A disturbing chain of emails sent from Sydney to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein has been uncovered in the latest document release from the United States Department of Justice. The correspondence, which dates back to 2012, features a young woman whose identity remains redacted, discussing explicitly intimate photographs and making references to Katherine Keating, the daughter of former Australian prime minister Paul Keating.
Explicit Communications from Australia
The emails, obtained by the Daily Mail as part of the extensive Epstein document release, reveal a troubling exchange between the financier and a woman believed to be a 22-year-old Russian national living in Sydney at the time. On March 31, 2012, she wrote to Epstein with concerning familiarity, asking whether he had viewed photographs she had sent him.
'Jeffrey, have you seen the photos I sent you? I think that these are the most sensual, 'I'm not a girl, not yet a woman' style photos I've ever had,' the woman wrote, apparently referencing Britney Spears' 2001 coming-of-age song title in her description of the images.
References to Political Family
Perhaps more significantly, the correspondence contains what appears to be a direct reference to Katherine Keating, a confirmed Epstein associate and daughter of former Australian prime minister Paul Keating. In her email, the Sydney-based woman remarked, 'I am still loving Sydney so much. I can't believe your friend Katherine left Syd for NY.'
Epstein, who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges, responded positively about receiving the photographs, describing them as 'really terrific,' though he notably avoided commenting on the mention of Katherine Keating.
Further Disturbing Exchanges
The email chain continued with the woman indicating she would be in Washington D.C. in late April and requesting to visit Epstein. When he responded noncommittally with 'If I'm there, great,' she replied with an even more explicit message: 'Nice. Will you show me more "how to be good in bed" tricks please?' accompanied by a wink-face emoji.
It remains unclear whether this woman had any direct connection to Katherine Keating herself, though both were in correspondence with Epstein during overlapping periods. The newly released documents show Keating's name appears in more than 1,200 emails within the Epstein archive.
Keating's Relationship with Epstein
Katherine Keating, who moved from Sydney to New York in the 2010s to pursue a television career, has long been identified as an acquaintance of Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, and Prince Andrew. She was famously photographed leaving Epstein's New York townhouse in 2011.
In a statement to the Sydney Morning Herald over the weekend, Ms Keating described her relationship with Epstein as 'unfortunate' and claimed she was forced to sever ties when what began as a close friendship started to 'border on harassment.' She emphatically denied any knowledge of or involvement in Epstein's criminal activities.
'To be unequivocal: I never visited Epstein's island, never flew on his plane, never had any inappropriate interaction with him or anyone he introduced me to, never witnessed inappropriate behaviour, and had absolutely no knowledge of the criminal conduct that has since come to light,' she stated.
Broader Network Connections
The document release reveals further details about Keating's interactions within Epstein's circle. In April 2011, she suggested bringing her younger sister Alexandra to a dinner party with Epstein and filmmaker Woody Allen after being informed the director appreciated 'pretty women.'
Additionally, emails show Epstein enlisted Keating to help portray Prince Andrew positively to a Vanity Fair journalist in March 2011. Publicist Peggy Siegal requested Keating's contact details prior to a meeting with writer Edward Klein, noting 'She knows him [Andrew] well and wants to make sure Ed writes positive things.'
Financial Connections Emerge
The documents also reveal financial network connections, showing that Katherine Keating shared her banker brother Patrick's email address with Epstein in May 2011. Shortly afterward, Epstein told former Barclays CEO Jes Staley that 'The son of the former prime minister will take you for fun, I will send you his details.'
When contacted by the Daily Mail, Patrick Keating strongly denied ever meeting Epstein or Staley, stating 'I have never had any dealings with Jeffrey Epstein or the other person mentioned, Jes Staley. I have never met or communicated with either Epstein or Staley, either directly or indirectly.'
Political Dimensions
The released emails indicate Epstein's attempts to connect with Australian political figures extended beyond the Keating family. Documents show he scheduled a meeting with former prime minister Kevin Rudd for June 8, 2014, though Dr Rudd's office has strongly denied any such meeting took place.
'Our office has no records of this meeting, and the published documents gave no indication about who was involved in organising it. In any case, they were unsuccessful in arranging the introduction,' a statement from Dr Rudd's office confirmed.
These latest revelations underscore the global reach of Epstein's network and the continuing fallout from the release of thousands of documents related to his criminal case, with Australian connections proving particularly significant in this latest tranche of correspondence.
