Why did Richard Branson have breakfast with Jeffrey Epstein? Virgin Group founder met the sex offender 3 yrs after conviction, says court documents
LONDON, UK: In a shocking revelation, business magnate Richard Branson allegedly met convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and had breakfast with him. As per court records, the US financier and the Virgin Group founder spent time together three years after Epstein was sent to jail for child prostitution.
In 2019, when Sir Richard Branson’s name was first linked with Epstein after it appeared in a ‘little black book’ of high-profile Espstein contacts. At that time the billionaire’s spokesperson said that the two men had 'no personal or business relationship'. According to media outlets, executives at JP Morgan were aware of financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse and they even joked about him having an affair with Miley Cyrus, who was 16 years old back then. The singer-actor starred in the Disney TV series 'Hannah Montana' in 2008.
View this post on Instagram
Why did Richard Branson have breakfast with Jeffrey Epstein?
As per a court document obtained by DailyMail, Richard Branson and Jeffrey Epstein allegedly met in 2011. The convicted pedophile emailed his private banker Jes Staley and the former Labour Cabinet Minister Peter Mandelson talking about having breakfast with the entrepreneur. The document states, “On January 7, 2011, Epstein writes to Peter Mandelson (copying Staley) ‘had breakfast with Richard Branson, he is also a big fan of Africa.'”
Epstein is a convicted sex offender and in June 2008 he pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution. He was given 18 months jail sentence in the case. A source told, “We have no record of a breakfast on January 7, 2011,” when asked by the MoS if Sir Richard and Epstein ever met personally or had breakfast. According to an insider, Sir Richard said he 'did not travel to Africa with Epstein, meet with Epstein in Africa or attend a 2002 trip with Epstein.'
'Andrew just sat next to me at dinner'
Last week, it also came to light that Prince Andrew had also visited Epstein while the pedophile was held under house arrest for the child prostitution offense, In an email sent to Staley on June 14, 2010, it was written, “Andrew just sat next to me at dinner.” According to Andrew’s claim, he did not meet Epstein between 2006 and the visit in December 2010.
In 2022, Andrew agreed to pay a reported £12 million to settle a civil case brought by Virginia Roberts, 39, claiming she was sexually assaulted by him while she was 17, though he rejected her claims. On the other hand, Lord Mandelson's spokesperson denied any professional or business relationship with Epstein.