Jeffrey Epstein did not serve as an informant for the FBI, Director Kash Patel told Congress on Tuesday, refuting reports that emerged over the summer.
“Mr. Epstein was not a source for the FBI,” Mr. Patel told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He was challenged on the matter by Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican and chairman of the committee, who wanted to know whether any U.S. intelligence agency had used the wealthy convicted sex offender as an informant in their operations.
Mr. Patel said he could only answer for the FBI.
RadarOnline.com reported last month that Mr Epstein was “a puppet, informant and spy for the FBI.” It cited a 2008 document obtained through an open-records request that said “Epstein has also provided information to the FBI as agreed upon.”
The document suggested a deal between the FBI and Mr. Epstein to avoid further prosecution as long as “Epstein continues to uphold his agreement with the state of Florida.”
In his testimony Tuesday, Mr. Patel offered his own criticism of the deal federal prosecutors, led by then-U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta, struck with Mr. Epstein that has put many records sealed under court order and out of reach of the public.
Mr. Patel said the way the case was developed meant the FBI’s investigation into Mr. Epstein at the time was truncated.
“If I were the FBI director then, it wouldn’t have happened,” the director said.
