Disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein invited a University of Alabama alum and his family to his island in 2011 and was himself invited to the alum’s spring commencement ceremony in 2013, among other connections to the University, according to files released by the Department of Justice.
Epstein was connected to the University through John Alexander, a then-student of restaurant, hotels and meetings management and the son of Epstein’s personal psychologist, Stephen R. Alexander.
These revelations are a result of the bipartisan Congressional effort to force the release of files pertaining to Epstein. Stephen and John Alexander’s emails to Epstein and his associates were among those included in the release.
Emails between Epstein and Stephen Alexander depict a friendly relationship where Alexander often asked for help for himself or his son.
Epstein organized for at least one guest speaker to visit the University to garner favor for John Alexander and was invited to his spring 2013 graduation. Epstein likely didn’t attend commencement as he said he received the invitation in June, a month after the event was held.
All of this occurred after 2008, when Epstein pleaded guilty to two counts of soliciting prostitution, one of which was from a minor. The elder Alexander even spoke with Epstein about his criminal case.
While the files do not point to misconduct by John or Stephen Alexander and mentions of a person’s name in the files do not necessarily indicate wrongdoing, the newfound links to the University underscore the troubling depth of Epstein’s web of connections and the scope of his influence across the country.
John Alexander did not respond to a voicemail message left at his work phone number Friday afternoon. His LinkedIn profile, which listed his workplace, was no longer accessible as of Saturday evening.
Attempts to reach Stephen Alexander through phone were unsuccessful, and he did not respond to a request for comment sent to three email addresses he had used to email Epstein.
The University did not respond to a request for comment.
A helicopter ride and island visit
It is unclear when Epstein and Stephen Alexander first met. Alexander ran a clinical and forensic psychology practice in West Palm Beach, Florida — the same city where Epstein owned a mansion where he was accused of sexually abusing underage girls. A Daily Beast article from 2010 said Alexander was Epstein’s personal psychologist, though their emails indicate they had a friendly relationship as well. Alexander and his email handle “drsra” appear over 700 times in the newly released files, as recently as 2018, less than a year before Epstein’s death by suicide. The two shared conversations about legal issues, finances, birthdays and The University of Alabama.
In March 2011, Stephen Alexander asked Epstein to organize a helicopter ride for his son and his son’s girlfriend, adding “hope all settles down for you & the royal family.” Afterwards, he sent Epstein an update email, saying that John “had a blast” on the helicopter and adding, “Thanks a million! I definitely owe you a big favor.”
Stephen Alexander says his son and his son’s girlfriend enjoyed the helicopter ride. Highlights added for emphasis.Alexander and his family appear to have visited Little St. James, Epstein’s private island, in Christmas of 2011. A lawsuit filed by the Virgin Islands attorney general against Epstein’s estate and its co-executors in 2020 said that Epstein transported dozens of women and girls as young as 12 to his island and forced them to engage in sex acts.
The attorney general’s office settled with the estate in 2022 and required it to pay $105 million and half the proceeds from the sale of the island. According to NBC News, the settlement did not include an admission of liability or fault by the estate, and the executors of the estate have denied any wrongdoing.
On Dec. 15, 2011, Epstein asked Stephen Alexander to visit the island. The next day, Stephen Alexander wrote that his family was on a cruise and would sail past Epstein’s island.
“If you are on the island I would love to see you. John would especially like to meet you,” Alexander wrote.
One email chain beginning on Dec. 20, 2011, shows an unnamed person confirming plans of the visit with Alexander: “I wanted to touch base with you to organize for you and your family to go to Jeffreys island tomorrow. I’ve tried your cell and left a message on your office voicemail.” A person named “LSJ” wrote the next day: “FYI have made contact and everything good to go as long as Leon finds them at the marina!!”
On Christmas, Epstein wrote to Alexander, “that was fun.” “Had a great time also,” Stephen Alexander said two days later, though it is unclear whether he is referring to visiting the island. “Probably is best to keep the guest list between you and me. Hope your trip is fun.”
Gallery • 4 Photos Epstein invites Stephen Alexander to his island. Highlights added for emphasis.He also spoke with Epstein for more serious purposes. In several emails, he asked Epstein for advice settling his debts and paying his son’s tuition. In others, he discussed Epstein’s legal troubles, including his 2008 criminal case and 2009 civil suit with disbarred Florida attorney and convicted fraudster Scott Rothstein.
Epstein claimed in his 2009 suit that allegations in sexual abuse lawsuits against him were exaggerated by Rothstein and the other attorneys at his firm, and that Rothstein falsely promised settlement payouts to investors on behalf of his accusers as part of a Ponzi scheme.
One of the attorneys Epstein sued, Bradley Edwards, successfully countersued Epstein. As part of a 2018 settlement agreement, Epstein apologized and said he wanted to damage Edwards’ reputation and stop Edwards from bringing new cases against him.
“I am hopeful that the inner workings of RRA will, under examination, reveal the RRA lawyers actively & knowingly worked a scam against you,” said a 2013 email from Alexander’s “drsra” handle, using an abbreviation for Rothstein’s firm, Rothstein, Rosenfeldt & Adler.
Alexander appears to have tried to assist Epstein in his criminal case.
The Daily Beast wrote in 2010 that though convicted sex offenders are required to undergo an impartial psychological evaluation prior to sentencing, Epstein was allowed to submit a report from Alexander, who was then his personal psychologist. The publication said it was unable to reach Alexander by phone because it was disconnected with no forwarding information.
Alexander contacted Epstein in an email with the subject “the daily beast” the day after the story was released. “Having the foresight to disconnect my phones and leave no trace, I have made sure that reporters cannot find me for their stories. Pretty clever, eh?” he wrote.
Stephen Alexander emails Epstein about disconnecting his phone to avoid reporters. Highlights added for emphasis.Epstein and the University
On several occasions, the Alexanders went to Epstein for help with John Alexander’s career prospects.
In an email sent in 2010, John Alexander asked Steve Hanson, New York restaurateur and then-owner of B.R. Guest Restaurants, to “discuss his studies.” He reminded Hanson who he was by saying, “my dad is a friend of jeffrey.” Hanson forwarded this email to Epstein.
In an email sent to Epstein in 2011, Stephen Alexander asked if he knew anyone willing to travel to Tuscaloosa to speak at the University.
“It would help John’s dept and his standing in it, plus he’d get a lot of valuable experience helping set the whole thing up,” Alexander said in the email.
“John would like to meet you. Says he wanst to thank you personally for all you have done for him,” he added. Eventually, Epstein settled on getting Hanson’s company to speak at the University.
After confirming the guest speaking event, Alexander told Epstein that “the school is very pleased & excited to have his [Hanson’s] company presenting.”
In 2012, Stephen Alexander sent an email to Epstein asking him for advice about the University’s hospitality management graduate program: “Could you ask your friends in the business if a masters from Alabama would be helpful.” “PS: Know anyone who would like to be the graduation speaker at University of Alabama this spring?” he said at the end of the email.
In June 2013, Epstein sent Stephen Alexander an email confirming that he had received an invitation to John Alexander’s graduation and congratulating him, though he had graduated a month prior.
Gallery • 4 Photos Arrangements made for the Alexanders to visit Epstein's island. Highlights added for emphasis.Stephen Alexander also sent Epstein a series of emails in 2013 asking for information about job opportunities in Las Vegas for John Alexander. Epstein said that he could “guarantee him a job there.”
Later that summer, his father sent the financier his resume and cover letter, which both appear in the files, adding that John Alexander still had the laptop Epstein gifted him before he went to college.
“Thanks for all your help,” Stephen Alexander wrote.
Jacob Ritondo contributed to the reporting of this story.
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