The Dalai Lama’s office has firmly denied any association with Jeffrey Epstein after Chinese media cited his name in the released files.
NEW DELHI: The office of the Dalai Lama has issued a firm denial that the Tibetan spiritual leader ever met convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The statement comes after Chinese state media reported his name appeared in the cache of documents released by the US Justice Department.
“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,” his office stated on social media platform X. The statement addressed what it called attempts by some media to create a link.
The US Justice Department published the latest tranche of files last month. An AFP search found the Dalai Lama’s name was mentioned more than 150 times within the millions of documents.
The mere mention of a name in the files does not imply any wrongdoing by that person. AFP’s review did not identify any mention or suggestion of an actual meeting between the Dalai Lama and Epstein.
State-run China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported the name ‘Dalai Lama’ appeared at least 169 times. It cited an email where an unnamed person told Epstein they were considering attending an event the Dalai Lama was set to attend.
The email, seen by AFP, shows a redacted sender writing to Epstein about wanting to see the Dalai Lama at an event. A later email from the same person states they are “goin now to the event w dalai lama”.
There is no indication in the correspondence that the sender actually met or saw the Dalai Lama. The spiritual leader, now 90, lives in exile in Dharamsala, India, after fleeing Tibet in 1959.
China condemns his push for greater Tibetan autonomy, labelling him a separatist. Epstein was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor and died by suicide in prison in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges.
The release of documents has implicated several high-profile figures, leading to resignations and public inquiries.