Hundreds of messages from 2017-2019 show discussions on US politics, defence deals, foreign policy and personal arrangements amid questions over access and influence.
Newly released US Department of Justice documents have exposed hundreds of messages exchanged between Indian businessman Anil Ambani and Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The communications, spanning from early 2017 to May 2019-just months before Epstein’s arrest-cover topics ranging from US-India relations and defence cooperation to insider political information and personal matters.
Ambani, chairman of the Reliance Group and younger brother of India’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, appears to have sought Epstein’s guidance on navigating the early Donald Trump administration, including potential meetings with senior figures such as Jared Kushner and Steve Bannon. Epstein, in turn, positioned himself as a source of “inside baseball” on White House appointments and foreign policy.
Seeking access during the Trump era:
The exchanges began shortly after Trump’s inauguration in January 2017. According to reports reviewing the files, Ambani contacted Epstein for help in strengthening India-US ties, particularly in defence, and inquired about possible diplomatic appointments, such as whether former CIA director David Petraeus would become US ambassador to India.
Epstein responded by offering policy insights and connections, while also discussing broader geopolitical issues, including Israel-India relations and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s international engagements. One message referenced “discussions re Israel strategy dominating Modi dates”.
The two men also made plans to meet. Documents indicate Ambani visited Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse on 23 May 2019, the day Modi secured a decisive re-election victory. Epstein later described the visitor in a message as “Modi’s guy”, noting complaints about lack of access in Washington.
Ambani’s office has not publicly responded to detailed questions about the communications.
Personal proposals and business discussions:
Among the messages highlighted in media reports is a March 2017 exchange in which Epstein offered to arrange a “tall Swedish blonde woman” for Ambani. Ambani reportedly replied “Arrange that” within seconds. The context of the conversation has been subject to debate, with some outlets noting it formed part of broader discussions about social arrangements.
The pair also discussed business opportunities, potential financing, Hollywood figures, and Epstein reportedly ordered books about the Ambani family early in their contact. Plans for a meeting in Paris were mentioned but did not materialise as intended.
No allegations of sexual misconduct have been made against Ambani in the released files or related reporting.
Wider implications:
The case highlights how Epstein leveraged his Rolodex of contacts across politics, business and diplomacy to maintain relevance. For Ambani, whose business empire faced financial challenges in recent years, the contacts appear tied to efforts to bolster international positioning and explore defence and financing avenues.
As more details from the Epstein files continue to emerge, they raise ongoing questions about accountability, influence peddling, and the extent to which powerful networks shielded or enabled Epstein’s activities over decades.