Model Agent's Decade-Long Email Correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein Exposed
Newly released Department of Justice files have revealed disturbing details about the relationship between disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and former model agent Ramsey Elkholy. The documents show Elkholy sent hundreds of emails to Epstein over a ten-year period, begging the convicted sex offender to have sex with women and discussing young models' bodies and sexual attitudes.
References to Russian Model's Tragic Death
The emails include references to top Russian model Ruslana Korshunova, who died by suicide in 2009 at age 20 – just two years after visiting Epstein's Caribbean island, Little St James, when she was only 18. Korshunova, a rising fashion star, had traveled to the island on Epstein's private Boeing 727 aircraft, infamously nicknamed the Lolita Express, shortly before her death. The model jumped from a ninth-floor balcony of a New York building, with her appearance in Epstein's flight logs raising concerns about potential exploitation.
Emails between Epstein and Elkholy appear to suggest Korshunova had been represented by the agent at some point. The correspondence reveals Elkholy's extensive efforts to connect Epstein with young women, including models as young as 18 years old.
Agent's Regret and Denial of Knowledge
Speaking to the BBC, Elkholy – who now describes himself as an anthropologist and musician – expressed regret about his association with Epstein and the language used in some emails. However, he claimed he was unaware Epstein had been abusing women and insisted he was not part of the financier's inner circle. Elkholy told the broadcaster the DOJ files prove he only met Epstein ten to twelve times over the entire decade-long period, despite the extensive email correspondence.
The DOJ files indicate Elkholy maintained contact with Epstein from at least 2009 until shortly before the financier's death in August 2019. A search for Elkholy's name on the DOJ website returns over 2,000 results, though many are duplicates.
Disturbing Email Content Revealed
The emails contain numerous troubling references to women's bodies and sexual preferences. In one 2009 email sent just months after Epstein's release from prison on charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor, Elkholy described Epstein as a 'solid person' and wrote: 'I don't need to tell you that I also value your friendship. The reason I never ask for anything in return for introducing you to models is because I consider it more of a favor and I know that you are also good for favors. You're a solid person Jeffrey and that means the world to me.'
Another 2009 email showed Elkholy acknowledging Epstein's preference for younger women, describing a 'very hot blonde' but adding: 'I know 23 is on the old side for you.' Epstein was 56 at the time. In 2010, Elkholy suggested Epstein meet an 18-year-old Russian college student he described as 'gorgeous,' telling the BBC he hoped such introductions would help the models' careers.
Explicit Descriptions and Financial Leverage
The emails include numerous explicit descriptions of women. Elkholy described one 19-year-old as a '5'11 barbie doll' but noted she was a 'hard core christian, so i don't think that will work, which is a shame.' Another woman was labeled a 'business-minded sex machine.'
More disturbingly, some emails appeared to leverage women's financial situations. Two days after informing Epstein about a woman 'desperate for cash,' Elkholy expressed hope the financier was 'getting some mileage' out of her situation 'being all alone' in New York. When Epstein responded 'zero,' Elkholy pleaded: 'Jeffrey PLEASE just try her in bed... I really need that so I can feel whole about all this because she's such a pain in the ass. I also think it would be good to get her to know what it is like to get really [expletive].' Elkholy later claimed this message was sent with the woman's permission.
Business Proposals with Sexual Undertones
In 2016, Elkholy pitched several business investments to Epstein, including modeling agencies, competitions, and magazines – all with clear sexual undertones. Regarding an agency investment, Elkholy suggested Epstein was 'more interested in the access to women' – substituting the word 'women' with an emoji.
For a modeling competition idea, Elkholy claimed '200,000' girls would participate over nine months across dozens of cities, noting the winner was usually 'another overlooked girl' whom Epstein could fly 'wherever' in the US, Caribbean, or Paris.
When proposing they buy a Brazilian fashion magazine together, Elkholy wrote: 'You could easily have 20-30 girls trying for the cover each month. Just an idea.' After Epstein showed little interest, Elkholy lamented 'all the girls' Epstein could have had sex with if they had purchased the magazine. Elkholy then said he would buy the Brazilian edition himself 'for a couple hundred k,' which would ensure 'a steady stream' of women, using an expletive for female genitals.
Final Correspondence and Epstein's Arrest
The email correspondence continued until 2019, with their final exchanges concerning bringing a Russian woman to the US. Elkholy wrote: 'She will be in London if you want to import her.' Epstein responded that obtaining a US visa would be difficult, prompting Elkholy to suggest: 'Maybe she can try for some kind of student visa?' Epstein then proposed trying Dubai instead.
Epstein was arrested for sex trafficking and conspiracy charges just three months after this final correspondence. On August 10, 2019, he was found dead in his prison cell at New York's Metropolitan Correctional Center while awaiting trial. The FBI estimates Epstein abused approximately 1,000 women and girls, with these newly released emails providing further insight into the network that facilitated his crimes.
