Washington, United States. U.S. Justice Department files released on Friday show Ariane de Rothschild corresponded dozens of times with Jeffrey Epstein and agreed to multiple meetings over about five years before his 2019 arrest. The documents do not appear to contain any sign of criminal wrongdoing.
Documents and meetings
The files raise questions about an earlier characterisation by Edmond de Rothschild, cited by the Wall Street Journal in 2023, which said she met with Epstein as part of her normal duties at the bank. Reuters could not independently confirm the purpose of their meetings.
The correspondence shows the two arranged multiple meetings over several years at Epstein’s homes in New York and Paris, and that he invited de Rothschild to stay at his apartment.
On March 19, 2019, about four months before his arrest, Epstein wrote to de Rothschild, informing her he was in Paris. She responded: “Are you really ?!! I’m here as well. When would you be free?”
“its been much much too long,” Epstein replied, before they arranged to meet the following day. Reuters could not establish if they met as planned on this occasion or on previous ones as the correspondence suggests.
Bank response and background
The disclosure of the previously unknown familiarity between the late financier and the banking executive adds de Rothschild to a growing list of prominent figures revealed to have been in Epstein’s social circle, following the release of documents under pressure from victims and members of Congress.
A spokesperson for the bank told Reuters that Epstein was a business acquaintance of de Rothschild from 2013 to 2019. The spokesperson said de Rothschild had no knowledge of Epstein’s conduct and “unequivocally condemns his behaviour and the crimes which he committed,” in an emailed statement, without responding to several requests for comment on specific exchanges between the two.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl and served 13 months in a Florida prison.
What do the U.S. Justice Department files indicate about the nature and timing of de Rothschild’s contacts with Epstein?
