Epstein Sought Dinner With Sarkozy At The Élysée, Emails Suggest

Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice show that Jeffrey Epstein sought to arrange a dinner with former French president Nicolas Sarkozy at the Élysée Palace after Epstein had been convicted of sexual offences involving minors. The correspondence details Epstein's efforts to secure a companion for the proposed meal and his wider attempts to cultivate relationships with senior French figures.

On May 9, 2011, at 1:53 p.m., Epstein emailed an unnamed associate saying he needed "to have dinner at the palace with Sarkozy" and asked that "someone to come along." About 25 minutes later the associate replied that a woman in Paris had been identified and asked Epstein to review a draft message intended to persuade her to attend.

Epstein in Paris: The late financier (right) is seen at the Louvre with Jack Lang, a former French culture minister - US Department of Justice/AFP via Getty

“I don’t know if u have time tmrw [sic] but my very good friend Jeffrey is in Paris, maybe I told u about him before.

“I know this is gonna sound a littl [sic] bit crazy but I thought it might be fun for you!! He is going to the palace on Thursday night to meet with President Sarkozy and Carla.

“They [are] good friends, he needs a beautiful lady to accompany him and he asked me if I know some interesting girl who is in Paris. And I thought that u are there and it might be cool for you to meet the president.”

The draft author described Epstein as “fun, and cute and very smart,” and added that “a lot of women finds him sexy as well,” while insisting the dinner was “not a date.” It remains unclear from the disclosed records whether the proposed dinner ultimately took place; The Telegraph has sought confirmation from Élysée Palace officials.

The released emails also document a close connection between Epstein and Olivier Colom, a long-time aide to Mr. Sarkozy. In October 2013 Colom met Epstein at his Paris flat and discussed everything from a walk through the Marais to advising Epstein on the purchase of a Paris apartment previously owned by heirs of the Pernod-Ricard family (reported at about €12m).

Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni, his wife, in 2010 when he was still the president of France - Lionel Bonaventure/AFP/Getty

Other messages show Epstein monitoring Sarkozy’s political prospects, asking contacts in France about the president’s re-election chances and about the reputational impact of police investigations into alleged corruption. Epstein also discussed potential social meetings involving other prominent figures: in January he floated the idea of dining in Paris with former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and a member of the Rothschild family.

Earlier correspondence from 2010 shows Epstein consulting Peter Mandelson, the former UK Labour minister and adviser, ahead of an alleged meeting with Sarkozy. On Nov. 12 Epstein wrote to Lord Mandelson: “What is your relationship with Sarkozy? I am speaking to them on Sunday.” Lord Mandelson replied: “Broadly ok despite some past ups and downs. He rates me but worried that I would not be ‘faithful’ to him. I will explain.”

The emails also reference contacts with other French figures: according to the disclosed messages, Bruno Le Maire, then a minister for the economy and finance, visited Epstein in New York, and Epstein offered to help fund Le Maire’s potential presidential bid following Sarkozy’s defeat.

Jeffrey Epstein died in custody in 2019; the documents described above are taken from materials released by U.S. authorities. The Telegraph has been approached for comment through Sarkozy’s former press attachés. The records reveal Epstein’s sustained attempts to build influence and social access in France but do not establish that the Élysée dinner took place.