Newly released emails in the U.S. Department of Justice's Epstein files have prompted Paul Weiss to say its chairman, Brad Karp, regrets social interactions and email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence adds detail to previously disclosed contacts, showing dinners attended together, a request to help secure a job for Karp's son on a Woody Allen film production, and an instance in which Karp shared a confidential stock sale document with Epstein.
The documents, made public among millions released last week, indicate Karp and Epstein exchanged messages over several years, with some correspondence continuing as recently as March 2019. Epstein was arrested on sex trafficking charges in July 2019 and later died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell. He had previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution-related charges that included soliciting an underage girl.
According to a statement from a Paul Weiss spokesperson, Karp met Epstein through his legal work for Leon Black, the co-founder and former chairman of Apollo Global Management, who is described by the firm as a "significant firm client." The spokesperson said that during the course of that representation, which spanned several years, Mr. Karp never witnessed or participated in any misconduct.
"During the course of that representation, which spanned several years, Mr. Karp never witnessed or participated in any misconduct. Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email, all of which he regrets," the spokesperson said.
The released messages include a July 2015 exchange in which Karp thanked Epstein for an evening he described as "one I'll never forget," calling Epstein an "extraordinary host" and expressing hope to be invited again. Epstein responded that Karp was "always welcome" and would be invited often. Karp's final note in that thread read, "You're amazing ... and thank you!" The emails do not provide further detail on the nature of the event the men referenced.
In addition to the social notes, the correspondence shows Karp had at one point provided Epstein with a confidential stock sale document. The emails also reflect discussions between the two men about sexual misconduct allegations made against well-known individuals in late 2017.
Paul Weiss's ties to political developments are also noted in the documents. The firm last year entered into an agreement with the U.S. President's administration to provide millions of dollars of pro bono legal work to causes supported by that administration in exchange for rescinding an executive order that had targeted the law firm.
The files also reference Leon Black's past dispute with Epstein over fees in 2016. Those payments and the surrounding scrutiny later contributed to Black relinquishing his role atop the private-equity firm.
The recent release of emails and associated documents has increased public focus on interactions between prominent professionals and Epstein. Paul Weiss's statement frames Karp's interactions as limited in scope and strictly social in nature, while acknowledging regret for those contacts. The book of released materials continues to offer additional context about relationships and communications involving Epstein in the years leading up to his 2019 arrest.