Jeffrey Epstein was “likely a Russian spy” and is also likely to have “compromising material against many leaders still ⁠active today”, Polish leader Donald Tusk has said. Poland will open an investigation into potential ties between the late sex offender and Russian intelligence, and examine any implications for Poland, Mr Tusk announced earlier today, February 3. 

Tusk made the explosive announcement at a government meeting. He said: “More and more leads, more and more information, and more and more commentary in the global press all relate to the suspicion that this unprecedented paedophilia scandal was co-organised by Russian intelligence services.

“I don’t need to tell you how serious the increasingly likely possibility that Russian intelligence services co-organised this operation is for the security of the Polish state.

“This can only mean that they also possess compromising materials against many leaders still active today.” The US Department of Justice released millions of file related to Epstein, who was found dead in his New York prison cell in 2019, on Friday.

Of the millions of documents released, 1,056 mention Vladimir Putin, while more than 9,000 make reference to Moscow.

The documents show that Epstein was given access to meetings with the Russian president, including after the American financier’s 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution.

In 2010, Epstein sent an email to an associate offering to help them obtain a Russian visa, explaining: “I have a friend of Putin’s, should I ask him?”

In 2011, an email from an unidentified contact referenced an “appointment with Putin” during an upcoming visit to Russia.

Emails dating back to 2013, involving Norway’s former prime minister, mention a proposed dinner with the Russian leader in Paris. A subsequent message suggested a potential 2014 meeting, it is unclear whether this took place.

A year later Epstein wrote that he “still would like to meet Putin and talk economy”.

The newly released files include requests to arrange flights for models and escorts between Moscow, Paris and New York. In one 2010 email to a recipient whose name was redacted, Epstein wrote: “Tomorrow I’m organising a dinner for some new Russian girls … see you at 10.”

The emails also suggest that Epstein and his associates routinely recruited young Russian women into their network. Among the disclosures is an August 2010 message in which Epstein said he could introduce Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to a “beautiful” 26-year-old Russian woman identified only as “Irina.”

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any wrongdoing and has not responded to the latest release.