New york: The latest release of documents by the US Justice Department has revealed that the Dalai Lama is referenced more than 150 times in relation to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. A cursory search of the files on the US Department of Justice website shows 157 mentions of the Tibetan Buddhist leader.
According to Anadolu Agency, an email dated October 21, 2012, shows Epstein informing a contact about his plans to attend an event on an unnamed island, which the Dalai Lama was also expected to attend. Further emails from May 2015 show discussions about arranging meetings with the Dalai Lama, with one stating, "I'm working on the dalai lama for dinner."
The Dalai Lama's office has not issued any public comments regarding these references in the newly released documents. The documents are part of a massive release that includes over 3 million pages of photographs, grand jury transcripts, and investigative records related to Epstein, although many pages remain heavily redacted.
American journalist and consultant Michael Wolff, who acted as an advisor to Epstein, recalled in a podcast interview that he met the Dalai Lama at Epstein's Manhattan residence. Wolff mentioned that Epstein frequently hosted well-known figures at his house.
The Dalai Lama, born Tenzin Gyatso, was recently announced as a Grammy winner for his audiobook, "Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness The Dalai Lama." Despite this accolade, the Buddhist leader has faced past controversies, including a 2023 incident where he was filmed making an inappropriate request to a young male student.
Historically, the Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala in northern India following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. He established a Tibetan parliament and government-in-exile, which Beijing does not recognize, claiming Tibet has been part of China since the 13th century. The Dalai Lama, however, asserts that Tibet was independent when the Chinese People's Liberation Army entered the region.
Epstein was found dead by suicide in a New York City jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. The Epstein Files Transparency Act led to the recent release of his case files, shedding new light on the connections and communications of the late financier.