Lebanon Mentioned in The Epstein Files…Here Are the Details
Lebanon has surfaced in the newly unsealed Jeffrey Epstein files through a 2010 email that links the country to potential banking deals, alongside a crude remark about sex tourism. The message, now part of the unsealed court material, offers a glimpse into how Lebanon and Syria appeared in the financial chatter around Epstein’s circle.
The emails mentioning Lebanon
In an email exchange dated July 31, 2010, Lebanon is discussed within the context of Middle Eastern banking acquisitions. The thread, which appears to read from the bottom up, begins with an inquiry from financier Tim Collins and quickly transitions into a discussion about regional “hot spots” for investment.
In a reply to an unidentified associate (whose name is redacted), Jeffrey Epstein writes:
“Hes been in london all week. HE wants to buy another bank in the mideast . . he did one in egypt,, we should do one in syria ,, or lebanon, the next two hot spots.”
Source: U.S Department of Justice
The chain concludes with a direct response from the redacted associate to Epstein, sent from a BlackBerry device. The sender references Wafic Saïd, a prominent Syrian-Saudi billionaire and philanthropist, before making a crude comparison:
“I have a good contact in Syria – Wafic Said – but sex better in Lebanon.”
The exchange highlights the casual nature with which Epstein and his associates discussed international finance alongside predatory interests, viewing Lebanon both as a financial opportunity and a destination for sex tourism.
Other Lebanese Connections
The Epstein files also reference Lebanese-American scholar Nassim Nicholas Taleb, who has revealed that he repeatedly declined invitations to meet Epstein. Taleb, a mathematician, former options trader, and author known for his work on risk and probability, has publicly explained that he became suspicious of Epstein’s claims about making his fortune in options trading.
Source: U.S Department of Justice
According to Taleb, Epstein’s supposed trading history did not align with what would have been visible in pre-electronic markets. This led him to conclude that Epstein was misrepresenting his financial background. On that basis, Taleb said he refused to meet him.
The newly-released documents shed light on the wide-ranging connections and the scrutiny surrounding those in Epstein’s correspondence.
The Epstein Files
The email is part of a broader tranche of Epstein-related documents being unsealed by a US federal judge in New York, mostly drawn from civil litigation involving Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell and accuser Virginia Giuffre. Since early 2024, millions of pages of depositions, emails, and court records have been released, with more expected. They revealed nearly 200 names ranging from alleged victims to celebrities, business figures, and former politicians.
While being named in these files does not imply criminal wrongdoing, the disclosures have reignited scrutiny of Epstein’s network and highlighted how his vile world intersected with global finance, diplomacy, and, in this case, the banking ambitions that casually placed Lebanon and Syria on his radar.
