Epstein, Barak brokered Israel-Côte d’Ivoire intelligence relationship: Report
Leaked emails show the sex offender's extensive partnership with former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak
Convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak helped Israeli intelligence shape the security apparatuses of several African nations, most notably in the country of Cote d’Ivoire, Drop Site News (DSN) reported on 10 November.
Citing recently released US government documents and leaked emails between Barak and Epstein, who died in jail in 2019, DSN revealed new details of Israeli intelligence operations in the West African nation.
In 2012, “Epstein helped Barak deliver a proposal for mass surveillance of Ivorian phone and internet communications, crafted by former Israeli intelligence officials,” which the former defense minister sought to profit financially from, DSN wrote.
In one email, Epstein wrote to Barak: “With civil unrest exploding [...] and the desperation of those in power, isn’t this perfect for you.”
Barak replied: “You’re right [in] a way. But not simple to transform it into a cash flow.”
In 2014, Epstein and Barak successfully brokered an official security agreement between Israel and Cote d’Ivoire, which helped President Alassane Ouattara surveil his population, tighten his grip on power, ban public demonstrations, and arrest peaceful protestors.
“Under Ouattara, since 2011, freedoms of opinion, thought, and _expression_ have been criminalized,” exiled activist Boga Sako Gervais told DSN. “It has become forbidden to criticize the head of state.”
In June 2012, Ouattara traveled to Jerusalem to meet then-Defense Minister Barak and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss cooperation in science, technology, and counterterrorism.
On the same day Barak was meeting with President Ouattara in Jerusalem, his son David Dramane Ouattara was in New York City for an appointment with Epstein, according to seized copies of Epstein’s schedule released by the US House Oversight Committee.
Three months later, Epstein met with Ouattara’s niece Nina Keita, a young fashion model he had known for a decade and who had traveled on Epstein’s private jet (known as the “Lolita Express”) between New York and Paris.
After he met with Keita, Epstein immediately went to the Regency Hotel in New York for a private meeting with Barak.
The next month, Epstein flew to Cote d’Ivoire, Angola, and Senegal.
Ivorian Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko visited Tel Aviv just two weeks later to meet with Barak and discuss a bilateral security accord focused on intelligence and cybercrime.
Even after Barak left his government role as defense minister, emails and private records show that he finished negotiating the intelligence deal with Cote d’Ivoire covertly, with assistance from Epstein.
The relationship between Epstein, Barak, and Cote d’Ivoire officials that resulted in the security agreements between Israel and the West African nation suggests Epstein worked in some capacity for Israeli intelligence.
A year later, Barak also secretly helped MF Group, a French-Israeli security contractor run by Michel Farjon, complete the sale of military helicopters to the government of Cameroon, DNS reported, citing leaked emails.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution but was given a non-prosecution plea deal by the Miami US attorney, Alexander Acosta, who stated that he was warned to “back off" because Epstein was connected to an unnamed intelligence agency.
Epstein was again arrested in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges. Epstein died while in prison awaiting his trial in mysterious circumstances.
Prison authorities claim he committed suicide; however, this is disputed.
Epstein’s close associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of operating a sex trafficking ring with Epstein to supply underage girls to celebrities and politicians. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Epstein’s black book, containing his client list, was not released after the trial.
Among the politicians and celebrities who have been linked to Epstein in some fashion are US President Donald Trump, academic Noam Chomsky, former US president Bill Clinton, and current CIA director William Burns, businessman Bill Gates, and Prince Andrew of Britain.
Since his election earlier this year, President Trump has refused to release new details about Epstein’s case, including his client list.