Epstein files: Partner saw Anwar PM-ship as 'gold mine' for JP Morgan
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's name has cropped up in the latest batch of files released by the US Justice Department (DOJ) concerning Jeffrey Epstein.
Anwar's name is not connected to any sexual misconduct or visits to the late Epstein's infamous island. Instead, he was discussed in the context of politics.
In an email dated…
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's name has cropped up in the latest batch of files released by the US Justice Department (DOJ) concerning Jeffrey Epstein.
Anwar's name is not connected to any sexual misconduct or visits to the late financier’s infamous island. Instead, he was discussed in the context of politics.
In an email dated Feb 21, 2012, an unknown associate of Epstein sent an email inquiring if a meeting should be set up between Anwar and "Jes" to explore potential future benefits for "JPM".
JPM refers to US bank JP Morgan and Jes is believed to be Jes Staley, the company's investment bank chief executive at the time.
"Should we arrange a private meeting for Jes with Anwar? If he becomes prime minister of Malaysia he will clean up and it could be a gold mine for JPM.
"I know Anwar well, always stayed close to him for many years even though everybody said he's finished and can never come back. Looks different now," the unknown Epstein associate said in the email.
The DOJ has redacted the sender’s identity.
Epstein then replied, suggesting a meeting in May, while asking if Anwar would travel to the US or Europe.
Later, Epstein told the associate to dangle the prospects of Hollywood films being made in Malaysia.
"You can tell him that Woody Allen is with me in Paris, and many countries are offering him money to make a movie in their country, ‘Midnight in Paris’, ‘(Vicky) Cristina Barcelona’, Bop, Rome, etc," he said.
The document ends there. It is not known if a meeting was eventually set between Anwar and Staley, and if the prime minister had met Epstein.
Email just before 2013 GE
The email exchange came a year before the 2013 general election, in which Anwar led then opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat into a strong electoral performance.
In the election, despite winning just 89 out of 222 seats, Pakatan won 50.9 percent of the popular vote. It was the final time in Malaysian electoral history thus far that a single coalition has secured more than 50 percent of votes.
It was also Anwar's closest shot at becoming prime minister before he finally achieved his goal in 2022.
At the time, Anwar was popular with Western figures who saw him as a reform-minded leader closely aligned with Western ideals.
This in turn led to conspiracy theories that the US and other Western powers were backing Anwar for a regime change.
Anwar should explain
Responding to the Epstein emails, Bersatu Youth urged the prime minister to explain himself and whether he had ever met the disgraced American financier or others in the discussion.
"This explanation is warranted especially regarding allegations that his premiership was a ‘gold mine’ opportunity for a foreign financial institution," said Bersatu Youth communications director Na'im Brundage in a statement today.
Epstein - who died of suicide in 2019 while being imprisoned - and his associates have been the subject of intense scrutiny, after multiple allegations that he sexually abused underage girls.
Documents and correspondence linked are being released by the DOJ amid a push for transparency in the probe against Epstein, in light of his close association with US President Donald Trump.
Staley is another close associate of Epstein and is said to have benefited from the latter's network of VIPs.
