- The Justice Department has a searchable online Epstein Library.
- The Deseret News searched the database for Jeffrey Epstein connections to Utah.
- A Utah law professor is represented in good light fighting for abuse victims.
The millions of pages the Justice Department recently made available in the online Epstein Library reveals the wide social network wealthy convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein cast before he killed himself in 2019.
As The New York Times pointed out, the large tranche of files has embarrassed some of his powerful friends and, in some cases, ended their careers. Epstein’s orbit extended to people and places everywhere, including Utah.
We searched the Epstein Library for connections to Utah using a variety of simple search terms. It yielded thousands of documents of various types.
Sometimes Utah came up in travel plans for Epstein’s associates or friends — including famous ones — for trips to Park City, Deer Valley and the Sundance Film Festival. Others referenced Utah politicians past and present; not in any sordid way, but in relation to a piece of legislation or news article. Some of the documents contained long lists of the day’s news headlines that included Utah stories. In one email to Epstein, Woody Allen made a remark about “Mormons.”
My own name shows up in three documents, all referencing a news story I wrote in 2020 about a Heber City man convicted in a federal court for a day trading scheme that took investors for $10.3 million.
The vast majority of Utah-related documents, though, were court records or emails connected to Paul Cassell, a former federal judge and University of Utah law professor who represented two of the more than 30 girls Epstein sexually abused between 1999 and 2007. Epstein was convicted on state charges in Florida of procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute as part of a controversial plea deal in 2008.
“I’ve gotten a few crank phone calls, but I think most people understand why my name would appear in there as someone who was advocating for the victims,” Cassell said.
A longtime victim advocate, Cassell filed a lawsuit alleging the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Florida had violated the abuse victims’ rights under the federal Crime Victims Rights Act. He and Florida attorney Brad Edwards challenged Epstein’s plea deal, which also shields his co-conspirators from prosecution, all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The high court declined to hear the case. The emails in the files are correspondence between Cassell and government lawyers as the case worked its way through the courts.
“One of the frustrating things for Brad and me was that back in 2008, we were trying to draw attention to the sweetheart deal and have people pay close attention to the Epstein victims. For many years, I think it’s fair to say our efforts were not appreciated,” Cassell said.
“It was certainly not drawing the kind of attention that every little Epstein bit of information seems to draw today. We certainly would have appreciated having more publicity back in 2008 when it would have been more possible to pursue Epstein and his co-conspirators.”
Here’s a section of a February 2015 court declaration filed by a 31-year-old woman identified as Jane Doe No. 3 who wrote that Epstein and others sexually abused her when she was 15. She wants to join Cassell’s and Edwards’ lawsuit.
In April 2014, I asked two good attorneys — Brad Edwards and Paul Cassell — to see if they could help me bring Epstein and his friends to justice. They agreed to add me to the existing case. They explained to me that the lawsuit was not asking to get money from Epstein or others. I understand and have always understood that the goal of the case is to simply enforce my rights as a crime victim — rights that were wrongly taken from me.
I want Epstein and the others who committed crimes against me to be punished fairly — the way other less powerful would be. I also want to be added to the suit filed by the two girls, Jane Doe Number I and Jane Doe Number 2, and I want to have rights the way a victim of a less wealthy and powerful criminal would have.
Following are other excerpts of where people or places in or related to Utah appear in the Epstein files. The list may not be complete and the context is not always clear. The DOJ sometimes redacted names of senders or recipients of emails and other information. If that’s the case, it will be indicated as (redacted). Spelling, grammar and punctuation were left as is.
Woody Allen’s ‘Mormons’ joke
In one email exchange on Jan. 20-21, 2016, Woody Allen wishes Epstein a happy birthday and follows it later with a message about an apparent planned trip to Utah. Allen and his wife Soon-Yi Previn were friends of Epstein, who arranged a White House visit for them in 2015, according to documents in the files.
2016/01/20
Woody Allen
Happy Birthday. Had an idea for a present but couldn’t figure out how to Fed Ex Kate
Upton.
------
2016/01/21
Woody Allen
Would like to firm up Utah trip.
If works for you-leave Wednesday Feb. 10 early and depart for NY Thursday Feb 11 at two or three afternoon. Only if good for you. If not we can switch to accommodate your schedule. Expect many Mormons or Martians-same thing.
Utah trip
Epstein and Woody Allen’s wife, Soon-Yi Previn, discuss a trip to Utah in 2016, though the nature of the travel isn’t apparent.
From: soon yi previn
To: jeffrey E. <jeevacation@gmail.com>
Subject: Re:
Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2016
I just got the confirmation that March 3 and 4th to go to Utah will work out just fine. Thank you
Sent from Soon-Yi’s iPhone
On Feb 13, 2016, jeffrey E. <jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote:
I know it might be difficult , and i will stick to the plan for the 24th, if need be , but i will need to return to paris. the markets are getting worse in europe. could we move the utah trip to the following week, . march 2..3 4 . ? I know woody starts filming the 7th you said. please let me know. I am sensitive to the change , and will of course keep to our plan if too much trouble
Park City ski trip
An email exchange between Epstein and his longtime executive assistant Lesley Groff references a ski trip to Park City involving “5 or 6″ girls. It’s not known who the girls are or their connection to Epstein.
From: “jeffrey E.” <igsvacation@amail.com>
Date: February 4, 2018
To: Lcslev Groff
les we need to organzie a trip to park ciy utah for the girls. hotel ski packages cooridante with as lead 5 or 6 . gilrs. air hotel ski packages cooridante with (redacted) as lead
To: (redacted)
Cc: (redacted)
From: Lesley Groff
Sent Sun 2/4/2018
Subject: Utah trip
Morning! How fun! M, I need more details: what are the dates? Is it 5 or 6 girls going? What ever you can give me will be great. I will probably start working on this tomorrow morning with my dedicated travel representative. She does not work on the weekends.
Sundance Film Festival premiere
French actress Sarah Kazemy emails Epstein about the showing of her film “Circumstance” at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011. The story of two young women exploring sexuality and rebellion in Tehran’s underground scene won the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic films.
From: Sarah Kazemy <
To: <jeevacation@gmail.com>
Subject: RE:
Date: Tue, 28 Dec 2010
Importance: Normal
Hi Jeffrey,
I’m in Phuket now and I haven’t had checked My email until now.. Just so you know, I have booked My ticket for Utah a month ago for The 21st, it’s a direct flight and The Premiere of “Circumstance” is the 22nd so there is no way I can go anywhere else before (I’m in Thailand till The 5th also). My only chance to come to NYC Will be if I’m invited to Tribeca Film festival.. We’ll see, maybe.
I hope you are doing great as always,
S.K.
Financially assisting a BYU-Idaho student
This email sent to Epstein appears to discuss him providing financial assistance to a BYU-Idaho student in 2011.
To: jeevacation@gmail.com[jeevacation@gmail.com]; jeevacationCcDg mail.com jeevacation@gmail.com]
From: (redacted)
Sent: (redacted)
Mon 3/21/2011
Subject: (no subject)
from CM:
Hello Jeffrey Epstein.
(Redacted) has sent you this e-mail to make it easy for you to provide assistance with the payment of expenses at BYU-Idaho. Please understand that you are under no obligation to make any payments you do not wish to make.
Message from: (redacted)
Hello, this is (redacted). My aunt (redacted) said that you sent a check to BYU-Idaho, and it was sent back. I did a little research and figured out that you can either send an ‘E Check’ directly to the school that will be deposited to my student account through the link provided, or you can send a paper check to the casher’s office at: Kimball 130 Rexburg. Idaho 83460-you mail it you have to mark it with my name (redacted) and m ID number (redacted ). If you have any questions please email me at (redacted). Thank you so much!
If you would like to make a payment on this individual’s BYU-Idaho account, please click the link below to enter the amounts you wish to pay and your payment information. Payments can be made with an E-Check or a MasterCard (a bank service charge will be added to MasterCard payments):
You may also add money to this individual’s I-Card declining balance which can then be used anywhere on campus to make purchases.
‘Book of Mormon’ musical
In this email, an assistant for entertainment publicist Peggy Seigal appears to be arranging for Epstein to see the “The Book of Mormon” musical in New York and take him backstage.
To: jeevacation©gmaitcom[jeevaeation©gmail.com];
jeevaeationegmail.comactevacation@gmail.com]
From: Stephanie
Sent Tue 6/14/2011
Subject: RE: Book of Mormon
Dear Jeffrey,
I am finding out about cool screenings and other events for the next few nights in New York that I will send to you shortly.
In the mean time, Peggy wanted me to inquire about getting tickets for BOOK OF MORMON for Thursday night. She said she would go with you and take you back stage.
Many Thanks,
Stephanie
Paris or Amangiri or Big Sur?
Located in southern Utah, Amangiri is one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive resorts. The remote resort has caught the eye of the ultra-rich. In this exchange, Epstein appears open to the idea of paying for a trip for an unidentified person.
From: (redacted)
To: Jeffrey Epstein
Subject:
Re: Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2019
Amazing. Love it. Paris or a trip to Amangiri in Utah or Big Sur - two places I want to go as well...one day... !!
On Feb 19, 2019, J jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote: pay for trip to paris with your boy for clothes shopping? fun - both
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019, (redacted) wrote: I think that would be a perfect gift... what do you think? Not that I have much time to do either shopping or travel but special occasions!
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 J jeevacation@gmail.com>wrote: both
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 (redacted) wrote: Shopping or travel...
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 (redacted) wrote: Hmmmmm... maybe we should add shopping to the black card.... or maybe some help shopping from a stylist
On Mon, Feb 18, 2019 J jeevacation@gmail.com> wrote: 6 weeks till birthday, . what would you like? ! make it good
Cold fusion
In 1989, University of Utah chemists Stanley Pons and Martin Fleischmann announced they had discovered “cold fusion,” a claim that eventually unraveled under further scientific review. Pons’ name appeared, as does former Utah Democratic Rep. Wayne Owens, in this 2009 email exchange between Epstein and illusionist Al Seckel, founder and executive director of the Southern California Skeptics, who died in 2015.
From: “Al seckel”
To: “Jeffrey Epstein” <jeevacation(rgmail.com>
Subject: Re: hey
Date: Thu, 01 Oct 2009
I look forward to one day sitting down and hearing some of your stories... ;-) And, paving some new ground ahead. Do you still want to do your unconference of passionate minds?
On Thu, Oct 1, 2009, Al seckel wrote:
Don’t leave me hanging Jeff. I want to know you relationship to Pons and cold fusion... :-)
From: Jeffrey Epstein leevacation@gmail.corn>
To: Al seckel
regarding cold fusion. i killed pons years ago
To: Jeffrey Epsteinljeevacation@gmail.com
From: Al seckel
Sent: Thur 10/1/2009
Subject: Re: hey
How did you kill him? There is still a group of these guys going strong...
On Thu, Oct 1, 2009, Al seckel wrote:
BTW, for your amusement, I spent part of the last month investigating a new cold fusion device for our billionaire engineer pals on the west coast, who were about to sink millions of dollars into this thing. I initially sent the “free” letter of “be carefull, be very careful, etc., but got in response a long letter filled with claims on how this was going to solve the various energy problems, etc. The material was good enough to fool an educated layman, but not an expert. They hired me, and I sort it out. No surprise, it was less efficient, not more efficient. Junk science throughout....
Really hope that someday you will make it to Malibu.
Don’t know why you reside in Florida. I thought the average age there was dead and it is filled with southern rednecks.
Cheers