Ehud Barak

Ehud Barak—Israel's prime minister from 1999 to 2001 and later defense minister—maintained a working and social relationship with Jeffrey Epstein well after Epstein's 2008 sex-offense conviction. Evidence shows Epstein bankrolled Barak's 2015 investment in the emergency-tech firm Carbyne, formerly Reporty, newly surfaced calendars list roughly thirty Barak-Epstein meetings between 2013 and 2017, including a 2014 flight on Epstein's jet, and a 2016 photograph depicts Barak entering Epstein's Manhattan townhouse the same day Epstein arrived with four women. The links became a flashpoint in Israel's 2019 campaign season, prompting Barak to pledge that he would sever financial ties. He denies any knowledge of Epstein's crimes and insists all dealings were legitimate.¹²³

  Snapshot

  Professional Background

A decorated IDF chief of staff and MIT-trained systems engineer, Barak entered politics in 1995, became prime minister in 1999, and left government in 2013 to focus on finance and technology ventures. His post-political portfolio emphasized cyber-defense and emergency-response start-ups, leading to his 2015 creation of Sum (E.B.) 2015 to channel private capital into Reporty—rebranded Carbyne in 2018—where he still serves as chair.¹⁵

  Epstein Timeline

  Business Partnership: Carbyne

Reporty Homeland Security developed smartphone-to-dispatch video streaming and geolocation for 911 systems. Barak's limited partnership supplied equity capital, Haaretz reports "a large part" of those funds came from Epstein, making him an indirect shareholder. Carbyne later raised U.S. venture money and installed former DHS and CIA officials on its board, but Epstein's stake drew adverse press after his 2019 indictment. Barak stated that all investors were screened by lawyers and accountants and that Epstein "had paid his debt to society."⁵⁹

  Visits, Flights, and Calendars

Wall Street Journal calendars show Epstein scheduling meetings with Barak month after month, some included lunches at Epstein's townhouse and sessions at his Palm Beach estate, both after the 2008 conviction.²⁴ The single logged flight—Palm Beach to Tampa—occurred on 3 April 2014. Barak told Israeli media that he "never stayed the night" at Epstein properties and was always accompanied by aides or family.²¹⁰

  Political Reaction

Barak's renewed political bid in 2019 faltered as opponents highlighted Epstein's support. Labor and Meretz negotiators warned a merger might suffer, and Prime Minister Netanyahu demanded an inquiry, citing the Carbyne deal.⁷⁸ Barak replied that Netanyahu's own circle had socialized with Epstein and accused rivals of "spin."⁹

  Current Status

Barak remains Carbyne's chairman and a frequent media commentator on Israeli security. He says all financial links to Epstein ended in 2015 and that no further investments or meetings occurred after 2017. Investigative focus today centers on Epstein's estate executors, not Barak, yet the disclosure cycle keeps his association in public view.¹⁰

  References

  Footnotes

1. Barak, Epstein Met Dozens of Times, Times of Israel ↩ ↩²

2. Barak Met Epstein After Conviction, Ynet ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷

3. Epstein, Barak Partnership Worth Millions, Haaretz ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

4. Epstein Funded Barak's Tech Investment, Jerusalem Post ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

5. Barak Weighs Ending Epstein Ties, Haaretz ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

6. Barak Defends Epstein Business Ties, Business Insider ↩ ↩²

7. Epstein Calendar Names Include Barak, JTA ↩ ↩²

8. Epstein Scandal: New Names Emerge, The Guardian ↩ ↩²

9. Barak, Four Women Enter Epstein House, Jerusalem Post ↩ ↩² ↩³

10. Barak-Epstein Ties Hurt Merger Chances, Times of Israel ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴

11. Barak Calls Epstein Issue 'Spin', Times of Israel ↩

12. Epstein Was Barak's Partner in 2015, Times of Israel ↩

13. Barak Threatens Libel Over Epstein Photo, Haaretz ↩

14. Epstein, Barak Invested in Startup, Haaretz ↩