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The Rest Is Classified
The Rest Is Classified

116. Epstein Files Declassified: Was He A Spy? (Ep 1)

January 12, 2026 • 38m

Summary

⏱️ 9 min read

Overview

In this episode of The Rest Is Classified, David McCloskey and Gordon Carrera examine whether convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had connections to intelligence services, particularly Mossad. They explore the popular theory that Epstein ran a blackmail operation using compromising material on powerful figures, analyze historical precedents like the Nazi-era Salon Kitty, and assess the plausibility of intelligence agency involvement. The hosts conclude that while Epstein would have been an intelligence target of interest, there's no credible evidence linking him to state-sponsored espionage operations.

Introduction: The Epstein Intelligence Question

The hosts introduce their two-part investigation into whether Jeffrey Epstein worked for an intelligence service, noting the question's enormous gravitational pull in American political consciousness. McCloskey reveals he received questions about Epstein's alleged Mossad connections at every book event, highlighting how the topic has become intertwined with current politics and even theories about the Venezuela operation. They establish their approach will be fact-based rather than conspiratorial, avoiding the anti-Semitism that often motivates such theories.

  • McCloskey received questions about Epstein's intelligence connections at every single book event during fall promotional tour
  • The Epstein story has real political repercussions and is creating cracks in the MAGA movement
  • Some theories even suggest the Venezuela operation was meant to distract from not releasing Epstein files
  • The hosts will focus specifically on intelligence connections, not the broader scandal or victim stories
" At every single book event and talk I did this fall, during the Q&A, I got a question about Epstein. Just every single time there was a question. "

Epstein's Background and Rise

The hosts outline Epstein's biography from middle-class Brooklyn origins through his career as a teacher at elite Dalton School, then his transition to finance at Bear Stearns before founding his own firm claiming to manage money exclusively for billionaires. His most important connection was billionaire Les Wexner, who gave Epstein extraordinary power of attorney over his finances. In the early 1990s, Epstein met Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of media mogul Robert Maxwell, who became his principal accomplice in criminal activities.

  • Epstein was born in Brooklyn and raised in a middle-class Jewish family before becoming a teacher at elite Dalton School
  • He transitioned to finance in the 70s and 80s, working at Bear Stearns before founding his own firm for billionaires
  • Les Wexner, founder of L Brands and Victoria's Secret, gave Epstein broad power of attorney over his finances in the mid-1980s
  • Epstein met Ghislaine Maxwell around 1991, who became his girlfriend and principal criminal accomplice

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