When the Justice Department publicly launched millions of files associated to Jeffrey Epstein, bestselling creator and wellness guru Deepak Chopra was one of many many outstanding people to distance himself from his onetime good friend.
“I was never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct. Any contact I had was limited and unrelated to abusive activity,” Chopra wrote on X earlier this month.
But Chopra’s contacts with Epstein had been hardly restricted, with a whole bunch of messages between the 2 males within the Justice Department’s “Epstein Library.” And a NCS evaluate of their correspondence reveals they shared a much more intimate friendship than was beforehand identified, having frequent contact between 2016 and 2019 — the 12 months that Epstein was arrested on costs of working a sex-trafficking ring and of sexually abusing underage women.
The revelation marks only one extra instance of how Epstein had long tentacles into the worlds of leisure, lecturers and excessive society, even after he served jail time following his 2008 responsible plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Chopra joins the ranks of different high-profile figures now attempting to recast the character of their relationship with Epstein by downplaying simply how close they had as soon as been.
NCS discovered that Chopra and Epstein communicated repeatedly over e mail and textual content messages, and on a number of events organized to see one another in individual. Messages point out that Chopra visited Epstein on the convicted little one intercourse offender’s New York City townhouse, South Florida residence and Paris condo.
Over a number of years, the 2 males bantered about subjects reminiscent of spirituality, well being, wellness and mutual pals, with Chopra typically expressing heat and affection towards Epstein by signing a few of his messages with “Love” or “XO.” Chopra as soon as declared to Epstein: “I’m deeply grateful for our friendship.”
Chopra, who emigrated from India to the US greater than 50 years in the past to apply drugs, describes himself on his website as a “Consciousness Explorer and a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine.” He is the creator of dozens of books — a lot of them bestsellers — on subjects starting from spirituality and well being to quantum physics, and he’s a high-profile determine within the transcendental meditation motion. Oprah Winfrey helped introduce him to an American viewers within the Nineteen Nineties.
Chopra’s spokesperson has not responded to NCS’s requests for remark.
In his X post earlier this month, Chopra stated he was “deeply saddened by the suffering of the victims in this case,” including, “Some past email exchanges have surfaced that reflect poor judgment in tone. I regret that and understand how they read today, given what was publicly known at the time.”
The presence of an individual’s identify within the Epstein information just isn’t indicative of wrongdoing. Approached not too long ago and requested to remark about his relationship with Epstein, Chopra stated: “No misconduct.”
On a minimum of two events, Chopra, who has been married for many years, invited Epstein to bring his “girls” on trips.
“If you want use a fake name. Bring your girls,” Chopra wrote to Epstein in a 2017 e mail asking him to come to Israel. Chopra adopted up in a subsequent note: “Your girls would love it as would you.” The identical 12 months, asking Epstein to be part of a workshop that he was internet hosting in Switzerland, Chopra once more encouraged the financier to come “with your girls.” NCS is unable to verify whether or not Epstein took up the supply to attend both of those trips.
Discussing former Saudi Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel in 2017, Chopra described her as being “v sweet – like your girls.”
In one among their extra philosophical exchanges in 2017, Chopra wrote to Epstein: “Universe is human construct. … Cute girls are aware when they make noises.” Chopra later added: “God is a construct Cute girls are real.” When Epstein wrote again, “so when the girl says oh my god. . ?” Chopra replied: “Yes That’s divine tran=cendence.”
Also in 2017, Epstein asked Chopra: “find me a cute israeli blonde. . matter over mind.” Chopra responded that he might, then shared a “warning”: “They are militant aggressive and v sexy.”
In a text exchange, Epstein and Chopra mentioned a lady whose identify is redacted. When Epstein requested how Chopra met the lady, Chopra stated: “In many ways [redacted] is more connected to ‘reality’ than the brilliant scientists. I felt connected to her at the level of awareness.” Epstein wrote again: “I liked watching you zero in on your prey . Made me smile.” Chopra responded: “I not a predator Just a lover.”
At different occasions, the 2 males mentioned ladies whom Chopra labored with in his skilled capability. In 2016, Chopra despatched Epstein a hyperlink to a video he made with actress Kat Foster. Chopra wrote: “innocent and smart at the same time.” Epstein responded: “secondary to cute.”
The DOJ’s Epstein information additionally comprise a number of movies of Chopra, together with guided meditation and discussions about spirituality. None of the movies that NCS reviewed featured Epstein, and they didn’t seem to be made particularly for the financier.
In one 2016 exchange that started with a hyperlink to a TED speak in regards to the finish of physics, Chopra wrote to Epstein: “Statistics is like a girl in a bikini What she reveals is obvious What she conceals – is more interesting =.”
It just isn’t clear the age of the “girls” whom Chopra and Epstein mentioned. In a minimum of one dialogue during which Chopra was arranging a gathering between his son-in-law and Epstein, Chopra appeared to counsel that they don’t focus on the subject. “You might enjoy meeting him,” Chopra said, earlier than including: “(can’t talk about girls ).” It is unknown whether or not the assembly occurred.
In early 2019, because the partitions had been closing in on Epstein forward of his arrest in July, Chopra appeared to present help and sympathy for his good friend.
Chopra despatched Epstein his love from India in February by way of text message, to which Epstein responded: “Can you send it in female form J.” The following month, the 2 males mentioned Epstein’s “bad press.”
“I think of you often. I am aware of the toxicity of my press,” Epstein wrote. Chopra wrote again: “Sorry I am not concerned about that.” He beforehand advised Epstein to “Stay silent Meditate.”
Over the years, Epstein constantly requested Chopra about his travels and whereabouts, inviting him over for dinner and different social gatherings. The convicted intercourse offender appeared keen to bring Chopra into his interior circle, providing to embrace him in conferences with his enterprise associates.
In 2016, Epstein requested Chopra whether or not the actor Leonardo DiCaprio can be considering having dinner with the filmmaker Woody Allen, a close good friend of Epstein’s. It just isn’t clear whether or not the dinner befell.
The identical 12 months, Epstein described Chopra to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, saying: “hes very amusing and a good guy filled with troves of stories. if you see him, you might enjoy a conversation. he is the guru to hollywood.”
Epstein once enlisted his longtime girlfriend Karyna Shuliak to get sweatshirts made for Chopra that includes the initials “DC” and an American flag.
The DOJ’s Epstein information additionally present that Epstein supplied monetary help to and mentioned enterprise concepts with Chopra over a number of years.
Chopra and Poonacha Machaiah, his co-founder of Jiyo, a wellness app, sought enter from Epstein for the enterprise, and organized a visit in July 2017 for Epstein to come to San Diego so they may “walk [Epstein] through Jiyo Value proposition,” in accordance to an email. Epstein then offered to ahead the pitch to the “three chairman of the largest insurers.” Machaiah followed up by saying he would recognize it if Epstein might introduce them “to potential partners in the insurance segment.” NCS has reached out to Machaiah for remark.
In 2017, the Chopra Foundation obtained a $50,000 test from “Gratitude America” — one among Epstein’s foundations. According to the information, it appears the funding was meant for scientific analysis.
In what seems to be the start of their written correspondence in 2016, Epstein advised Chopra create a sport and mentioned an “aura” app with him. “On another note the aura app would be gigantic. Every woman needs a goodness meter,” Epstein wrote in an email.
“I’m at your service for any adventure sir If we do do an aura app it should be backed up with the emerging theory of biofield science. … The monopoly game could be fun,” Chopra responded.
At occasions, the 2 males additionally mentioned politics. Chopra made it clear to Epstein that he was not a fan of President Donald Trump.
Days after the 2016 election, Chopra told Epstein his household was “devastated” after Trump gained. Epstein reassured him by saying, “no no it’s going to be fine.” In 2017, Chopra authored an article in SF Gate describing Trump as “a President who combines irrational whims, vindictiveness, and amorality,” and shared the story with Epstein.
Chopra as soon as told Epstein that Ivanka Trump, the president’s eldest daughter, had attended a meditation session of his in 2016. He stated he had realized her presence as a result of “I noticed a pretty girl in the room,” and somebody knowledgeable him it was Ivanka.