Dalai Lama never met Jeffrey Epstein: Tibetan leader's office junks reports
Several media reports mentioned that the Dalai Lama's name appeared several times in documents released by US authorities as part of material related to Jeffrey Epstein. The Tibetan spiritual leader's office clarified that the Dalai Lama never met Epstein.
The office of the Dalai Lama on Sunday firmly denied claims circulating in sections of the media and on social platforms that sought to link the Tibetan spiritual leader to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Dalai Lama’s office said that the Tibetan leader had never met Epstein.
In a press statement dated February 8, the office said: “Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the ‘Epstein files’ are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein.”
“We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf,” it added.
The clarification came after reports, including by Chinese state media, highlighted that the Dalai Lama’s name appeared in documents released by US authorities as part of material related to Epstein.
Last month, the United States Department of Justice made public the latest tranche of files — millions of pages of documents, photographs and videos tied to the investigation into the disgraced financier.
The Dalai Lama’s name shows up multiple times in the documents. However, an AFP report mentioned that it found no reference to any meeting or interaction between the Buddhist leader and Epstein.
The mere mention of a person’s name in the files does not by itself suggest wrongdoing.
The 90-year-old Dalai Lama has lived in exile in Dharamsala since fleeing Lhasa in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Beijing considers him a separatist, a charge he denies, saying he seeks greater autonomy for Tibetans.
Chinese state broadcaster China Global Television Network (CGTN) had earlier claimed the Dalai Lama appeared at least 169 times in the documents. It cited an email from an unidentified sender who told Epstein he was considering attending an event where the Dalai Lama was expected to be present.
The message mentioned by the Chinese network read: “About the event I told u almost a month ago on the island that the Dalai Lama is coming and I want to go there to see him. But I can skip this event if u need my help today (sic).”
In a subsequent mail, the sender wrote: “going now to the event with the Dalai Lama.” However, there was no indication the person actually met or saw the Tibetan leader, who has attended countless public events around the world.
Reacting to attempts to draw a link, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on X that the revered institution of the Dalai Lama should not be casually dragged into controversies.
“The revered institution of ‘The Dalai Lama’ should not be casually linked with the ‘Epstein Files’ or any other issues, with the motive of damaging the sacred institution. We shouldn't become the casualties of immoral-lifestyle, hookup-culture and unconventional-relationships,” he wrote.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. He died by suicide in 2019 while in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The office of the Dalai Lama on Sunday firmly denied claims circulating in sections of the media and on social platforms that sought to link the Tibetan spiritual leader to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Dalai Lama’s office said that the Tibetan leader had never met Epstein.
In a press statement dated February 8, the office said: “Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the ‘Epstein files’ are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein.”
“We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf,” it added.
The clarification came after reports, including by Chinese state media, highlighted that the Dalai Lama’s name appeared in documents released by US authorities as part of material related to Epstein.
Last month, the United States Department of Justice made public the latest tranche of files — millions of pages of documents, photographs and videos tied to the investigation into the disgraced financier.
The Dalai Lama’s name shows up multiple times in the documents. However, an AFP report mentioned that it found no reference to any meeting or interaction between the Buddhist leader and Epstein.
The mere mention of a person’s name in the files does not by itself suggest wrongdoing.
The 90-year-old Dalai Lama has lived in exile in Dharamsala since fleeing Lhasa in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Beijing considers him a separatist, a charge he denies, saying he seeks greater autonomy for Tibetans.
Chinese state broadcaster China Global Television Network (CGTN) had earlier claimed the Dalai Lama appeared at least 169 times in the documents. It cited an email from an unidentified sender who told Epstein he was considering attending an event where the Dalai Lama was expected to be present.
The message mentioned by the Chinese network read: “About the event I told u almost a month ago on the island that the Dalai Lama is coming and I want to go there to see him. But I can skip this event if u need my help today (sic).”
In a subsequent mail, the sender wrote: “going now to the event with the Dalai Lama.” However, there was no indication the person actually met or saw the Tibetan leader, who has attended countless public events around the world.
Reacting to attempts to draw a link, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on X that the revered institution of the Dalai Lama should not be casually dragged into controversies.
“The revered institution of ‘The Dalai Lama’ should not be casually linked with the ‘Epstein Files’ or any other issues, with the motive of damaging the sacred institution. We shouldn't become the casualties of immoral-lifestyle, hookup-culture and unconventional-relationships,” he wrote.
Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor for prostitution. He died by suicide in 2019 while in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.