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

ed to keep synagogues from opening. There are now four on the little island, including an Orthodox shul started by Slim-Fast founder Danny Abraham. Jose Lambiet, gossip columnist for the Palm Beach Post, says, "Half, rny-q,o. sources on the island are Jewish socialites." n u noi ct.0 tit' Lambiet say

ners and Citigroup. • Rumors that he left Bear Stearns under an SEC inquiry cloud. • Also rumored to have been a spook of some sort. • Mentored by 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 history.' • His r

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 incarcerated

que. Hoffenberg hired his new pro- tege as a consultant at 525.000 a month. and the relationship flourished. "They trav- eled everywhere 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

s Page 2.1 from his *Mee at Harvard. "But it's clear that there arc some serious constitutional issues Page 1 of 4 Search @Site C. Entortainment Jose Lambiet serves up the stoop on local newsmakers. RSS Feeds If you use an RSS reader, here is the feed for this blog: • LoragiorctiRaS Latest Entries •

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

ed to keep synagogues from opening. There are now four on the little island, including an Orthodox shul started by Slim-Fast founder Danny Abraham. Jose Lambiet, gossip columnist for the Palm Beach Post, says, "Half my sources on the island are Jewish socialites." Lambiet says the case has fed rage within t

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?" •

ment URL: EFTA00188389 HOTSHOT EPSTEIN NOT SO HOT: VF PAUL THARP. New York Post. New York, N.Y.: Feb 4, 2003. pg. 036 People: Epstein, Jeffrey, Hoffenberg, Steve Section: Business Text Word Count 249 Document URL: r. 41)stract 02pp:taw; turupary) "...SP4-4trw [Jeffrey Epstein], a 50-year-old Ral

er • OJ. Simpson?) and Kenneth Starr (remember Monica Lewinsky?). Jack Goldberger of West Palm Beach, who also on the team, told Post columnist Jose Lambiet in November: "This case is absolutely • going to end without a trial within the next two months." He was wrong, but Mr. Gold- berger remains on M