Epstein Secrets

took Cana- dian heiress Wendy Belzberg on a date he hired a Rolls-Royce especially for the oc- casion. (Epstein has claimed he owned it.) In 1987. Hoffenberz, according to sources. set Epstein up in the offices he still occu- pies in the Villard House. on Madison Av- enue. across a courtyard from the rest

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem, was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg, 57, who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 1993, was trying to buy the New York Post. He is cur- rently incarcerate

ue. Hoffenberg hired his new pro- tégé as a consultant at 525.000 a month, and the relationship flourished. "They trav- eled everywheie together—on Hoffenberg's plane. all around the world, they were al- ways together," says a source. Hoffenberg has claimed that Epstein confided in him. saying. for examp

t Citibank once sued him for defaulting on a $20 million loan. The article suggested that one of his business mentors and previous employers was Steven Hoffenberg, now serving a prison term after "bilking investors out of more than $450 million in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in American histo- rY%" As

the stock market, just as the 1987 crash was approach- ing. His story has subsequently changed. When asked if Wexner knew about his con- nection to Hoffenbere. Epstein said that he began working for Wexner in 1989, and that "it was certainly not the same time." Wherever and whenever it was that Ep- stein

f the investigation got back to Epstein, through his girls, police served a search warrant at the house right under the noses of New York decorator Mark Zeff and architect Douglas Schoettle, who were there planning a renovation, and seized a dozen or so photographs of naked women the girls had described a

thed by Vanity Fair, Epstein may have good reason to keep his past cloaked in secrecy: his real mentor. it might seem, was not Leslie Wexner but Steven Jude Hoffen- berg, 57, who, for a few months before the S.E.C. sued to freeze his assets in 093, was trying to buy the New York Asst. He is cur- rently incarcerated

dollars," Stroll has said. Hoffenberg, says a close friend, "really liked Jeffrey... Jeffrey has a way of getting under your skin, and he was under Hoffenberg's." Also appealing to Hoffenberg were Epstein's social connections; they included oil mogul Cece Wang (father of the designer Vera) and Mohan Murja

person in charge or the trans- actions. and Mitchell Bracer was assisting him with it in coordination on behalf or the insurance companies' money." Hoffinberg, claimed at the time. At one point. according to Hoffinberg. a broker forged the documents necessary for a SI.S million check to be written on in

f the investigation got back to Epstein, through his girls, police served a search warrant at the house right under the noses of New York decorator Mark Zeff and architect Douglas Schoettle, who were there planning a renovation, and seized a dozen or so photographs of naked women the girls had described a

DD BLANCHE: Do you know somebody named 16 Steven Hoffenberg? 17 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Only from the

you weren't 13 there, you weren't part of that? 14 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Correct. 15 TODD BLANCHE: Do you know somebody named 16 Steven Hoffenberg? 17 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Only from the press. 18 TODD BLANCHE: Okay. And so you don't 19 know anything about whatever business

nyways, I recommended -- I 18 think I recommended. I can't be a hundred percent 19 sure, because it's been a long time, but I think I 20 recommended Mark Zeff at that time. 21 TODD BLANCHE: Who? 22 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Mark Zeff -- 23 TODD BLANCHE: Okay. 24 GHISL

you weren't 13 there, you weren't part of that? 14 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Correct. 15 TODD BLANCHE: Do you know somebody named 16 Steven Hoffenberg? 17 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Only from the press. 18 TODD BLANCHE: Okay. And so you don't 19 know anything about whatever business

DD BLANCHE: Do you know somebody named 16 Steven Hoffenberg? 17 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Only from the

nyways, I recommended -- I 18 think I recommended. I can't be a hundred percent 19 sure, because it's been a long time, but I think I 20 recommended Mark Zeff at that time. 21 TODD BLANCHE: Who? 22 GHISLAINE MAXWELL: Mark Zeff -- 23 TODD BLANCHE: Okay. 24 GHISL