A former Israeli intelligence operative alleges that Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell operated a blackmail scheme targeting U.S. politicians and figures on behalf of Israeli military intelligence.

Why it matters: If confirmed, these allegations indicate foreign meddling in U.S. politics through criminal entrapment, threatening democracy and prompting concerns about international alliances and unchecked corruption.

Driving the news: In a 2019 interview on the “Narativ” show with host Zev Shalev, former spy Ari Ben-Menashe described Epstein’s connections to Israeli intelligence, dating to the 1980s Iran-Contra affair, and accused him of exploiting underage girls to blackmail targets.

• Ben-Menashe claims Epstein was introduced by Robert Maxwell, Ghislaine’s father and a known spy, and that the pair ran operations for military intelligence.
• He asserts Epstein’s death in jail was not suicide, calling it “impossible” based on his own time in the same facility.
• The scheme allegedly involved high-tech surveillance and blackmail to influence U.S. figures.

Watch the full interview here:

Catch up quick: Epstein, who was convicted of sex crimes, died in 2019 amid allegations of trafficking minors, and his associate Maxwell was later convicted. Ben-Menashe, who was involved in Iran-Contra, claims he encountered Epstein through Maxwell in the 1980s, before public awareness of their association.

The intrigue: Ben-Menashe links Epstein to former Israeli PM Ehud Barak, suggesting Barak benefited from Epstein’s gathered “dirt” and provided tech for surveillance, painting a web of high-level involvement.

Between the lines: The operation targeted not just embarrassing acts but felonies with minors, indicating a calculated effort for significant leverage, possibly to sway U.S. policy in Israel’s favor.

What they’re saying:

• “These guys were seen as agents. They weren’t really competent to do very much… So they found a niche for themselves—blackmailing American and other political figures,” Ari Ben-Menashe told Zev Shalev.
• “Sleeping around is not a crime… But sleeping with underage girls is a crime,” Ben-Menashe said, explaining the deliberate use of minors.

The bottom line: These unverified claims highlight potential deep corruption and foreign meddling; further investigation is needed to uncover the truth and protect democratic integrity.