New Delhi: The Office of the Dalai Lama has firmly dismissed reports suggesting any connection between the Tibetan spiritual leader and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, calling such claims entirely untrue. In a statement issued on Sunday, the office clarified that the Dalai Lama has never met Epstein and had no involvement, direct or indirect, with him.
“We categorically state that His Holiness has never had any meeting or interaction with Jeffrey Epstein, nor did he authorise anyone to engage with Epstein on his behalf,” the statement said, responding to recent speculation circulating in sections of the media and on social platforms.
The clarification follows reports that emerged after the release of a large volume of documents by the United States Department of Justice related to the Epstein investigation. Earlier this week, China’s CGTN reported that the Dalai Lama’s name appeared multiple times in the newly disclosed files. However, officials stressed that the mere appearance of a name in such records does not indicate wrongdoing or personal association.
The Justice Department has made public an extensive archive linked to the Epstein case, comprising millions of pages of documents, along with thousands of images and videos. The release has led to renewed scrutiny of individuals mentioned in the material, often without context regarding the nature of those references.
The Dalai Lama, who has lived in exile in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, is globally respected for his advocacy of peace and non-violence. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the Tibetan issue.
Jeffrey Epstein, a former financier, was accused by U.S. authorities of orchestrating a prolonged sex trafficking operation involving underage girls across several locations in the United States and abroad. In 2008, he pleaded guilty in Florida to soliciting a minor, receiving a sentence that was widely criticised for its leniency and has since remained a subject of public and legal debate.
The Dalai Lama’s office urged caution against drawing conclusions from unverified interpretations of the released files, reiterating that the claims linking him to Epstein are baseless.
