Epstein Sought Saudi Crown Prince Role, Built Island 'Mosque'

Sex offender Jeffrey Epstein pursued advisor position with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman while amassing rare Islamic artifacts for a controversial structure on his Caribbean island, recent Justice Department records reveal. The files highlight his Middle East ambitions amid ongoing scrutiny of his global network.

Ties to Riyadh Elite

Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in 2019, angled for influence in Saudi Arabia around 2016. Newly released documents show he pitched himself as a "financial confidant" to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, requesting biweekly meetings to shape the kingdom's economic overhaul. Introduced via a Norwegian diplomat to Raafat Al-Sabbagh, a key advisor, Epstein visited Riyadh and urged asset protections from US courts.

Sources familiar with the records say these overtures blended business pursuits with cultural fascination. Epstein hosted Al-Sabbagh and traded invitations, despite his tarnished reputation.

Island 'Mosque' Project

On Little Saint James, his private Caribbean retreat, Epstein obsessed over a blue-and-white domed building he called a "mosque." Justice Department files detail artifacts shipped there: Kiswa cloth from Mecca's Kaaba, Uzbek mosque tiles, and Syrian-inspired designs. He even planned a Turkish bathhouse amid Islamic gardens, commissioning architects during his 2008 Palm Beach jail stint.

Local reports from the US Virgin Islands noted the structure's oddity amid Epstein's island parties. It symbolized his eclectic tastes—he once boasted of owning a massive Persian rug from a mosque.

This aerial view captures the enigmatic domed building on Little Saint James, central to Epstein's artifact collection.

Saudi Connections Deepen

Epstein's Saudi push extended beyond talk. Emails from 2017 urged him to watch the crown prince's anti-corruption purge closely. He sourced Mecca tapestries via UAE-linked contacts and aimed for prestige through religious items, blending opportunism with apparent intrigue.

Department spokespeople confirm exhaustive reviews of Epstein files but note gaps in some dealings. The island "mosque" ties into broader releases from January, fueling questions on his unchecked reach.

Artifacts from Holy Sites

Records list Quranic-embroidered Kiswa fragments—black silk covering the Kaaba—and handcrafted tiles, shipped despite their sanctity. Epstein, a secular Jew, described the project in terms evoking Muslim shrines, per architect Ion Nicola. Uzbek tiles and gold dome plans rounded out the decor, shipped through elite networks.

Initial reports indicate he leveraged West Asian ties for both business and baubles. No direct Saudi funding links surfaced, but the haul underscores his global maneuvering.

Broader Middle East Network

Epstein's ambitions spanned the Gulf, eyeing deals while curating rarities. A 2003 Vanity Fair interview hinted at his mosque rug fixation, predating the island build. Posthumous file dumps, including millions of pages, paint him chasing Riyadh access amid sex trafficking charges.

Public reaction mixes shock and skepticism, given jail security lapses around his death. Investigations like the 2023 Inspector General review missed some threads, keeping Epstein lore alive.

Lingering Questions

As more records emerge, Epstein's Saudi advisor bid and island "mosque" spotlight his blend of power plays and eccentricity. Courts hold sealed items, like a purported suicide note from cellmate Nicholas Tartaglione, out of reach—now petitioned for release by The New York Times. Tartaglione, serving life for murders, found the yellow legal pad note saying "time to say goodbye" post-Epstein's July 2019 attempt.

Federal Judge Kenneth Karas sealed it amid Tartaglione's case; Justice officials say it evaded probes. This latest on Epstein's Saudi Crown Prince aspirations and mosque artifacts revives scrutiny of his final years.