Convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein acted as a social connector for New York Giants co-owner and Hollywood producer Steve Tisch, linking him with several women, according to a new batch of emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The emails are part of more than three million documents made public on Friday under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. Steve Tisch’s name appears at least 440 times in the records, highlighting the extent of communication between Epstein and the billionaire executive.
The correspondence, first highlighted by The Athletic, ranges from casual social planning to explicit and troubling language. In one message, Epstein casually mentions Tisch possibly visiting, while in others he discusses women in crude terms and attempts to arrange introductions.
Steve Tisch, 76, is the chairman, co-owner, and vice president of the New York Giants and a renowned film producer whose credits include Forrest Gump and Risky Business. In a statement, Tisch acknowledged his past contact with Epstein but strongly distanced himself from any wrongdoing.
“We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women and also discussed movies, philanthropy, and investments,” Tisch said. “I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. He was a terrible person, and I deeply regret associating with him.”
Most of the emails involving Tisch date back to around 2013. In one exchange from April of that year, Epstein appeared to arrange a meeting between Tisch and a woman named Katya, who expressed excitement about meeting the Oscar-winning producer after researching him online.
Another series of emails from May 2013 shows Tisch forwarding correspondence related to a different woman Epstein attempted to connect him with. In one message, Tisch wrote that Epstein was “very excited” about the two meeting and complimented the woman’s photograph. Epstein later responded with details about her background and travel limitations, suggesting Tisch should arrange her ticket.
Additional emails reveal discussions about other women, including one thread titled “Ukrainian Girl,” in which Tisch asked Epstein for background information after meeting a woman at Epstein’s home. Epstein’s replies included explicit descriptions and commentary, raising further concerns about the nature of their interactions.
At one point, Epstein requested that conversations be moved to phone calls to avoid creating records. In another email, he claimed success in persuading a woman not to return to Ukraine, language that has drawn particular scrutiny.
Jeffrey Epstein was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges involving underage girls. While awaiting trial, he was found dead in his jail cell in August 2019. His death was ruled a suicide. Epstein had previously pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting a minor for prostitution in Florida and served 13 months in prison.
Epstein was widely known for his connections to powerful figures in politics, business, and entertainment. His longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted for her role in recruiting and trafficking minors and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
The newly released files also reference other high-profile individuals, including billionaire sports owner Josh Harris. However, Harris’s representatives stated that he never had an independent relationship with Epstein and actively avoided meeting him.
The Justice Department said the latest release includes millions of pages of documents, thousands of videos, and hundreds of thousands of images that were previously withheld. Officials say the disclosures aim to shed light on Epstein’s network and the extent of his interactions with influential figures.
