Meet the high-profile Emirati business leader lawmakers are linking to Epstein ‘torture’ email

U.S. officials released new revelations from the Epstein files on Monday, revealing who they believe is the recipient behind a disturbing email that referenced a purported “torture video” sent by late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

According to documents recently released by the US Department of Justice, this name is Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, one of the most powerful businessmen in the Emirates, who has maintained a relationship with Epstein for years and whose communications often contain explicit content.

The latest statement came from Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif. On Monday, he examined documents that had not been redacted at the Ministry of Justice.

Massie posted a screenshot of the email on social media platform X. In the email, Epstein wrote to an edited recipient: “Where are you? Are you okay, I loved the torture video.” The response was: “I’m in China and will be in the US the 2nd week of May.”

Alongside the screenshot, Massie wrote that it “looks like a sultan sent this” and called on the Department of Justice to make the information public.

This caught the attention of Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who responded to Massie at X, stating that redaction protects personally identifiable information in an email address. He added that Sülayem’s name was included without editing elsewhere in the published files. linked to a document containing the name.

Massie later said that Blanche “tacitly admitted that it was Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem who sent the torture video.”

CNBC sought comment through DP World, where Sulayem serves as president and CEO, but did not receive a response. Sulayem was not charged with any crime. It is also unclear what exactly the “torture video” referenced was and whether it was actually sent from Sulayem to Epstein.

Authorities emphasized that a mention in the Epstein files does not indicate wrongdoing or prove that the name was part of an alleged client list or blackmail scheme.

But the email adds to the tapestry of years of communication between Sulayem and Epstein, which referenced everything from business dealings to politics to sex.

Prominent leadership roles make him a important representative Dubai’s economy is among the leaders in both the UAE and the international community. Sulayem appeared regularly at international forums, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, often rubbing shoulders with politicians and giving speeches.

But emails released by the Justice Department suggest that Epstein saw a very different side of Sultan, and that he was such a trusted friend and confidant that he would engage in substantive discussions about business and sex.

When the name “Sulayem” is searched in the Ministry of Justice’s Epstein library, thousands of results come up; Many of these appear to be email exchanges between the two from 2007 to 2019, long after the financier was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008.

The Justice Department’s filing states that Epstein once asked Sulayem “close personal friend“He had known him for 8 years. He described Süleyman as follows: one of his most trusted friends in other articles.

Being a trusted friend in the world of Epstein seems to require candid communications regarding, but not limited to, the following topics: with masseuses; sexual encounters with women; escort And prostitution services; suggestive comments And jokes; And pornography.

The two appeared to argue frequently personal meetings. Open several timesSulayem is located on Epstein’s private island, Little St. James was arrested on Little St. Louis, which prosecutors allege was used as a base for sex trafficking. He corresponded with Epstein about James.

in one 2014 emailEpstein appears to have invited former Labor minister Peter Mandelson to join Suleiman’s board, writing: “sultan [sic] He asked me to encourage you to join his board of directors.”

The files also appear to implicate Epstein connecting via email to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Suleiman in 2015. report A report from Drop Site News in January suggested that Epstein brokered several meetings between Ehud Barak and Sulayem, citing previously published emails.

Ehud Barak previously defended his job Epstein stated at the time that he believed the businessman had paid his debt to society and that he was not accused of wrongdoing.

Accordingly Bloomberg’s Epstein, who reviewed public files and others obtained by the outlet last summer, also tried to help connect Sulayem to figures such as an aide to former French President Nicolas Sarkozy; retail billionaire and longtime Epstein boss behind Victoria’s Secret, Les Wexner; and Jes Staley, who was a senior executive at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in the late 2000s.

Sarkozy has not publicly acknowledged his alleged ties to Epstein. Wexner said in 2019 that he had previously employed Epstein but was unaware of the illegal conduct for which Epstein was later accused. Staley in June didn’t topple over A decision of the UK Financial Conduct Authority finding that he had “carelessly” misled regulators in 2019 about the nature of his relationship with Epstein.

CNBC also confirmed that the latest DOJ filings include: 2010 email Epstein asked Sulayem if he wanted to meet Thomas Pritzker, the chairman of the board of Hyatt Hotels. A representative for Pritzker declined to comment.

After the global financial crisis in 2009, Epstein sent a message. email An unidentified “sultan” is addressed regarding an apparent investment deal and payment to Epstein. “Your people should talk to Pritsker,” Epstein wrote, adding: “Hyatt is the perfect answer to MGM, not Barrrack.”

Epstein may be referring to MGM Mirage, the casino operator owned by Epstein and Sulayem. article exchange about. Suleiman’s Dubai World in 2009 reportedly MGM sued Mirage for massive cost overruns.

Epstein also appeared to use “sultan” to refer to Pritzker’s Hyatt rather than “Barrack.” It’s not clear who he’s talking about, but private equity real estate investor Thomas Barrack appeared In Epstein’s other emails with Sulayem.

In a December 2009 email, Epstein sent Staley several emails on the subject. investments and a potential meetingalso with an unspecified “sultan”.

Epstein and Sulaymen also shared the details of their separate meetings with other prominent figures, especially US President Donald Trump and his circle.

The Epstein files show that Sulayem was invited to Trump’s first presidential inauguration by U.S. diplomat Thomas Barrack, who currently serves as the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria. Sulayem asked Epstein, “Should I accept the invitation?” he asked. January 2017 email.

According to the files, Epstein was also linked to Steve Bannon, Trump’s former senior adviser and one of the key architects of his 2016 election victory.

“We became friends, you’ll like him,” Epstein told Sulayem about Bannon. email In February 2018. “Trump doesn’t like him,” Sulayem replied. “Don’t believe the press,” Epstein responded.

Bannon has said little publicly about his relationship with Epstein but has called for the release of the Epstein files.