Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein 'donated tens of thousands' to wildlife charity linked to Prince William after sex offence convictions
Information about the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein is emerging at every turn
In the latest news regarding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, the late convicted sex offender and disgraced financier allegedly donated funds to a charity backed by Prince William.
Here is everything we know so far…
Jeffrey Epstein ‘donated to Prince William backed charity’
Epstein donated tens of thousands of pounds to a wildlife charity linked to Prince William, several years after the disgraced financier was convicted of sex offences, fresh reports claim.
In the latest tranche of Epstein files, released last Friday, documents released by the US Department of Justice allegedly show that Epstein donated $50,000 to WildAid in November 2013.
That same year, Prince William had been made ambassador of the charity.
Newly released emails show the organisation, which is also said to be backed by King Charles, arranged a meeting between Epstein and their senior executives the following year.
There has been no suggestion that Prince William and King Charles were aware of this donation.
Kensington Palace and WildAid have been contacted for comment.
The crimes WildAid allegedly ignored
Epstein’s donation came five years after his conviction for soliciting sex from a minor.
The disgraced financier was released from prison in July 2009. He had served 13 months of an 18-month sentence.
In January of 2014, John Baker, WildAid’s managing director, reportedly wrote to Epstein’s office.
He allegedly attempted to set up a meeting with Epstein and the charity’s co-founder and executive director, Peter Knights.
“Thanks again for the generous donation from Jeffrey Epstein in 2013,” the email reportedly said in the introduction.
The following month, February 2014, Baker contacted Epstein’s offices again, as per The i Paper.
WildAid’s work at the time
It came shortly after the charity had launched new public awareness campaigns in London. These campaigns aimed at ending the illegal trade in wildlife products such as rhino horn and ivory.
Baker allegedly wrote: “With thanks for the generous support from Jeffrey Epstein and Enhanced Education, we launched our two newest rhino horn PSAs [public service announcements] in London yesterday.”
The correspondence is said to show that the charity credited the campaigns with Epstein’s donation.
It referred to media coverage of campaign events attended by William and other WildAid ambassadors.
WildAid’s alleged correspondence with Epstein
Epstein and his team were encouraged to share this coverage.
This coverage even included an extract of a speech from then-Prince Charles.
The now monarch had praised the charity’s work at the time.
The charity has said Epstein’s donation was not earmarked for any specific campaign or individual.
In March 2014, the following month, Baker is said to have invited Epstein to a private dinner in New York.
“This would be an opportunity for Mr Epstein to meet Mr Knights and hear some exciting updates on our campaigns to end the illegal trade in shark fin, ivory and rhino horn,” he allegedly penned.
WildAid has since claimed to i Paper that no such meetings ever took place.
Prince William’s campaigns for WildAid
Prince William famously backed the wildlife charity, even appearing in filmed public service announcements alongside David Beckham and the Chinese basketball pro Yao Ming in 2013.
As per reports, WildAid has said these PSAs were funded separately.
Epstein’s $50,000 donation, made through his Enhanced Education foundation, allegedly went towards the charity’s wider costs, rather than specific campaigns.
The response
The i Paper wrote of the scenario: “WildAid said the donation from Epstein was unsolicited and publicly disclosed in its annual accounts. ‘No member of WildAid’s staff or leadership ever met with Enhanced Education, Mr Epstein or any of Mr Epstein’s representatives.'”
Meanwhile, Kensington Palace also told the publication that this was “a matter for WildAid and isn’t something we’d comment on”.
Read more: King Charles’ brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor set to feature in new documentary amid scandal
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