The Shadow Network: Thomas Barrack’s Troubling Connection to Jeffrey Epstein

A Powerful Circle Maintained Despite Criminal Conviction

The release of Justice Department documents has revealed a disturbing pattern of continued association between wealthy elites and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein long after his 2008 conviction. Among those maintaining close ties was Thomas Barrack, a billionaire real estate mogul and longtime confidant of Donald Trump, who now serves as U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria. Analysis of over 100 text messages and emails shows that Barrack remained in regular contact with Epstein throughout the years following his conviction for soliciting a minor—a period when Epstein was actively working to rehabilitate his image among the wealthy and powerful. Their relationship persisted even as Barrack became deeply embedded in Trump’s political world, first as a major fundraiser for the 2016 campaign, then as chairman of the inaugural committee, and later as a frequent White House visitor. The correspondence reveals a web of introductions to diplomats, investors, and political figures, with Epstein seemingly attempting to use Barrack as a potential channel to the future president, though there’s no evidence any information was actually passed to Trump or that Trump communicated through Barrack to Epstein.

From Nightlife Companions to Political Power Brokers

The roots of the Barrack-Epstein friendship stretch back decades to the glitzy social scene of 1980s and 1990s New York. Michael Wolff’s controversial book “Fire and Fury” described Trump, Barrack, and Epstein as “nightlife Musketeers” during this era, painting a picture of three men navigating the exclusive circles of Manhattan’s elite together. Barrack, who founded and chaired a publicly-traded real estate investment trust with vast holdings in hotels and casinos—including the famous purchase of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch in 2008—was well-positioned in both business and social spheres. The earliest reference to Barrack in the newly released documents dates to 2002, showing that the relationship was well-established before Epstein’s legal troubles began. What’s particularly striking is how this friendship continued uninterrupted after Epstein’s fall from grace in Florida, where he faced charges for sexual misconduct involving teenage girls before pleading guilty in a controversial deal that allowed him to avoid federal charges. Just months after Epstein’s release from Palm Beach County jail in September 2009, Barrack reached out with sympathy, writing “Thinking about u, hope u r good and life is calm again”—a message that marked the beginning of years of documented contact between the two men.

Facilitating Connections in High Places

Throughout the years following his conviction, Epstein worked diligently to rebuild his network among the global elite, and Barrack appears to have been a willing participant in this effort. The documents show Epstein facilitating numerous high-level introductions for Barrack, including meetings with Peter Thiel (CEO of Palantir), former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Russia’s U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. Epstein also connected Barrack with German financier and countess Nicole Junkermann, with some form of relationship—whether business or personal—apparently developing between them. Epstein positioned himself as a helpful intermediary, texting Barrack at one point, “Whatever it is, if I can help, I will.” The correspondence reveals Epstein offering Barrack access to his exclusive circle, including an invitation to meet Prince Andrew during a week when the royal was staying at Epstein’s New York residence in November 2010. That same year, Epstein invited Barrack to his New Mexico ranch to meet Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, a prominent port company CEO from Dubai and close Epstein associate. These weren’t casual social gatherings—they represented carefully curated networking opportunities that could benefit Barrack’s extensive business interests in the Middle East, where both men had developed strong ties by the early 2000s.

The Trump Campaign Changes Everything

As Donald Trump’s unlikely presidential campaign gained momentum in early 2016, the dynamic between Barrack and Epstein took on new significance. Barrack emerged as one of Trump’s closest advisers and most effective fundraisers, eventually earning a coveted speaking slot at the Republican National Convention following Ivanka Trump. In the months leading up to this moment, Epstein reached out to his old friend with what appeared to be both congratulations and a subtle reminder of their shared history. In one message, Epstein wrote about receiving “many calls a week” from reporters asking about both Trump and Clinton, mentioning “beauty contest, mar-a-lago etc.” but assuring Barrack that his responses were always “i have nothing to say.” More troublingly, in April 2016, as Barrack was deeply involved in the Trump campaign, Epstein forwarded an email about a lawsuit just filed by a woman alleging that both Epstein and Trump had assaulted her in 1994. Epstein characterized the claim as “nuts but i thought you guys should know.” The lawsuit was later withdrawn, and Trump denied the accusations. Despite the potentially explosive nature of such communications, there’s no indication in the documents that Barrack responded to this particular message. What is clear is that Epstein now had a friend firmly planted within Trump’s inner circle—a position that could potentially benefit them both and which Epstein had been cultivating for years.

Encrypted Messages and Diplomatic Dinners

Following Trump’s convention speech in July 2016, the correspondence between Barrack and Epstein intensified. Epstein congratulated Barrack on his speech, and the following month, when Barrack mentioned meeting Epstein’s “Saudi friend,” Epstein’s response revealed a desire for greater secrecy: “Download signal app if you have not already. When are you in New York. Tonite? Dinner with Woody [Allen]?” Barrack agreed to download Signal, an encrypted messaging application that allows users to set messages to automatically disappear—a concerning development given the increasing scrutiny on both men’s activities. That same day, Epstein coordinated a meeting at his house bringing together Barrack, Ehud Barak (the former Israeli Prime Minister), and Vitaly Churkin (Russia’s UN representative), whose son had recently received an internship arranged by Epstein. A month later, another meeting was scheduled including Norwegian diplomat Terje Rod-Larsen and Peter Thiel calling in. The day after this meeting, Epstein purchased approximately $1 million in stock in Colony Capital, Barrack’s publicly-traded company—a transaction that raises questions about what might have been discussed. Throughout this period, Epstein continued offering Barrack advice and connections, from estate planning suggestions to sharing leaked emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, while Barrack shared his own political writings and analysis.

After the Election: Maintaining Influence in the Trump Era

When Trump won the presidency in November 2016, Epstein was in Saudi Arabia meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The day after the election, a senior Saudi official texted Epstein asking whether the King should call to congratulate the new president, and Epstein’s response was telling: “TOM barrack is your point person.” Just weeks later, Epstein emailed a friend that he was “in palm [beach] with the trump crowd,” adding to someone else that he was with “barrack and the boys in pb, wild wild.” As Barrack was appointed by Trump to run the inauguration, Epstein continued facilitating connections, advising his associate Sultan bin Sulayem to accept Barrack’s invitation to inauguration events. Throughout 2017 and into 2018, as Barrack came under legal scrutiny from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into foreign entanglements (eventually facing charges of serving as a back-channel for the United Arab Emirates, though he was acquitted in 2022), Epstein continued to reach out. He suggested Barrack meet with Bill Gates and Indian billionaire Anil Ambani, recommended a powerhouse attorney when legal trouble loomed, and maintained sporadic contact. The last documented interaction shows both men flying from Teterboro to Palm Beach on their respective jets within an hour of each other in November 2018. If their communications continued on the encrypted Signal app after Barrack downloaded it in 2016, those messages remain hidden from public view, leaving unanswered questions about the full extent of their relationship during Trump’s presidency and Barrack’s current diplomatic role.