Pal Planned to Expose Epstein. Then Epstein Found Out

Federal files newly obtained by the Wall Street Journal suggest Jeffrey Epstein came close to being exposed years earlier—by one of his own key facilitators. Reporters Khadeeja Safdar and Caitlin Ostroff detail how French modeling scout Jean-Luc Brunel was in quiet talks in 2016 to cooperate with New York prosecutors and Epstein victims' lawyers, offering evidence that he had recruited girls for Epstein and possessed compromising photos. Notes from a federal prosecutor show Brunel was so worried about prosecution he was ready to walk into the US Attorney's Office in exchange for immunity—then abruptly vanished from the discussions.

The documents show Epstein quickly learned of Brunel's plans and emailed lawyer Kathy Ruemmler—who has now resigned from Goldman Sachs—about a $3 million request to keep Brunel from talking. Prosecutors, who were briefed on Epstein's trafficking operation and alleged co-conspirators including Brunel and Ghislaine Maxwell, did not open a case at the time; attorneys for victims say that delay meant dozens more girls were abused. Brunel was arrested in France in 2020 and died in jail two years later. For the full timeline, documents, and prosecutors' next moves, read the original investigation at the Journal.