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"Politico" reveals fragments of correspondence between the American stockbroker and intermediaries in Brussels. In addition to seeking women, he had contacts with senior officials in EU institutions
New documents released by the US Department of Justice shed light on a vast network of contacts that Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted American financier for sex crimes, built in Brussels over a decade. The revelations come from about 3.5 million documents recently made public and come as part of the investigation into his activities.
According to the files, Epstein frequently planned trips to the Belgian capital, home to the main institutions of the European Union, and maintained active contacts in Brussels between 2010 and 2019. Although none of these meetings had previously been made public, the emails show travel plans for both Epstein himself and intermediaries who appeared to be acting on his behalf.
US prosecutors say Epstein "built an extensive network of underage victims for the purpose of sexual exploitation", while the documents show repeated correspondence involving women in Europe.
According to an exclusive report by Politico, a 2010 email mentions a woman named “Kelly C.”, who was proposed to by a Brussels-based modeling agency called Casting Factory. The message described her physical features and described her as having “very good character.”
Politico was unable to track down the agency, which no longer has an active website. A visit to the address mentioned in the emails, near Boulevard Louise in central Brussels, revealed a building that now appears abandoned.
The same correspondence also includes a representative from MC2 Model Management, an agency co-founded by Epstein’s close associate Jean-Luc Brunel. Brunel was found hanged in his cell in a Paris prison in 2022, where he was being held on charges of child rape and sex trafficking. The MC2 agency is no longer in business and has not commented.
Other emails contain references to scheduled flights to Brussels, as well as personal messages, including phrases like: “I miss you))) Kisses from Brussels.” In another exchange, an unidentified person informed Epstein that he had had a video call with a “pretty nice” looking woman who was waiting for a visa and worked as a booker at a modeling agency. Epstein replied curtly: “Yes, for the trip to Brussels.”
In 2011, an email from an Epstein aide mentioned that “Jean-Luc called to say hello and to announce that he was leaving tonight for Brussels,” without providing further details.
One of Epstein’s own planned trips in 2019 turned out to be a very short one. According to a booking note from January of that year, he planned to travel by train from Paris, arriving at Gare du Midi station around 5 p.m. and leaving shortly after 8 p.m. The purpose of the visit remains unclear. The emails also included suggestions for restaurants in Brussels, including Belga Queen, described as one of the best in the city.
The documents also mention that in 2019, former Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák allegedly booked a meeting with Epstein at the Brasserie des Étangs Mellaerts restaurant. The restaurant did not confirm the booking. Lajčák has recently stated that he did nothing illegal, but said he felt “stupid” for maintaining contact with Epstein after his conviction.
At the same time, the documents show that Epstein has shown a continuing interest in European Union policies. In 2018, he exchanged emails with Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, about the European Commission’s plans to regulate cryptocurrencies. In another instance, Epstein’s name appears in an invitation to comment on a speech to the European Parliament in 2015 on regulating surveillance software. The inclusion of his name, the documents emphasize, does not automatically imply illegal activity.
Recently, Prince Laurent of Belgium confirmed that he had met with Epstein twice, following the publication of the financier's address book, stressing that there was nothing inappropriate and that he spoke publicly to end the speculation.
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