Trump-Appointed Medicaid Chief Dr. Mehmet Oz Named in Jeffrey Epstein Files
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the television host turned Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator appointed by former President Donald Trump, has been identified in the recently unsealed Jeffrey Epstein files. The documents reveal that Oz, 65, exchanged emails with the financier and extended an invitation to him for a Valentine's Day party in 2016.
Email Invitation to Epstein from Oz's Palm Beach Home
According to a document published by the Department of Justice, Oz and his wife, Lisa, sent an email to Epstein in 2016 via Paperless Post, a digital greeting card service. The invitation was for a Valentine's Day event at Oz's residence in Palm Beach, Florida. This correspondence was part of several message exchanges between Oz and Epstein spanning from 2012 to 2016.
Notably, these interactions occurred years after Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida, a crime that required him to register as a sex offender. Epstein later died by suicide on August 10, 2019, while in federal custody facing sex trafficking charges.
Illegible Email and Broader Trump Administration Links
Another email dated January 1, 2016, between Oz and Epstein is described as completely illegible due to encryption. Oz is among several high-ranking officials from the Trump administration who have been named in the Epstein files, not only for being listed but also for having direct communication and proximity to the late sex offender.
The CMS did not respond to requests for comment from the Daily Mail regarding these revelations.
Other Officials Under Scrutiny: Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick
In related developments, Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before Congress this week about his connections to Epstein. This followed disclosures that Lutnick met Epstein for lunch on the financier's infamous private island.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen accused Lutnick of misleading the public and Congress, stating, 'You misled the country and the Congress based on your earlier statements suggesting that you cut off all contact when in fact you had not.'
Lutnick had previously told the New York Post that he severed ties with Epstein after their first meeting in 2005, claiming he was too disturbed by Epstein and vowed never to be in the same room with him again. However, the newly released files indicate that Lutnick and his family visited Epstein's island in 2012.
Trump's Response and Wider Implications
When questioned about Lutnick's visit, former President Trump said, 'No, I wasn’t aware of it,' adding that he had not discussed it with Lutnick but understood it involved his wife and children during a family vacation.
The Epstein files also name numerous other prominent figures, including Bill Clinton, Elon Musk, and Trump himself, whose name appears hundreds of times in the documents. This ongoing scrutiny highlights the extensive network of associations with Epstein, raising questions about accountability and transparency among elite circles.
