Epstein files: Football, F1, and NFL bosses kept links after sex conviction

The files show Crystal Palace investor Josh Harris remained in contact with Epstein via email and phone calls for many years after his conviction, including attending a breakfast meeting in 2013 and then sending an email saying “thank you for inviting me.”

Harris, whose private equity firm Apollo Global Management also owns the NBA team Philadelphia 76ers, NHL team New Jersey Devils and NFL team Washington Commanders, also contacted Epstein in 2016 and said he was “happy to catch up” at some point in the future.

A spokesperson for Harris said: “Josh Harris never had an independent relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Harris attempted to thwart Epstein’s attempts to develop a corporate relationship with Apollo. As these emails show, Harris attempted to avoid meeting with Epstein, canceling meetings, and having others return her calls.”

Emails sent to Epstein show that in 2011, three years after Epstein was convicted, he had two meetings with Todd Boehly, now Chelsea’s co-owner and chairman.

The emails suggest that Epstein asked to be introduced to Boehly, who was then co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and managing partner of global asset management firm Guggenheim Partners.

Neither Boehly nor Chelsea have commented publicly.

Celtic owner Dermot Desmond was mentioned twice in emails sent to Epstein in 2010 on behalf of golf resort developer Gerald G Barton.

In the messages, someone writing on behalf of Barton told Epstein that Irish billionaire Desmond, who owns a golf resort, was willing to provide millions of dollars to help co-finance golf developments.

BBC Sport has contacted Celtic for Desmond’s response.