Brad Karp, the chairman of prestigious law firm Paul Weiss, has publicly expressed profound regret over his past interactions with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. This follows the release of dozens of emails by the Department of Justice, which reveal Karp soliciting Epstein's assistance in securing an unpaid position for his son within Hollywood's elite circles.
Emails Reveal Job Request for Son
The newly disclosed correspondence includes a June 2016 email where Karp pitched his Cornell-graduate son, David, to aid filmmaker Woody Allen with an upcoming project. Karp explicitly noted his son did not require payment, describing him as a "really good, talented kid." Epstein responded, "I will ask, of course."
Epstein's Facilitation and Family Access
According to the files, Epstein texted Woody Allen about David in August 2016, highlighting his age and prior work on a Martin Scorsese production. After Allen initially ignored several messages, he eventually provided his assistant's contact details. David Karp subsequently met with the assistant and sent a grateful email to Epstein, stating the opportunity meant a great deal to him and would involve work as an additional production assistant.
Furthermore, Epstein's assistant arranged for David and the Karp family to attend multiple private screenings of Woody Allen's films between 2014 and 2018. In one email exchange before a screening, David expressed excitement, noting his girlfriend was out of town but he would attend.
Social Interactions and Lavish Praise
The documents indicate Karp was invited to several dinners at Epstein's New York City mansion. Following one such event in 2015, Karp sent an email to Epstein describing it as "an evening I'll never forget" and expressing hope for future invitations. He lavishly praised Epstein as an "extraordinary host" and called his home remarkable. Epstein replied, "You are always welcome," and promised many more nights of unique talents.
Firm's Statement and Business Context
In a statement obtained by the New York Times, Paul Weiss issued an apology on Karp's behalf, clarifying that he attended only two group dinners in New York City and had a limited number of social email interactions, all of which he now regrets. The firm emphasised that Paul Weiss was retained by Leon Black, then CEO of Apollo Global Management, to negotiate fee disputes with Epstein over several years, and was adverse to him, never representing him directly.
The files reveal that most communications involving Karp pertained to phone calls, meetings, and business dealings concerning Leon Black and Paul Weiss. Black paid Epstein nearly $160 million between 2012 and 2017. In one notable July 2015 exchange, Karp and Epstein discussed how to handle a mistress of Black's who was allegedly demanding money, with Epstein suggesting surveillance and investigating her visa status.
Broader Connections and Aftermath
The documents also show that, just three months before Epstein's arrest, he attempted to orchestrate Karp's admission to the exclusive Augusta National Golf Club with the help of former White House strategist Steve Bannon. It remains unclear if this plan succeeded before Epstein was arrested on child sex trafficking charges in July 2019; he died by suicide in his New York City jail cell the following month.
In response to the revelations, Karp cancelled a scheduled speaking engagement at the Wall Street Journal’s Invest Live event in Palm Beach. His law firm faced separate controversy last year after offering former President Donald Trump $40 million in free legal services, drawing accusations related to diversity practices.
According to the Cornell Sun, David Karp co-founded a film and production company in 2018 and now works as a creative director. The Daily Mail has contacted Brad Karp and Paul Weiss for further comment on the matter.
