Common Sense Media board members reportedly tied to Jeffrey Epstein

FIRST ON FOX: Jim Steyer, brother of billionaire California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer, has multiple board members with ties to Jeffrey Epstein at his children’s online safety organization, Common Sense Media (CSM); This could set off alarm bells as wealthy elites continue to face a showdown over exchanging emails with Epstein or boarding his private jet.

will be CSM hosting a conference next week The organization, which will feature many industry experts and Democratic politicians as speakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, is a nonprofit organization whose stated purpose is to “put the well-being of children first in the digital age” and provide guidance to parents, as well as providing a forum for industry experts to discuss how to protect minors online.

While none of the previously reported connections between board members and Epstein indicate any wrongdoing related to Epstein’s crimes, the appearance of their past communications could raise questions about the judgment of some of their past interactions with Epstein and the review process for being on the board.

“After reviewing the relevant references herein, we have no concerns about these individuals. Common Sense Media remains the leading nonpartisan children’s advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the best interests of children and families in America,” a CSM spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

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The Steyer brothers were not included in Epstein’s emails and have not been charged with any crimes.

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Tim Zagat

Tim Zagat, founder and former CEO of Zagat Survey, a fine dining rating service. The New York Post reported It is a fact revealed by the recent statements of the Department of Justice that he repeatedly visited dining venues with Epstein and was included in Epstein’s flight logbook.

Zagat also reportedly attended a dinner at Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion in 2014 that included Hollywood director Woody Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, and Nick Pritzker, the former boss of Hyatt hotels and the once-deposed cousin of Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Multiple emails reviewed by Fox News Digital show Zagat reaching out to Epstein and inviting him to dinner.

He’s also listed on a flight Entry from 2002 Epstein’s infamous “Lolita Express” private jet appears to match a late February trip to a TED conference in California.

Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in federal custody in 2019. (New York State Sex Offender Registry, File via AP)

The entry lists a number of passengers: “JE. SK. GERALDINE LAYBORNE. KIT LAYBORNE. STEVEN PINKER. NINA TIM ZAGAT.”

It is unknown whether the “JE” reference indicates that Epstein himself was on the flight.

What is clear, however, is that another CSM board member was also on the flight.

Geraldine Labourne

Geraldine Laybourne, who was president of Nickelodeon from 1984 to 1996, was also named as a passenger in one of the 2002 records. In the past, Laybourne has claimed he did not know the plane belonged to Epstein but accepted a flight from New York to Monterey, California.

“We said yes. We didn’t know whose plane it was or who Jeffrey Epstein was,” Laybourne said. he told The Daily Beast. In 2023.

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Howard Gardner

In another case, CSM recruited Howard Gardner, a renowned academic known for his research on education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and maintained contact with him even after news of Epstein’s crimes emerged.

According to Bloomberg, Gardner had long correspondence with Epstein. Gardner’s name appears at least 380 times in the Justice Department’s Epstein disclosures. Most are email communications or logistical arrangements.

In an email, Epstein described planned trips with Gardner.

“Having a ‘smart day’ at Harvard. Larry Summers – finance. Chomsky – language. Eric Lander, George Church – genetics. Howard Gardner – intelligence.” Epstein wrote: citing various experts and their fields of study.

“Once upon a time,” Gardner told The Harvard Crimson last year. [Epstein] “Having been arrested, I made it clear to him that I could no longer accept any funds, but I tried to be supportive as a friend and a beneficiary of his philanthropy.”

“Of course, no one I knew (including dozens of Harvard faculty) had any idea of ​​the nature and scope of Epstein’s crimes, and this only became clear in later years,” he continued.

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Cyrus Vance Jr.

Cyrus Vance Jr., Manhattan’s former district attorney from 2010 to 2021, joined CSM’s board in 2024 despite past backlash after his office insisted in 2011 that Epstein should receive more lenient treatment.

Specifically, Vance’s office argued that Epstein should be designated a Level 1 sex offender; this is a reduction from level 3, the classification reserved for high-level threats.

It was reported that the judge presiding over the case was surprised by this request. according to court documents.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. launched an investigation into the affairs of Trump and his family in 2019. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images) (Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

“I have to say, I’m a little overwhelmed because I’ve never seen the prosecutor’s office do anything like this. I’ve done it a lot. [cases]It is far less disturbing that the public would never make such a derogatory argument,” Judge Ruth Pickholz said.

At the time, Epstein was convicted of sexual assault against minors in 2008.

In response to a request for comment, Vance said he had no knowledge of Epstein’s previous case due to an error in the case. After becoming aware of the case, Vance said he imposed the strictest restrictions possible on Epstein.

“I have never met or had any contact with Mr. Epstein,” Vance said in a comment.

Vance’s office also faced backlash for failing to prosecute disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein in 2015, two years before the “MeToo” movement brought him down.

Chelsea Clinton

Finally, Chelsea Clinton, vice president of the Clinton Foundation, has served on the CSM board of directors for more than a decade. She also had a relationship with Epstein, which came to public attention when she attended the wedding of Epstein’s accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell attended at the invitation of Clinton Foundation donor Ted Waitt. accordingly Hillary Clinton’s later statements.

However Politico reports He suggested that the one-off situation had gone even deeper. Politico reported that sources said the two were “incredibly close.”

Chelsea Clinton is seen with her mother Hillary Clinton at a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on November 8, 2016. (Reuters)

Chelsea Clinton has repeatedly challenged these characterizations.

“Chelsea until 2015 [her husband] Marc has become aware of the horrific allegations against Ghislaine Maxwell and hopes all the victims receive justice. Chelsea and Marc were friendly with him because of his relationship with a dear friend. “When that relationship ended, so did Chelsea’s friendship with him.” he told Politico.

Chelsea’s parents, Bill and Hillary Clinton, both recently went viral after being interviewed by the House Oversight Committee about their previous, long-term relationships with Epstein and Maxwell.

In addition to its board members, CSM also counts the Gates Foundation as one of its founding partners. Bill Gates, the foundation’s co-founder and executive chairman, repeatedly contacted Epstein through email communications and meetings over several years, which Gates called “stupid” earlier this year.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates attends a dinner hosted by President Donald Trump with technology leaders in the State Dining Room at the White House on September 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

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“Looking back, I was a fool to spend any time with him,” Gates said of Epstein. “I guess I was pretty stupid. I thought it was going to help me with global health philanthropy. It actually didn’t deliver. That was a huge mistake.”

He is expected to appear for a written interview with the House Oversight Committee in May.

Fox Digital has reached out to the Steyer campaign and five board members for comment. Steyer brothers