on the matter.
Read more:
Epstein files: Key findings so far
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Simply being mentioned in the Epstein Files isn’t a sign of wrongdoing.
A Virgin Group spokesperson said: “Any contact Richard and Joan Branson had with Epstein took place on only a few occasions more than twelve years ago, and was limited to group or business settings, such as a charity tennis event.
“When Epstein offered a charity donation, the Bransons asked their team to carry out due diligence before accepting the donation, which uncovered serious allegations.
“As a result of what the due diligence uncovered, Virgin Unite did not take the donation and Richard and Joan decided not to meet or speak with Epstein again.
“Had they had the full picture and information, there would have been no contact whatsoever – Richard believes that Epstein’s actions were abhorrent and supports the right to justice for his many victims.”
