Documents released from the Jeffrey Epstein files show he met Christopher Poole, the founder of 4chan, in October 2011 — the same month 4chan launched the politically charged /pol/ forum. The introduction was arranged by Boris Nikolic, an adviser to Bill Gates, who later warned that 4chan had "huge" potential for manipulation. Poole exchanged a few follow-up emails about meeting in New York, but correspondence appears to end the following February. The records show contact but do not demonstrate direct influence over the platform's later evolution.
Jeffrey Epstein Met 4chan Founder as /pol/ Launched — Files Show a Short-Lived Contact
Newly released documents show Jeffrey Epstein met Christopher Poole, the founder of 4chan, in October 2011 — the same month the site launched its controversial politically focused forum, /pol/. The introduction, arranged by Boris Nikolic (identified in the files as an adviser to Bill Gates), has prompted questions about whether Epstein had any influence on figures connected to the early online culture that later helped incubate extremist and conspiracy movements.
What the records show
In October 2011, Nikolic emailed Epstein proposing an introduction to a "cool guy," attaching a link to Christopher Poole's Wikipedia page. Four days later Epstein replied about the meeting:
"i liked mmot slot. i drove him home, he is very bright." [quote as written in the released files]
That month, 4chan launched its /pol/ board, which over time attracted right-wing extremists and became associated with violent rhetoric, organized harassment and the online incubation of movements such as QAnon. Four days after Epstein met Poole, Nikolic emailed Epstein again, pointing to a Washington Post article and warning that "The potential for manipulation is huge," noting 4chan's history of facilitating coordinated harassment and mass messaging.
Jeffrey Epstein; Christopher Poole.(Rick Friedman Photography / Corbis via Getty Images; Ramin Talaie / Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Follow-up and limits of the record
Poole's name appears in later messages: the following month he coordinated with one of Epstein's staffers about meeting in New York. An email from Epstein's team reads, "Chris, Jeffrey has also said to feel free to bring anyone you think is clever!" Poole replied, "Great! I'll think of some people and get back to you." Based on the documents currently available, the back-and-forth between Poole and Epstein's circle appears to end the following February.
MS NOW sought comment from Poole through his employer, Crunchbase; the messages indicate he did not respond to that request. The records discussed here were among documents released by the Justice Department and reviewed collaboratively by journalists from NBC, AP, CNBC and CBS as part of an effort to map Epstein's contacts and communications.
Context and caution
The documents establish contact between Epstein and Poole and show Nikolic's contemporaneous concerns about 4chan's potential for manipulation, but they do not provide evidence that Epstein influenced the platform's direction or the later emergence of QAnon. The available files document brief social and professional exchanges rather than an ongoing partnership or operational involvement.
Help us improve.
