Surya Mattu
@suryamattu.com
Sr. Engineer for Data Journalism & Investigations @bloomberg.com
Previously:
@princetoncitp.bsky.social
@umwallacehouse.bsky.social 21-22 Fellow
@themarkup.org
@propublica.org
Previously:
@princetoncitp.bsky.social
@umwallacehouse.bsky.social 21-22 Fellow
@themarkup.org
@propublica.org
Reposted by Surya Mattu
Reporting this story with @jeffykao.bsky.social Max Abelson, Harry Wilson, Ava Benny-Morrison, @suryamattu.com & @dmehro.bsky.social was a massive effort. There are TONS more details in our report about prosecutors' efforts to follow Epstein's money, which have been shrouded in secrecy for 2 decades
October 31, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Reporting this story with @jeffykao.bsky.social Max Abelson, Harry Wilson, Ava Benny-Morrison, @suryamattu.com & @dmehro.bsky.social was a massive effort. There are TONS more details in our report about prosecutors' efforts to follow Epstein's money, which have been shrouded in secrecy for 2 decades
Reposted by Surya Mattu
Four days before he reported to prison, Epstein received an email from Wexner
A spokesperson for Wexner declined to comment. A person close to Wexner said his email “expressed his strong disappointment that Epstein had breached his fiduciary duties and broken the family’s trust.”
A spokesperson for Wexner declined to comment. A person close to Wexner said his email “expressed his strong disappointment that Epstein had breached his fiduciary duties and broken the family’s trust.”
October 31, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Four days before he reported to prison, Epstein received an email from Wexner
A spokesperson for Wexner declined to comment. A person close to Wexner said his email “expressed his strong disappointment that Epstein had breached his fiduciary duties and broken the family’s trust.”
A spokesperson for Wexner declined to comment. A person close to Wexner said his email “expressed his strong disappointment that Epstein had breached his fiduciary duties and broken the family’s trust.”
Reposted by Surya Mattu
As Epstein reflected on his case, his emails about it became more frantic. On Nov. 16, 2007, he sent one to Jimmy Cayne, the former CEO of Bear Stearns, and his friend the psychiatrist Henry Jarecki. Under the subject line, “this is how crazy,” it contained a litany of grievances toward prosecutor
October 31, 2025 at 1:51 PM
As Epstein reflected on his case, his emails about it became more frantic. On Nov. 16, 2007, he sent one to Jimmy Cayne, the former CEO of Bear Stearns, and his friend the psychiatrist Henry Jarecki. Under the subject line, “this is how crazy,” it contained a litany of grievances toward prosecutor
Reposted by Surya Mattu
And he took note of one particular move Villafaña made: "She calls Les Wexner to inform him of the investigation"
The former law enforcement official said Villafaña contacted Wexner in an effort to get him to cooperate & provide info about Epstein, his business, his travels and his enterprise
The former law enforcement official said Villafaña contacted Wexner in an effort to get him to cooperate & provide info about Epstein, his business, his travels and his enterprise
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
And he took note of one particular move Villafaña made: "She calls Les Wexner to inform him of the investigation"
The former law enforcement official said Villafaña contacted Wexner in an effort to get him to cooperate & provide info about Epstein, his business, his travels and his enterprise
The former law enforcement official said Villafaña contacted Wexner in an effort to get him to cooperate & provide info about Epstein, his business, his travels and his enterprise
Reposted by Surya Mattu
Epstein was incensed. He and his attorneys took steps to back out of the NPA he’d signed. On Oct. 15, 2007, Epstein sent himself an email and attached a word document he wrote titled, “Did you know that.”
October 31, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Epstein was incensed. He and his attorneys took steps to back out of the NPA he’d signed. On Oct. 15, 2007, Epstein sent himself an email and attached a word document he wrote titled, “Did you know that.”
Reposted by Surya Mattu
On Aug. 16, 2007, Villafaña requested that a grand jury issue subpoenas for Epstein’s financial records dating back to 2003. On the same day, Villafaña also sent a letter informing Epstein’s defense attorneys that she would continue investigating his finances as long as the NPA remained unsigned.
![("In other words, if the sex offense case is resolved, the Office would close its investigation into other areas as well. The matter has not been, and it does not appear that it will be, resolved so the money laundering investigation continues, and Request Number 6 [seeking records of every financial transaction conducted by Epstein and his six businesses from "January 1, 2003 to the present] will not be withdrawn."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:eeitvtxcbjt3vmljqfmwzahz/bafkreihm4gjq6vk5radip4wpyo4unkhbza6jew6f6e3rbw4xqhtjgjxmim@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
On Aug. 16, 2007, Villafaña requested that a grand jury issue subpoenas for Epstein’s financial records dating back to 2003. On the same day, Villafaña also sent a letter informing Epstein’s defense attorneys that she would continue investigating his finances as long as the NPA remained unsigned.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
The evidence Villafaña collected was serious enough that she wrote in an 82-page prosecution memo that Epstein should be charged with money-laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, according to the former law enforcement official.
October 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The evidence Villafaña collected was serious enough that she wrote in an 82-page prosecution memo that Epstein should be charged with money-laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, according to the former law enforcement official.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
That was the basis for a potential charge against Epstein of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, according to the former law enforcement official.
October 31, 2025 at 1:43 PM
That was the basis for a potential charge against Epstein of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, according to the former law enforcement official.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
At around the same time, prosecutors focused on a pattern of transactions in which Epstein directed some of his employees to withdraw large amounts of cash to disburse to women around the world he was suspected of having victimized
October 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
At around the same time, prosecutors focused on a pattern of transactions in which Epstein directed some of his employees to withdraw large amounts of cash to disburse to women around the world he was suspected of having victimized
Reposted by Surya Mattu
The money laundering probe was opened in Feb 2007 in February 2007, according to the former law enforcement official.
October 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The money laundering probe was opened in Feb 2007 in February 2007, according to the former law enforcement official.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
Yet the emails and documents from Epstein’s Yahoo account show that prosecutors in his office discussed the financial-crimes component of the investigation with Acosta and copied him on correspondence about it.
October 31, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Yet the emails and documents from Epstein’s Yahoo account show that prosecutors in his office discussed the financial-crimes component of the investigation with Acosta and copied him on correspondence about it.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
Last month, Acosta told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that he didn’t recall any discussion of “potential financial crimes” as part of his office’s Epstein investigation.
October 31, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Last month, Acosta told the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that he didn’t recall any discussion of “potential financial crimes” as part of his office’s Epstein investigation.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
The revelation that the investigation had a financial aspect also puts a spotlight on Alex Acosta, the former US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, who signed off on Epstein’s plea deal.
October 31, 2025 at 1:40 PM
The revelation that the investigation had a financial aspect also puts a spotlight on Alex Acosta, the former US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, who signed off on Epstein’s plea deal.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
The money laundering probe adds a new layer to the narrative about how the govt conducted its investigation. It also raises questions about what evidence prosecutors may have gathered as they followed Epstein’s money, long before the public began demanding a full accounting of his case
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The money laundering probe adds a new layer to the narrative about how the govt conducted its investigation. It also raises questions about what evidence prosecutors may have gathered as they followed Epstein’s money, long before the public began demanding a full accounting of his case
Reposted by Surya Mattu
Marie Villafaña, who was an AUSA for the Southern District of Florida at the time, even contacted Epstein’s longtime wealth-management client, Les Wexner, the billionaire businessman behind the brands Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, about the probe, according to the documents and emails.
October 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Marie Villafaña, who was an AUSA for the Southern District of Florida at the time, even contacted Epstein’s longtime wealth-management client, Les Wexner, the billionaire businessman behind the brands Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, about the probe, according to the documents and emails.
Reposted by Surya Mattu
The lead prosecutor requested that a grand jury issue subpoenas for “every financial transaction conducted by Epstein and his six businesses” dating to 2003, the emails show. Prosecutors also subpoenaed major banks for records about Epstein’s accounts and financial activity
October 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The lead prosecutor requested that a grand jury issue subpoenas for “every financial transaction conducted by Epstein and his six businesses” dating to 2003, the emails show. Prosecutors also subpoenaed major banks for records about Epstein’s accounts and financial activity
Huge reporting effort with the best team including Max Abelson, @jasonleopold.bsky.social , Ava Benny-Morrison, Harry WIlson @jeffykao.bsky.social and @dmehro.bsky.social
September 25, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Huge reporting effort with the best team including Max Abelson, @jasonleopold.bsky.social , Ava Benny-Morrison, Harry WIlson @jeffykao.bsky.social and @dmehro.bsky.social
The support taken together helped extend not just Epstein’s freedom but his influence.
Read the full story here.
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
Read the full story here.
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
Jeffrey Epstein Leaned on His Elite Network for Help as Investigators Closed In
A cache of 18,000 messages shows the elite support the disgraced financier got in his “hour of terror.”
www.bloomberg.com
September 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
The support taken together helped extend not just Epstein’s freedom but his influence.
Read the full story here.
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
Read the full story here.
www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
And polish his reputation
![From: J. Epstein <jeeproject@yahoo.com>
To: Alan M. Dershowitz <[REDACTED]@law.harvard.edu>
Date: Wed, Sep 13 2006 4:52 AM
Subject: Re: draft - letter to friends
I would amend the place where it says he wishes I had
cameras in the massage room... IT would be illegal...
ANd I think we could do better thatn the last
paragraph ,, JEffrey is a "good person".. great
friend. , loyal, funny, generous, not GOOD](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:blrsqs4ewyn6yyzygdnkcq6j/bafkreigrv7djp5ub6q3grnp6gg3u52ixasd625oy6yc636dgq4a7l24svq@jpeg)
September 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
And polish his reputation
Offered coaching and counter messaging
September 25, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Offered coaching and counter messaging