Main points
- Paul Weiss Chairman Brad Karp resigned over published emails with Jeffrey Epstein that showed their communication after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes.
- Karp admitted to attending dinners at Epstein's house and asking him to help get his son a job, but denies any involvement in wrongdoing.
Brad Karp resigns over scandalous letters to Epstein / Collage by Channel 24, photo Getty Images, AP
Paul Weiss, the chairman of one of the most prominent international law firms, resigned after the release of the Epstein files. It became known that they corresponded long after Jeffrey Epstein was first convicted of sex crimes.
What is known about Brad Karp's ties to Epstein?
The leaked Jeffrey Epstein files revealed his emails with the convicted felon, CNN writes.
With over 1,200 lawyers, Paul Weiss represents some of the world's largest companies, including Amazon, Exxon Mobil, and the National Football League. The firm also has a reputation for providing pro bono work to organizations that support the low-income and immigrant populations.
Emails released by the Justice Department showed that Karp was a guest at Epstein's New York mansion and exchanged emails with him repeatedly. They were in contact as early as 2019, the year Epstein died.
On July 22, 2015, Karp sent an email sincerely thanking Epstein for inviting him to what he called a “once-in-a-lifetime” evening.
Brad Karp never witnessed or participated in any wrongdoing. Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York and had a small amount of social interaction via email, which he regrets,
– said a spokesperson for the law firm later.
In June 2016, Karp also reached out to Epstein for help and asked if he could help his son get a job on an upcoming Woody Allen film.
Karp wrote that his son “would be happy to work with Woody on his future film project in any role, if possible. He definitely doesn't need to be paid, and he's a really good, talented guy.”
Following the publication of the letters, Karp decided to step down as CEO. He was appointed chairman by Paul Weiss nearly two decades ago and will “continue to fully focus on serving clients at the firm,” the statement said.
Managing Paul Weiss for the past 18 years has been a proud part of my professional life. Recent coverage has diverted attention and focused it on me, which is not in the best interests of the firm,
Karp said in a statement.
Latest news on the released Epstein files
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Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ogryzko believes that the Epstein case could have been an opportunity for Putin to have compromising information on influential figures in the United States. Epstein discussed the possibility of meeting with Putin, which may indicate some contacts between the parties.
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Photos of the New York mayor with Jeffrey Epstein were created by artificial intelligence and shared on social media. The images appeared on a parody account after the Department of Justice released new Epstein files.
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Princess Mette-Marit has been embroiled in a scandal over her ties to Jeffrey Epstein. In addition, the Norwegian royal family is facing additional problems due to the trial of Mette-Marit's son.
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Trump called for an end to the focus on the Epstein case and refrained from commenting on the victims' complaints, saying it was “time for the country to move on.”