In a startling revelation, the late financier Jeffrey Epstein asserted that newspaper magnate Sir Robert Maxwell – the father of his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell – was assassinated by the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. This claim surfaced in an email sent by Epstein in March 2018 to an unknown recipient, where he extensively quoted from a book alleging Maxwell's murder.
The Alleged Assassination Plot
Epstein's email referenced the 2002 book The Assassination of Robert Maxwell: Israel's Super Spy by Gordon Thomas and Martin Dillon. According to the extract he quoted, Maxwell, a Czech-born millionaire, demanded £400 million from Mossad to salvage his crumbling business empire, threatening to expose all the work he had done for them if they refused.
The book details that Maxwell had unparalleled access to global power centres, including Margaret Thatcher's Downing Street, Ronald Reagan's White House, the Kremlin, and corridors of power across Europe. He allegedly passed on secrets to Mossad in Tel Aviv, who in turn tolerated his extravagant lifestyle and personal excesses.
Mysterious Death and Aftermath
Robert Maxwell died under mysterious circumstances in November 1991 after falling from his yacht, The Lady Ghislaine, off the Canary Islands. His death was officially ruled as drowning following a heart attack. Shortly after, it emerged he had looted approximately £450 million from the Mirror Group Newspapers pension fund to support his failing businesses.
Despite the official cause, the book cited by Epstein suggests a covert operation. It claims a four-man Mossad hit squad was dispatched to the Canary Islands, luring Maxwell with the promise of hush money. After blocking communications from the yacht, assassins boarded, immobilised him with a nerve agent via syringe, and lowered him into the water.
State Funeral and Connections
Following his death, Maxwell was given a virtual state funeral on the sacred Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, attended by top Israeli dignitaries including Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir and President Chaim Herzog, who delivered the eulogy. This honour fuelled speculation about his ties to Israel.
Epstein's email highlights Maxwell's self-appointed role as Israel's unofficial ambassador to the Soviet Bloc, where he allegedly advised Mossad on targets and methods. The book authors, Thomas and Dillon, presented well-sourced evidence for Mossad's alleged involvement, suggesting Maxwell was eliminated due to fears over his deteriorating mental health and drug dependency.
Epstein and Maxwell Links
Reports indicate that Epstein may have worked as a 'money mover' for Robert Maxwell in the 1980s, helping to conceal funds. Former Epstein associate Steven Hoffenberg claimed to have introduced the pair during that decade.
Ghislaine Maxwell moved to New York shortly before her father's death in 1991. Flight logs from that year show she was already travelling with Epstein, soon becoming his 'main girlfriend' and later the 'madam' for his prostitution network, further intertwining their lives with the Maxwell legacy.
This email adds a controversial layer to the enduring mysteries surrounding both Robert Maxwell's death and Jeffrey Epstein's own clandestine activities, raising questions about the intersections of power, espionage, and high-profile scandals.
