"There are many ways to read the vast trove of documents tied to the convicted sex offender and financier Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide in prison in 2019. The Epstein files offer a window into the rarefied, power-brokering circles he inhabited. But the latest tranche-released by the U.S. Department of Justice in late January and comprising some three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images-also provides a behind-the-scenes view of high-level financial maneuvering, including Epstein's connections to the art and cultural worlds."
"Revelations in the latest files have already had consequences: former French culture minister Jack Lang resigned as president of the Arab World Institute after disclosures connecting him to Epstein, and French financial-crimes prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation into him and his daughter for alleged "aggravated tax-fraud laundering." Art collector and film producer Steve Tisch is also facing scrutiny over email correspondence with Epstein in 2013 concerning multiple women."
"The files also shed additional light on the art holdings of the billionaire and his dealings with Epstein. Black, who served as chairman of the board of trustees of the Museum of Modern Art in New York from 2018 to 2021, stepped down from that role after backlash over his financial ties to Epstein, though he remained on the board as a trustee. Black has faced civil lawsuits and allegations that he sexually assaulted women introduced to him through Epstein."
A massive Department of Justice release of Epstein-related materials — comprising roughly three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 images — exposes his financial networks and connections across art and cultural institutions. The documents have precipitated resignations and probes, including the departure of a French institute president and scrutiny of collectors and cultural figures tied to Epstein. The files illuminate Epstein's role in facilitating introductions and alleged abuses, as well as his use of financial structures to manage and potentially enhance the value of major art holdings. Civil lawsuits and preliminary criminal inquiries have followed from the disclosures.
Read at Artnet News
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