Czech connections in Epstein files release prompt call for official review

Newly released U.S. government documents have highlighted possible links between the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Czech Republic. The files, part of a vast trove totaling over three million pages, 2,000 videos, and 180,000 photographs, include references to Czech women and indications that Epstein visited the country multiple times.

The revelations have drawn immediate attention from Czech lawmakers. Jan Lipavský, former foreign minister and current MP, submitted a formal request to Prime Minister Andrej Babiš heading into the weekend.

Lipavský is seeking clarity on whether Czech authorities are investigating any local connections, whether Epstein may have spent time in the country, and whether security services will examine potential victims within the Czech Republic.

“If there are relevant leads pointing to the Czech Republic, the Czech government must act proactively and consistently so that no well-founded suspicion remains unexamined,” Lipavský wrote on X, highlighting the approach taken by Poland, where Prime Minister Donald Tusk launched an official review of possible links to his country.

The documents provide details of several Czech women in Epstein’s orbit. According to reporting from Novinky.cz and iDnes.cz, one woman identified as Veronika exchanged emails with Epstein from roughly 2010 to 2017, sending him intimate photos and attending social events organized by Epstein, including weekends at his properties in New York and Florida.

Other files reference Czech women involved with Ronald Eppinger, a convicted U.S.-based trafficker who recruited young women from Eastern Europe for sex work. Eppinger reportedly enlisted two Czech women, Lucie F. and Tereza B., to facilitate visas and supervise girls in Miami, New York, Texas, and the Bahamas.

Some of these girls were later directed into Epstein’s network. Eppinger lived under an alias in the Czech Republic for a time in 1999 before being extradited to the United States, where he served a prison sentence.

Beyond individual contacts, the documents suggest Epstein may have personally visited the Czech Republic. Seznam Zprávy reports photos of him at Prague’s Old Jewish Cemetery and hotel stays, including at the Marriott.

These revelations mark the first public indications of Epstein’s physical presence in Czechia. Some emails imply he considered acquiring property in the country.

The files further connect Epstein to high-profile figures internationally, ranging from former U.S. President Donald Trump to members of European royalty and business elites. While the Czech references are primarily tied to women in his network, the potential national security and victim protection implications have prompted calls for a formal review by authorities.

Lipavský’s request comes amid heightened scrutiny following the U.S. Department of Justice’s release of the latest documents. Czech media outlets have reported on the emerging details, prompting debate over whether the country should initiate a formal inquiry similar to investigations in Poland, Britain, and Norway.

The government has not yet confirmed any official action, but the new disclosures underline the continuing global fallout from Epstein’s criminal network and its wide-ranging international connections.