Top House Democrat leads push for congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged work for various foreign governments, including Israel.By World Israel News StaffThe leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee has opened an inquiry into whether Jeffrey Epstein acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Russia or Israel while attempting to influence the first Trump administration.Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland requested government records concerning Epstein’s contacts with foreign officials and asked whether federal authorities had investigated possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.The request was sent to acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton, who has been nominated to serve as director of national intelligence.Raskin said documents reviewed by Democratic committee investigators showed Epstein positioning himself as an intermediary between foreign governments and figures close to President Donald Trump.“Jeffrey Epstein never registered as a foreign agent,” Raskin wrote.The correspondence does not prove that Epstein represented any foreign government, worked for an intelligence agency or violated federal law. Raskin is asking the Justice Department and other agencies to investigate whether his activities crossed the legal threshold requiring registration.The documents cited by Raskin include messages in which Epstein allegedly offered to assist Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman following Trump’s election in 2016.In one communication, Epstein offered to “represent [Saudi Arabia’s] interests. period.” He also described possible roles for himself as a financial adviser and intermediary for the Saudi leadership.Other messages reportedly show Epstein discussing the advice he could provide to Kuwait’s emir before Trump’s first presidential trip abroad in May 2017.Epstein reportedly told a contact that Kuwait should make “concrete” requests of the incoming administration and discussed possible diplomatic initiatives concerning the war in Yemen.Raskin also cited communications involving Russian officials.According to the committee’s summary, Epstein advised Russia’s then-ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, on how to approach Trump, saying the president “must be seen to get something.”Epstein later suggested that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov could gain insight into dealing with Trump by speaking with him, according to the released correspondence.The Israel-related documents concern Epstein’s extensive relationship with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.Raskin said Epstein advised Barak before meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2013, assisted him with an opinion article urging Moscow to abandon Syrian President Bashar Assad and helped arrange contacts with Russian officials.The documents also reportedly show Epstein providing Barak with information about American political figures and continuing to advise him ahead of a possible political comeback in 2019.The correspondence demonstrates a close advisory relationship between Epstein and Barak but does not establish that Epstein acted on behalf of the Israeli government or the Mossad.Raskin’s inquiry follows renewed political attention to Epstein’s foreign contacts and his relationship with Trump, who socialized with the financier before the two men reportedly fell out years before Epstein’s 2019 arrest.The congressman argued that Epstein’s relationships with senior foreign figures, combined with his claimed access to Trump and members of his circle, presented a potential national-security risk.Federal law does not generally prohibit Americans from representing foreign interests. The Foreign Agents Registration Act, however, requires certain people engaged in political activity or government advocacy on behalf of foreign principals to disclose those relationships and related financial activity to the Justice Department.Raskin is seeking records held by the Justice Department and State Department, details of any previous investigations into Epstein’s foreign activities and an explanation of why no enforcement action was taken.The White House rejected suggestions that the newly examined material implicated Trump in wrongdoing.“As President Trump has said, he has been exonerated on anything relating to Epstein,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said.Raskin currently lacks the power to compel the administration to provide the requested material because Republicans control the House and its committees.As the Judiciary Committee’s ranking minority member, he cannot independently issue subpoenas or require officials to testify. The request may therefore be ignored unless Republican committee leaders agree to participate.That could change if Democrats win control of the House in the November midterm elections. Raskin would be in position to become committee chairman, giving him subpoena authority and the ability to launch a formal congressional investigation.Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida in 2008 to offenses involving a minor and served approximately 13 months in custody under a widely criticized agreement.He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex-trafficking charges but died in a Manhattan jail before trial. His death was ruled a suicide.The post Top House Democrat pushes to probe Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged Israel ties appeared first on World Israel News.