Brad Karp
As chairman of Paul Weiss, Karp maintained a close personal and professional relationship with Epstein from at least 2014 through 2019, during which he discussed privileged client matters involving Leon Black, Apollo, SoftBank, Carlos Ghosn, and Caesars directly with Epstein. Email records indicate the two exchanged information across multiple active representations, combining personal friendship, legal advisory work, and informal information sharing in ways that blurred conventional professional boundaries.
Brad S. Karp (born circa 1960) served as chairman of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP from 2008 until his resignation on February 4, 2026, following the Department of Justice release of Jeffrey Epstein's email corpus. DOJ Volume 11 documents show that Karp maintained both a personal and professional relationship with Epstein from at least 2014 through early 2019, visiting Epstein's townhouse at 9 East 71st Street repeatedly and dining with him alongside Kathryn Ruemmler, the former White House Counsel. Karp's firm simultaneously represented Leon Black and Apollo Global Management, SoftBank, and Nissan interests in the Carlos Ghosn prosecution. Emails show Karp discussed all of these representations directly with Epstein: forwarding a response about a Leon Black escrow arrangement (March 2016), responding when Epstein asked about the Caesars litigation while Paul Weiss was a named defendant in Case 15-01145, and confirming SoftBank representation when Epstein asked "Rajeev misra do you represent?" in January 2019 1. Epstein characterized the bond in a November 2018 email: "You and i are friends with a disagreement" 2.
The correspondence around the Ghosn affair provides the most detailed documentary thread. Karp told Epstein he was "dealing with Ghosn crisis" the day after the arrest 3, and within ten days the two were exchanging intelligence on the matter in both directions. Paul Weiss registered as a lobbyist for Ghosn under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, with Karp personally named on the filing. Quarterly LDA filings show $240,000 in declared income from Q4 2018 through Q1 2020.
The relationship extended into Karp's family life. Both children appear in the email corpus: his son David attended Epstein-hosted Woody Allen screenings beginning at age eighteen in May 2014 and later dined privately with Epstein and Allen 4. Karp shared his daughter Meredith's medical emergency with Epstein 5 and brought his son's girlfriend to Epstein events. His wife Robbie Karp is referenced obliquely but never named in the documents. The breadth of personal disclosures in these emails — children's careers, family medical information, a wife's private opinions — goes well beyond the scope of a conventional attorney-client relationship.
The Ghosn Intelligence Channel
The Karp-Epstein correspondence on the Carlos Ghosn arrest provides the most granular documentary evidence of two-way information sharing in the DOJ email corpus. Karp told Epstein he was "dealing with Ghosn crisis" on November 20, 2018, the day after the arrest 3. Within ten days, Epstein offered information from his own source: "ghosen info when you like." Karp replied: "That was quick. On call with DOJ now" — indicating both that Karp was in contact with the Department of Justice on Ghosn-related matters and that he noted the speed with which Epstein had obtained information 6. Epstein's response, comparing his source to "the experienced mechanic" who knows "exactly where to knock," suggests a specific source rather than general media monitoring.
The December 26, 2018 exchange is particularly detailed. Epstein wrote: "following ghosen. it appears my guy had it right from day one. any updates?" Karp, returning from Tokyo, replied: "Just returning from tokyo. Your guy totally had it right" 7. Karp's Christmas-period trip to Tokyo in his capacity as Paul Weiss chairman reflects the seniority of the firm's involvement in the Ghosn matter. Four days later, Epstein followed up: "how you doing? traveling to tokyo must have been stressful" 8. The casual tone of these exchanges — checking in on the stress of international travel, sharing assessments in informal fragments — indicates a relationship in which the chairman of a major law firm regularly discussed an ongoing DOJ matter with Epstein and validated the accuracy of Epstein's independent source.
The thread continued into late January 2019. On January 24, Epstein told Karp: "when free I can bring you up to date on google. ghosen SIC and..." 9 — offering updates on multiple matters at once, including one involving Google and the ongoing Ghosn situation. Two days later, on January 26, Epstein wrote "ghosen a very very not good guy" and asked: "Rajeev misra do you represent?" 1. Karp replied: "Sort of. Spoke to him yesterday." Epstein then told a third party: "brad represent softbank, not rajeev, but did speak to him yesterday, re DB" — indicating that Karp had also discussed Deutsche Bank matters with Rajeev Misra. The same day, Reid Weingarten independently asked Epstein about Misra, placing Epstein as an intermediary between Karp (representing SoftBank) and Weingarten (seeking information on Misra) — with neither necessarily aware of the other's full involvement.
Leon Black and the Apollo Exposure
Karp's relationship with Leon Black through Epstein involved overlapping professional and personal obligations. In March 2016, Karp forwarded to Epstein a Paul Weiss internal exchange about Black's request to establish a $2 million escrow fund at the firm "from which payments would be made monthly pursuant to a contract with an individual" 10. Paul Weiss partner Bruce Birenboim declined to serve as escrow agent, but the email places Karp as the point of contact between Black's financial requests and Epstein. A November 2016 three-way billing email among Karp, Epstein, and Black addressed which party was paying for Paul Weiss, Akin Gump, Deloitte, and PwC services, indicating that the advisory fee structures were intertwined.
When Epstein discovered in August 2016 that all three Apollo co-founders — Black, Joshua Harris, and Marc Rowan — had failed to properly file IRS Form 8865 for the BRH Holdings foreign partnership, it was Karp at Paul Weiss whom Epstein contacted. Karp responded: "First I have heard of this." The 8865 compliance failure carried open statutes of limitation extending back to 2007, and Steven Pesner at Akin Gump was placed on the advisory team alongside Karp. Separately in August 2016, Epstein emailed Karp: "is Caesars getting better or worse?" 11. At that time, Paul Weiss was counsel to CEC and Apollo in the CEOC restructuring and was a named defendant in Case 15-01145, which alleged the firm simultaneously represented Apollo, CEC, and CEOC while engineering fraudulent asset transfers. A court-appointed examiner found Paul Weiss had a conflict of interest. Karp's discussion of even the general trajectory of the Caesars litigation with Epstein — a non-party with no privilege claim — represents a potential breach of attorney-client confidentiality that, based on the email record, predates the Ghosn-related disclosures by more than two years.
Karp also worked with Epstein on matters involving Marc Rowan. Epstein engaged Karp on Apollo/Athene restructuring matters, with Ruemmler recommending hires at Paul Weiss in connection with the work 12. Taken together, the Caesars exchange, the 8865 crisis, the Black escrow, and the Rowan advisory indicate that Karp functioned as Epstein's primary institutional contact within the firm, routing work and sharing information across what would typically be firewalled client relationships.
The Personal Entanglement
The email record indicates that the Karp-Epstein relationship was personal as well as professional. Karp's visits to 71st Street were regular and informal: arriving two minutes late from a board meeting on July 11, 2017 13, having appointments rescheduled by Lesley Groff when Epstein had "an appt outside the house" 14, receiving hand-delivered packages 15. On May 19, 2017, Epstein arranged a dinner at the townhouse with Karp and Kathryn Ruemmler, the former White House Counsel who later became Goldman Sachs General Counsel. Karp replied: "I can join for about an hour" 16.
The relationship extended to Karp's family. In May 2014, both Karp children — David, then approximately eighteen, and Meredith — attended an Epstein-hosted Woody Allen screening alongside Eva and Glenn Dubin and Jes Staley's family 17. By January 2016, David Karp had dined privately with Epstein and met Allen in person 4. Epstein later arranged for Allen to write out answers to David's personal questions as a gift, and facilitated introductions between David and Allen's assistant Helen Robin in August 2016. Karp brought his son's girlfriend, Courtney Loo, to Epstein screenings in January 2018. When Meredith Karp suffered a severe allergic reaction, Karp shared the details with Epstein 5. In November 2017, when the Charlie Rose sexual harassment allegations broke, Epstein sent Karp the Washington Post article that evening, writing: "I guess your wife can feel vindicated" and referencing his own connection to the Rose situation through someone who had warned Rose his behavior would "get both he and me in trouble" 1819.
When the relationship encountered friction, Epstein's language reflected its personal nature. On November 2, 2018, he wrote to Karp: "This is silly. You and i are friends with a disagreement. We should not allow this to get blown out of proportion" 2. Karp replied: "I would send" — an apparent reference to advising on how to handle the dispute. Separately, in January 2019, Epstein instructed Karp regarding a financial negotiation with an unnamed third party: "if he brings up the money issue please stand tough and tell him you had told" 20. During this period Karp was simultaneously involved in the Ghosn lobbying campaign and representing SoftBank, accumulating multiple concurrent roles involving Epstein.
The Weingarten Shadow Advisory
Reid Weingarten, the Steptoe & Johnson white-collar defense attorney who would later represent Epstein in his 2019 federal case, maintained a concealed advisory relationship with Karp that Epstein deliberately managed. Weingarten told Epstein in 2015: "do not mention my role with brad" 21. The nature of this undisclosed role is not fully explained in the available documents, but its existence transforms the map of the Karp-Epstein relationship. Epstein was not merely sharing intelligence with Karp; he was simultaneously running a back-channel advisory arrangement through Weingarten that Karp may not have known about, or that both men were keeping off the record.
The two channels converged in late January 2019. On January 26, the same day Karp confirmed his SoftBank representation to Epstein, Weingarten independently emailed Epstein asking about Misra: "Rajeev misra...softbank vision fund...any special jeffrey insights here?" 22. Epstein then told a third party: "obviously dont mention my role with brad till we both think it useful" — revealing that Epstein was actively managing the disclosure of his Karp relationship to Ron Soffer, who was being considered for Misra's side of the SoftBank dispute. Epstein functioned as a hub connecting Karp (SoftBank's lawyer), Weingarten (seeking intelligence for a potential Misra engagement), and Soffer (a potential Israeli lawyer for Misra) — while none of the three necessarily knew the full scope of the others' involvement. By Q3 2019, Weingarten was added to the Paul Weiss Ghosn lobbying registration, formalizing what had been a covert arrangement into an official engagement.
Surveillance and Private Intelligence
Karp served as Epstein's primary interface to the private investigation industry. On March 30, 2019 — less than four months before Epstein's final arrest — Epstein asked Karp: "is your go to investigators kroll?" Karp replied: "I use Nardello, who I think is better at these types of matters" 23. The phrasing "these types of matters" is ambiguous but significant: it implies Karp had discussed with Epstein the specific nature of the investigation for which Epstein was seeking resources, and had rendered a professional judgment about which firm was best suited. Nardello & Co., founded by former federal prosecutor Daniel Nardello, is a corporate intelligence firm specializing in due diligence, asset tracing, and litigation support.
Karp's deployment of Nardello extended beyond this March 2019 recommendation. The investigation database records that Karp coordinated Nardello surveillance in connection with Leon Black's dispute with Guzel Ganieva in 2015 24. This establishes a multi-year pattern in which Karp functioned as Epstein's and Black's shared procurement channel for private intelligence services. The relationship also had an intelligence-receiving dimension: Karp was the contact through whom Epstein discussed "subjects: leon, kathy boies" in October 2018, suggesting Epstein was brokering intelligence about Leon Black, Kathy Ruemmler, and David Boies to or through Karp. The aggregation of these roles — procuring investigators, receiving intelligence briefs, sharing privileged client information, and validating Epstein's independent intelligence sources — places Karp at the operational center of Epstein's legal-intelligence apparatus, not at its periphery.
The Ghosn Lobbying Architecture
Paul Weiss registered as a lobbyist for "Carlos Ghosn Bichara" within weeks of the November 19, 2018 arrest, with Karp personally named on the registration. LDA quarterly filings document the engagement: Q4 2018 (,000), Q1 2019 (,000), Q2 2019 (,000), Q3 2019 (,000, with Weingarten added), Q4 2019 (,000), and Q1 2020 (,000, termination) — total declared income of ,000. The issues listed were "Civil Rights/Civil Liberties" and "Law Enforcement." The lobbyist roster evolved from Karp, Gertzman, and Milione to include Thompson, then Weingarten, Antweiler, and Caselli in the final quarters. The framing of a foreign national's detention as a domestic civil rights issue was a deliberate regulatory strategy: it allowed Paul Weiss to register under the Lobbying Disclosure Act rather than the Foreign Agents Registration Act, despite Ghosn being a French-Brazilian-Lebanese citizen detained in Japan on behalf of a Japanese corporation.
This LDA-over-FARA framing is significant because Paul Weiss's own institutional history demonstrates familiarity with foreign representation. The firm held five FARA registrations between 1963 and 2002, representing the governments of Israel, Morocco, Poland, and Botswana, as well as Japanese and Korean corporations including NEC (1982–1996), Samsung, Hyundai, and Korea Telecom. The NEC representation gave Paul Weiss more than a decade of institutional knowledge of Japanese corporate and legal systems — directly relevant to Karp's December 2018 Tokyo trip. Yet none of these FARA registrations were active during the Karp-Epstein period, and the Ghosn engagement was never registered as foreign agent activity. This regulatory arbitrage — using domestic lobbying registration for what was functionally a foreign advocacy campaign — is consistent with the broader pattern of FARA non-compliance documented across the Epstein network.
All Connections
25 total
All Connections
25 totalKarp coordinated Nardello surveillance (Leon Black dispute) 2015.
Paul Weiss chairman, personal friend, regular visits to 71st St 2016-2019, Leon Black escrow, Misra representation, Ghosn crisis
Paul Weiss represented Misra in SoftBank matters; Karp confirmed to Epstein Jan 26 2019
Karp was dealing with Ghosn crisis from Nov 20 2018, personally traveled to Tokyo, confirmed Epstein source intelligence accurate, Paul Weiss later lobbied for Ghosn in Japan Q3-Q4 2019 and Q1 2020
Karp deployed Nardello for Epstein surveillance operations 2015-2019
Karp asked Epstein about Bodian and Okun letters arriving Dec 2016
Both in Epstein Caesars intel network; PW represented Rowan while Karp briefed Epstein
Karp asked Epstein about Caesars while PW was defendant in Case 15-01145
Married couple. Roberta Schuhalter Karp (Robbie) is wife of Brad S. Karp. Both served as co-executors of Estate of Sondra Karp (ACRIS 2010). Reside at 115 Central Park West NYC. Robbie referenced obliquely in Epstein emails as Brad wife but never named.
Brad Karp had extensive personal contact with Jeffrey Epstein 2015-2019. DOJ document corpus contains 17+ direct email exchanges coordinated through Lesley Groff. Brad dined at 9 E 71st St, brought his son to Woody Allen dinner, asked Epstein for job help for son on Woody Allen movie. Epstein teased Brad about his wife in emails.
Brad S. Karp served as Chairman of Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton and Garrison LLP from 2008 until resignation on Feb 4, 2026 following DOJ release of Epstein emails showing his extensive contact with Epstein. Previously chaired firm Litigation Department. Represented Apollo, Citigroup, JPMorgan, Bank of America, UBS, NFL among others.
Pesner (Akin Gump) and Karp (Paul Weiss) were co-members of Apollo founders' 8865 advisory team. Both communicated directly with Epstein. Both named in EFTA02449580 berating email. Appeared together on Reasonable cause statement calls.
Epstein invited Summers to dinner with Karp and Woody Allen Jul 2015 at 9E71st
Finding #211: Wolff proposed including Epstein in his next book after Fire and Fury, asking Nov 5, 2018: opening with Epstein and Bannon talking about Trump. Would
Karp emailed Epstein urgently seeking attorney recommendation for Havens after Florida spa charges: 'Havens just called and needs immediate help'
Both coordinated with Epstein on Kraft/Havens defense in Feb-Mar 2019. Goldberger was FL defense counsel; Karp was NYC conduit who relayed Havens emergency to Epstein. Connected through Epstein's legal fixer network.
Met jointly at Epstein mansion multiple times (May 2017, Jun 2018). Karp is Chairman of Paul Weiss.
Weingarten had concealed advisory role with Karp re Epstein legal matters. Weingarten told Epstein: do not mention my role with brad. Karp is chairman of Paul Weiss.
Karp (Paul Weiss chairman) engaged by Epstein to work on Apollo/Athene restructuring. Epstein mentioned Kathy Ruemmler recommending a hire at Paul Weiss. Karp responded enthusiastically to the engagement.
Brad Karp and Jes Staley families co-attended Epstein-hosted Woody Allen screening on May 21, 2014. Guest list: Brad/David/Meredith Karp + Jes/wife/daughter Alexa/mother-in-law + Eva/Glenn = 9 seats.
Epstein and Karp discussed Kraft's legal situation casually ('oy'/'yuck'). Web sources indicate Karp was involved in suggesting Kraft needed 'the best there is' for legal representation. Karp is Chairman of Paul Weiss which represents Apollo/Leon Black.
In the same email thread where Soffer was discussed, Epstein revealed Brad Karp (Paul Weiss) represented SoftBank (not Misra). Weingarten was considering Soffer for Misra's side. Epstein brokered intelligence between the two camps: obviously dont mention my role with brad till we both think it useful.
All Findings
26 total
All Findings
26 totalfinancial (2)
Paul Weiss (Karp as named lobbyist) registered as lobbyist for Carlos Ghosn Bichara within weeks of the Nov 19, 2018 arrest. LDA filings show: Q4 2018: $20K, Q1 2019: $50K, Q2 2019: $50K, Q3 2019: $50K (Weingarten added), Q4 2019: $50K, Q1 2020: $20K (termination). Total declared Paul Weiss income: $240K. Issues: Civil Rights/Civil Liberties and Law Enforcement. Lobbyists evolved from Karp/Gertzman/Milione to include Thompson, then Weingarten/Antweiler/Caselli.
Epstein asked Brad Karp (Paul Weiss chairman) on Jan 26, 2019: 'Rajeev misra do you represent?' Karp replied 'Indeed.' In a duplicate of the same thread (EFTA02627034), Karp elaborated: 'Sort of. Spoke to him yesterday.' Same email chain discusses Carlos Ghosn: Epstein wrote '? ghosen a very very not good guy.' This confirms Epstein was probing Karp for intelligence on SoftBank Vision Fund chief Rajeev Misra's legal representation just weeks before WSJ would expose the Benedetti honey trap operation.
communication (3)
Karp-Caesars privilege breach predates Ghosn leaks by 2+ years. Epstein emailed Karp (Paul Weiss chairman) Aug 29, 2016: 'is Caesars getting better or worse?' while Paul Weiss was counsel to CEC/Apollo in CEOC restructuring and was named defendant in Case 15-01145. This establishes pattern of Karp sharing privileged client information with Epstein starting 2016, not 2018.
Case 15-01145 names Paul Weiss as defendant for simultaneously representing Apollo, CEC, and CEOC while engineering fraudulent asset transfers. Court-appointed examiner found PW had conflict of interest. Crime-fraud exception motion was pending. PW faced zero consequences. PW continued as Apollo counsel. Complaint seeks 8.1-12.6B in damages.
On Nov 20, 2018 (the day of Ghosn's arrest), Karp emailed Epstein: 'Dealing with Ghosn crisis. Will step out shortly.' This shows Paul Weiss was engaged on the Ghosn case from day one, and that Karp communicated his case status directly to Epstein.
EFTA02608729 (Jan 4, 2019): Epstein told Karp about a 'money issue' and instructed him to 'stand tough and tell him you had told' — indicating Karp was negotiating financial matters on Epstein's behalf with an unnamed third party. This occurred during the same period Karp was leading the Ghosn lobbying campaign, showing the Epstein-Karp relationship involved active financial negotiations alongside the Ghosn representation.
relationship (3)
Brad Karp's family engagement with Epstein extended well beyond professional legal services. Both children (David and Meredith) are named in Epstein documents. David attended a Woody Allen screening at age ~18 (May 2014), dined with Epstein and met Woody Allen in person (Jan 2016), and had Epstein arrange meetings with Woody Allen's assistant Helen Robin (Aug 2016). Karp brought his son's girlfriend Courtney Loo to Epstein screenings (Jan 2018). Karp shared his daughter's medical emergency with Epstein. Epstein created a personalized gift for David (having Woody write out answers to David's questions). The 'coming solo' email (July 2015) implies wife Robbie sometimes attended Epstein events. Yet her name never appears in documents - suggesting deliberate compartmentalization or that she refused further participation.
On Feb 22 2019, Karp asked Epstein for help finding a lawyer for John Havens (former Citigroup president) caught in FL spa sting, saying 'He's got about 30 mins before his name is released.' Epstein advised on Florida's third-offense felony rule. On Mar 4, Karp told Epstein he had spoken to Kraft's Quinn Emanuel lawyer and prosecutors were insisting on guilty plea. Epstein coordinated between Karp and Goldberger on Kraft/Havens defense.
Brad Karp (Paul Weiss chairman) served as intermediary between Epstein and both Robert Kraft and John Havens after both were charged in Florida spa sting Feb 2019. Epstein emailed Karp Feb 22, 2019: 'if your buddy Kraft needs local palm rep. let me know.' Karp replied: 'I'm sure he will need the best there is.' Approximately 30 minutes later, Karp emailed about Havens: 'just called and needs immediate help. Who's the best lawyer you can think of to help.' Epstein responded: 'they re talking right now.' Jack Goldberger, who had previously represented Epstein, was hired to represent Kraft. These emails were released by DOJ in Feb 2026 and led to Karp's resignation as Paul Weiss chairman.
legal (7)
Brad Karp had extensive regular contact with Epstein from at least Jan 2016 through Jan 2019. Timeline: Jan 7, 2016 - Epstein called Karp (EFTA02477081); Mar 3-4, 2016 - Karp asked about Leon Black escrow (EFTA02470157); May 18-19, 2017 - dinner at 71st with Kathy Ruemmler (EFTA02213590); Jul 11, 2017 - visit (EFTA02218810); Jan 31, 2018 - dinner at 71st (EFTA02237151); Jun 8, 2018 - hand-delivered package (EFTA02247503); Aug 9, 2018 - 11am visit (EFTA02253155); Oct 11-18, 2018 - visits (EFTA02261421); Nov 2, 2018 - 'blown out of proportion' dispute (EFTA02617307); Nov 20, 2018 - dealing with Ghosn crisis (EFTA02616157); Jan 26, 2019 - Misra inquiry (EFTA02627134). Karp was simultaneously Paul Weiss chairman, Epstein's personal friend, and legal advisor to both Leon Black and Rajeev Misra.
Karp invited Epstein and Kathy Ruemmler to dinner together at 71st St on May 19, 2017: 'Jeffrey is asking if you would like to join him and Kathy Ruemmler tomorrow at the house at 5:30pm.' Karp agreed: 'I can join for about an hour.' Ruemmler was Obama's White House Counsel (2011-2014) who later represented Epstein at Latham & Watkins and became Goldman Sachs General Counsel. This places the chairman of Paul Weiss, a former White House Counsel, and Epstein at the same intimate dinner -- a convergence of legal, political, and financial power at 71st Street.
On Nov 2, 2018, Epstein and Karp had a disagreement. Epstein wrote: 'This is silly. You and i are friends with a disagreement. We should not allow this to get blown out of proportion.' Karp replied: 'I would send.' The context of the dispute and what Karp recommended sending is unknown, but the characterization as 'friends with a disagreement' confirms this was a personal relationship, not just attorney-client. This occurred 2.5 months before the Jan 26, 2019 Misra inquiry and during the period when Karp was simultaneously dealing with the Ghosn crisis for Nissan/Renault (Nov 20, 2018).
Karp was DIRECTLY involved in the Ghosn crisis: On Nov 20, 2018, Karp told Epstein 'Sorry. Dealing with Ghosn crisis. Will step out shortly.' Ghosn had been arrested the previous day (Nov 19, 2018). Paul Weiss represented Renault in the Ghosn matter. This means when Epstein asked Karp about Misra on Jan 26, 2019, Karp was already deeply embedded in the SoftBank-adjacent Japan corporate scandal ecosystem via the Ghosn/Nissan case.
Paul Weiss has 5 historical FARA registrations (all terminated by 2002): represented Government of Israel (1965-66), Government of Morocco (1963), Government of Poland (1990), NEC/Japan (1982-96), Samsung/Hyundai/Korea (1985-2001), Government of Botswana (1987-89), Korea Telecom (1995-2001). None active during Karp-Epstein relationship period (2015-2019). Paul Weiss Japan expertise (NEC representation 1985-1996) is relevant context for Karp's Dec 2018 Tokyo trip during Ghosn crisis -- the firm had institutional knowledge of Japanese legal and corporate systems.
Paul Weiss has 5 historical FARA registrations spanning 1963-2002 representing governments of Israel Morocco Poland Botswana and Korean and Japanese corporations (NEC Samsung Hyundai Korea Telecom). The Japan expertise (NEC representation 1985-1996) provides institutional context for Karps Dec 2018 Tokyo trip during Ghosn crisis. However NO active FARA registration existed during the Karp-Epstein relationship period 2015-2019. The Ghosn lobbying was registered under LDA (domestic lobbying) NOT FARA (foreign agent registration) despite Ghosn being a French-Brazilian-Lebanese citizen held in Japan. This framing as civil rights advocacy rather than foreign government influence avoided FARA requirements creating a pattern consistent with the broader non-compliance documented across the Epstein network.
Brad Karp resigned as Paul Weiss chairman on Feb 4, 2026 after DOJ release of Epstein emails. The Karp-Epstein-Ghosn nexus: (1) Karp was 'dealing with Ghosn crisis' on Nov 20, 2018 (EFTA02616157). (2) Karp registered as lobbyist for Ghosn Nov 2018, lobbied through Q1 2020. (3) Simultaneously, Epstein fed Karp intelligence on Ghosn: 'ghosen info when you like' (Nov 30), 'my guy had it right from day one' (Dec 26), 'bring you up to date on google ghosen SIC' (Jan 24), 'ghosen a very very not good guy' (Jan 26). (4) Karp was also advising Epstein on his own plea deal: 'The draft motion is in great shape. Truly' (Mar 2019). (5) Karp asked Epstein for help getting his son a job on a Woody Allen movie. This dual relationship — where Karp was simultaneously Epstein's social correspondent AND Ghosn's registered lobbyist — raises questions about information flows between Epstein and the Ghosn case.
intelligence (11)
Epstein-Karp 'charlie' email exchange (Nov 20-21, 2017) reveals three things: (1) Epstein sent Karp the WaPo article about Charlie Rose sexual harassment allegations the night it was published, suggesting real-time information sharing on #MeToo developments; (2) Karp's wife had previously expressed negative views about Charlie Rose - Epstein said 'I guess your wife can feel vindicated'; (3) Epstein revealed his own connection to the Rose situation: 'the article refers to kyles friend that called charlie :) and told him he would get both he and me in trouble if he didnt stop. go know\! :)' - Epstein was apparently connected to someone who warned Rose about his behavior and referenced Epstein.
Complete Ghosn intelligence timeline via Karp: (1) Nov 20, 2018 — Karp: 'Sorry. Dealing with Ghosn crisis' (EFTA02616157). Paul Weiss represented Nissan interests. (2) Nov 30, 2018 — Epstein to Pritzker: 'the nissan guy ghosen is being held incommunicado in tokyo, can you ask around re why?' Same day, Epstein to Karp: 'ghosen info when you like.' Karp responds: 'That was quick. On call with DOJ now.' (EFTA02612503). (3) Dec 26, 2018 — Epstein to Karp: 'following ghosen. it appears my guy had it right from day one. any updates?' Karp: 'Just returning from tokyo. Your guy totally had it right.' (EFTA02609103). (4) Jan 24, 2019 — Epstein to Karp: 'when free I can bring you up to date on google. ghosen SIC and...' (EFTA02626821). (5) Jan 26, 2019 — Epstein: 'ghosen a very very not good guy' then asks 'Rajeev misra do you represent?' Karp: 'Sort of. Spoke to him yesterday.' (EFTA02627034).
Complete Karp-Epstein Ghosn intelligence timeline reconstructed from 7 DOJ documents. Nov 20, 2018: Karp told Epstein Sorry. Dealing with Ghosn crisis. Will step out shortly (EFTA02616157) -- confirming Paul Weiss involvement in Ghosn matter day after arrest. Nov 30: Epstein offered Karp ghosen info when you like (EFTA02612503). Karp replied That was quick. On call with DOJ now. Epstein: its the old joke re the experienced mechanic vs apprentice ie just need to know exactly where to knock. Same day Epstein told Pritzker: the nissan guy ghosen is being held incommunicado in tokyo can you ask around re why? Dec 26: Epstein asked following ghosen. it appears my guy had it right from day one? any updates? Karp replied Just returning from tokyo. Your guy totally had it right. (EFTA02609103). Dec 30: Epstein followed up how you doing? traveling to tokyo must have been stressful (EFTA02608327). Jan 24, 2019: Epstein told Karp when free I can bring you up to date on google. ghosen SIC and ... (EFTA02626821). Jan 26: Epstein declared ghosen a very very not good guy. Karp: Indeed (EFTA02627279).
Epstein told Karp on Nov 30, 2018: ghosen info when you like. Karp responded That was quick. On call with DOJ now. Epstein: its the old joke re the experienced mechanic vs apprentice ie just need to know exactly where to knock. The 'that was quick' and 'mechanic' metaphor suggest Epstein had just obtained Ghosn intelligence rapidly through a specialized source. Epstein was offering this intelligence to Karp -- chairman of Paul Weiss, the firm representing Nissan against Ghosn -- creating a bidirectional intelligence channel where Karp provided DOJ-side updates and Epstein provided source-side intelligence.
Brad Karp traveled to Tokyo around Christmas 2018, returning Dec 26. Paul Weiss represented Nissan in the Ghosn prosecution (confirmed by Karp's Nov 20 'Dealing with Ghosn crisis' and Nov 30 'On call with DOJ now'). Karp confirmed Epstein had a separate intelligence source on Ghosn ('Your guy totally had it right'). This means: (1) Karp was leaking privileged client information about Ghosn to Epstein, (2) Epstein had an independent intelligence source on the Ghosn arrest that Karp validated, (3) Epstein was offering counter-intelligence to Karp about Ghosn while Karp's firm was working the DOJ angle. The 'SIC' reference in Jan 24 email may refer to Standard Industrial Classification or Securities Industry Committee -- context unclear.
IDENTIFICATION OF MY GUY SOURCE: On Dec 26 2018 Epstein told Karp following ghosen it appears my guy had it right from day one. Karp responded Just returning from tokyo. Your guy totally had it right. The candidate for my guy is David Stern based on: (1) Stern was in Tokyo meeting SoftBank COO Marcelo Claure just 5 months before Ghosns arrest Jun 12 2018 EFTA02614349. (2) Stern was in Tokyo with PA (Prince Andrew) on Feb 9-10 2018 EFTA02527724. (3) Stern had active Japanese corporate contacts through Asia Gateway. (4) Stern relayed intelligence to Epstein routinely (Chinese intel on North Korea EFTA02378169). (5) Epsteins mechanic metaphor (just need to know exactly where to knock) suggests a targeted intelligence source not a broad network. The French phone number Epstein provided Karp on Jan 24 2019 (011 331 441 70210) may be an alternative Ghosn intelligence contact given Ghosns French-Lebanese nationality.
Karp-Epstein intelligence nexus convergence Jan 24-26, 2019: On Jan 24, Epstein tells Karp he can update him on 'google, ghosen SIC and...' (EFTA02626821). On Jan 26, Epstein tells Karp 'ghosen a very very not good guy' and immediately asks 'Rajeev misra do you represent?' Karp: 'Sort of. Spoke to him yesterday' (EFTA02627034). The same day (Jan 26), Weingarten independently asks Epstein about Misra: 'Rajeev misra...softbank vision fund...any special jeffrey insights here?' (HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_028601). This convergence shows Epstein was simultaneously brokering intelligence about SoftBank (Ghosn/Misra), SDNY RICO, and Google matters through Karp and Weingarten — a dual-channel intelligence operation.
Epstein asked Karp 'Rajeev misra do you represent?' on Jan 26, 2019. Epstein clarified: 'brad represent softbank, not rajeev, but did speak to him yesterday, re DB.' This confirms: (1) Paul Weiss/Karp represented SoftBank (not Misra personally), (2) Epstein spoke to Karp about Deutsche Bank matters on Jan 25, (3) Epstein was probing the relationship. Same email thread discussed Ghosn arrest and SDNY matters.
On Jan 26 2019, Epstein emailed Brad Karp (Chairman, Paul Weiss) about Carlos Ghosn: 'ghosen a very very not good guy.' Karp responded 'Indeed.' Epstein then asked: 'Rajeev misra do you represent?' Karp replied: 'Sort of. Spoke to him yesterday.' This confirms Paul Weiss had a relationship with SoftBank Vision Fund CEO Rajeev Misra as of Jan 2019. Two days later (Jan 28) Epstein asked Teodorani about Alessandro Benedetti -- the Italian operative Misra hired for the SoftBank honey trap. The Ghosn reference is notable: Ghosn was Nissan CEO arrested Nov 2018 in a Japanese corporate intrigue, and Nissan had alliance with Renault (another Agnelli/Elkann connection via Fiat-Chrysler).
Epstein asked Brad Karp (Paul Weiss chairman) on March 30, 2019: 'is your go to investigators kroll?' Karp responded: 'I use Nardello, who I think is better at these types of matters.' This confirms Epstein was seeking private investigator recommendations from Karp just 3.5 months before his July 2019 arrest. Context: Karp was also the contact for 'subjects: leon, kathy boies' (Oct 22, 2018) — intelligence brokerage across multiple matters.
TEMPORAL PATTERN: Karp-Ghosn-Epstein intelligence pipeline Nov-Dec 2018, coinciding with Miami Herald publication. 8 Karp findings in Nov-Dec 2018 window, including Ghosn crisis coordination (Nov 20), Misra/SoftBank intelligence sharing (Jan 26), and ongoing legal consulting. The Ghosn arrest (Nov 19) and Miami Herald publication (Nov 28) created a dual crisis period where Karp was simultaneously managing corporate defense and Epstein relationship.
Timeline: Nov 2 (Epstein-Karp disagreement), Nov 19 (Ghosn arrest), Nov 20 (Karp tells Epstein 'dealing with Ghosn crisis'), Nov 28 (Miami Herald), Dec (Ken Starr and William Barr coordination intensifies). 81 total findings in this 2-month window. The co-occurrence of the Ghosn arrest and Miami Herald series created a perfect storm requiring Karp to manage multiple exposures simultaneously.
Full Timeline
27 events
Full Timeline
27 events- 1.EFTA02627034
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