Recent releases of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein have drawn renewed attention, including more than 150 mentions of the Dalai Lama’s name. In response, representatives for the spiritual leader issued a statement denying any personal connection to Epstein.
The U.S. Department of Justice released the files between December 2025 and January 2026. Though the Dalai Lama’s name appears repeatedly, there is no evidence in the documents showing any direct relationship or interaction with Epstein.
According to reporting, several emails mention events where the Dalai Lama was allegedly expected to appear. One message talked about possibly attending a gathering “on the island” where he was said to be present, while another stated, “Going now to the event with the Dalai Lama.” However, none confirm that a meeting occurred.
The Dalai Lama frequently attends large international conferences and religious gatherings, so his name often appears in correspondence related to public events. Mentions alone do not demonstrate participation.
Some files include messages in which Epstein and associates discussed attempts to arrange social or academic gatherings involving prominent figures. A 2014 email from Epstein referenced working on a possible dinner featuring the Dalai Lama, Woody Allen, and Noam Chomsky. Another message from physicist Lawrence Krauss asked about a potential dinner including the Dalai Lama and Allen. There are no records showing such meetings took place.
Representatives for the Dalai Lama publicly stated that he has never met Jeffrey Epstein nor authorized any meeting or interaction. They emphasized that references in third-party emails do not indicate personal involvement.
In 2025, journalist Michael Wolff claimed on a podcast to have seen the Dalai Lama at Epstein’s Manhattan residence, but he later acknowledged uncertainty about the nature of any encounter. Another journalist noted there is no documentation supporting a confirmed meeting between them.
Observers stress that Epstein frequently referenced well-known figures in correspondence without their knowledge or consent, and experts caution that email mentions alone do not imply participation or wrongdoing.