The Discovery
When FBI agents searched Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse in July 2019, they discovered a fake Saudi Arabian passport in a locked safe. The passport contained Epstein’s photograph but a different name, and listed an address in Saudi Arabia.
Details of the Passport
- Bore Epstein’s likeness but used an Arabic-sounding alias
- Was issued in the early 1980s
- Listed a Saudi Arabian address
- Had been expired for decades by the time it was found
Legal Implications
The fake passport discovery significantly strengthened prosecutors’ arguments that Epstein was a flight risk at his July 2019 bail hearing. Judge Richard Berman cited the fake passport in his decision to detain Epstein without bail.
Theories About Its Purpose
Intelligence connection theory: Some analysts suggested the passport was evidence of Epstein’s work with a foreign intelligence service, potentially given to him as a tool for covert travel.
Escape document theory: The passport was an “insurance policy” — a way to flee the US under a different identity if prosecution became imminent.
Historical relic theory: The passport dated from the 1980s when travel document forgery was more common among international businessmen.
The Safe’s Other Contents
The safe also contained large amounts of foreign currency, diamonds, and documents with women’s names and physical descriptions.