Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, operated a central European hub of his network in Paris, according to an investigation by Die Zeit. The German newspaper examined recently published emails that illuminate Epstein’s systematic exploitation of young women and his intricate social connections in the French capital. These records portray a city meticulously planned for both business and abuse, where elite gatherings and trafficking of young women occurred alongside one another.
Epstein orchestrated the travel of his so-called “Girls” with the precision of an accountant. Emails show that he sometimes arranged nearly daily flights to Paris, often bringing in multiple young women from cities such as Moscow, Kyiv, and Minsk. On one occasion in September 2018, five women were flown in succession to Paris, with Epstein’s assistant, Lesley Groff, handling all ticketing and logistics. Groff, whose name appears frequently in the emails, coordinated nearly every aspect of Epstein’s Paris stays—from arranging flights to overseeing renovations in his luxury apartment. She is scheduled to testify before the US Congress on June 9 about her role in facilitating his operations.
Paris was not merely a stopover for Epstein; it became a central stage for his network. He spent roughly ten weeks each year in a sprawling 800-square-meter apartment on the Avenue Foch, a prestigious street connecting Bois de Boulogne to the Champs-Élysées. The emails depict a disturbing juxtaposition: Epstein alternated between meetings with architects, bankers, and politicians and encounters with young women he routinely referred to as “Girls.” His days combined ordinary business dealings with orchestrated exploitation.
Among the influential figures mentioned in Epstein’s Paris itinerary were Ariane de Rothschild, former French culture minister Jack Lang, Dubai Ports World executive Sultan Ahmed bin Sulajem, and Slovakian former foreign minister Miroslav Lajčák. In the wake of the revelations from Epstein’s files, both Sulajem and Lajčák resigned from their positions, although there is no evidence suggesting they were aware of Epstein’s criminal activities.
Epstein’s daily life in Paris, reconstructed from the emails, reveals a chilling routine. On January 30, 2014, for example, Epstein arrived in Paris first-class from New York at 8 a.m., while Groff notified him that two women would arrive later that evening at Orly Airport. Epstein’s personal driver was tasked with collecting them. Concurrently, Epstein received professional correspondence, including emails from a Deutsche Bank manager arranging meetings, as well as notes from de Rothschild and Israeli financier and former prime minister Ehud Barak, both of whom have denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes despite longstanding associations with him.
The Parisian apartment itself illustrated Epstein’s dual existence. French prosecutors, investigating potential involvement of local figures in his sex trafficking network, documented rooms lavishly decorated with trophies of young women. Photographs taken by authorities after Epstein’s 2019 arrest show about 100 framed images of women, including 65 in nude poses, displayed throughout the residence. Other rooms contained taxidermy and luxurious furnishings, highlighting Epstein’s obsession with status and control. In contrast, the apartment’s entryway displayed photographs with global celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Pope John Paul II, and filmmaker Woody Allen—figures associated socially with Epstein but who deny any knowledge of his criminal behavior.
The overlap of legitimate social engagement and exploitation was further confirmed by accounts from Epstein’s alleged victims. Stacey Williams, who publicly accused Epstein of abuse, described to French media how young models and likely minors dined alongside him and agents in Paris, only to be sexually exploited later in the evening. Emails also reveal the involvement of the late model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who facilitated access to many of Epstein’s victims. Brunel, accused of organizing the transport and accommodation of girls for Epstein, died in 2022 in prison awaiting trial for rape.
Despite Brunel’s death, Epstein’s European operations continued, meticulously coordinated through emails and schedules. Groff described planning the arrivals and departures of young women months in advance, while other contacts sent him photographs to evaluate potential new arrivals. In 2018, one email offered Epstein a “reserve of girls” who would turn 18 later that year, ready to be sent to Paris and New York. The Avenue Foch apartment had effectively become a European command center for his trafficking network.
Epstein’s integration into Parisian cultural circles was deliberate. Caroline Lang, daughter of former culture minister Jack Lang, actively managed aspects of his visits to Versailles, arranging special access and experiences for Epstein and his entourage. In correspondence, she suggested preparing “a few fun things” ahead of his arrival and even coordinated visits that included young women and prominent figures such as Woody Allen. The emails show that Epstein’s network operated across social, cultural, and geographic lines, blending elite society with systemic abuse.
