Epstein partied with Trump associates Rudy Giuliani, Steven Mnuchin and Wilbur Ross soon after release in sexual abuse case
Just months after getting released from prison for soliciting a minor in a case of 2008, billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein, now in custody on charges of sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York, was seen partying with some of President Donald Trump's closest associates and advisers in August 2010.
In a 2010 photo, obtained by Daily Mail, Epstein could be seen deep in conversation with movie producer Jonathan Farkas, with whom he would often double date. It was an afterparty for the screening of the movie, 'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps', which was held at the home of businessman David Koch. You can see the picture here.
Epstein's appearance at the party should have come as a bit of a surprise for the attendees who were familiar with his preference of staying at home whenever he had the option of doing so versus going to nightclubs and partying with his friends. However, an anonymous witness at the bash told Page Six that the investor was "greeted warmly by guests" at the event, who showed no signs of shock at his presence. "It was the first time he has been out in two years, but nobody blinked he was there," the witness said.
The witness also confirmed that the party was attended by Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin and his former wife Heather, Trump attorney and former Mayor of New York City Rudy Giuliani and his then-wife Judith, and Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "He was chatting to Jonathan Farkas, Leon Black [private equity investor], and Wilbur Ross. He was sitting right near Rudy Giuliani," the witness said.
The person's account was corroborated by a news piece that the Wall Street Journal wrote on the event a few days later. The article noted that Giuliani "walked out of the theater around the same time as Jeffrey Epstein, leading one observer to remark on the 'beautifully done meeting of the prosecutor and the felon.'" When a number of people from the party were asked about what they thought of the criminal elements in the movie, one individual remarked, "You know, you have to be a little careful what you say and ask here, because there are a lot of guys in the room who spent some time in prison, too."
Among the other attendees were designers Tory Burch and Tamara Mellon, billionaires Henry Kravis and Steve Schwarzman and publicist Peggy Siegal. Siegal later admitted meeting Epstein at the party and helping him out with something. "I was a kind of plugged-in girl around town who knew a lot of people. And I think that’s what he wanted from me, a kind of social goings-on about New York," she told the New York Times.
She added that she later also assisted Epstein host a dinner for Prince Andrew at his home. "The culture before #MeToo was — 'You’ve done your time, now you’re forgiven,'" she said.
Epstein was denied bail on July 18. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and faces at least 45 years of imprisonment if convicted.