Ex-Israeli PM’s Hacked Emails Expose Ties to Epstein

Emails hacked from the inbox of former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak reveal discussions with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including exchanges about a trip to the disgraced financier’s private island. The emails – stolen last year by Handala, a hacking group with suspected ties to Iranian intelligence agencies – were provided to Straight Arrow News on Wednesday by the nonprofit leak archiver DDoSecrets.

Many of the emails detail Epstein’s partnership with Barak in 2015, when the pair began investing in a security startup known as Reporty Homeland Security. Epstein, according to Reason’s reporting, used Barak “to seek out opportunities in the surveillance industry and build connections with powerful figures around the globe.”

Emails reviewed by SAN show the closeness of Barak’s relationship with Epstein and the informality with which they addressed each other. In January 2014, Barak mentioned efforts to keep his security detail from accompanying him to Little Saint James, Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean.

“I’m still trying to arrange that the security guys will NOT come with us to the island,” Barak wrote. “Does this works for you?”

Epstein later responded by noting that a helicopter would pick up Barak once his flight from New York landed on St. Thomas. The emails do not say whether security officers or other guests attended with Barak.

‘Thx for the hospitality’

In another email from December of that year, Barak appears to compliment Epstein’s island.

“Hi Jeff,” the email begins. “Thx for the hospitality. Great, impressive island.”