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Richard Axel
Person
364
Total Mentions
364
Documents
706
Connected Entities
American molecular biologist
Watch: Richard Axel in the Epstein files
1:07Narrated from the AI-generated summary of the documents. Numbers reflect the archive at generation time.
Richard Axel, the Columbia University Nobel laureate in physiology or medicine, appears in the Epstein files as a direct correspondent. He exchanged emails with Jeffrey Epstein and with Epstein's assistant Lesley Groff, mostly about arranging dinners, lunches and meetings between 2012 and 2017. The documents also show Epstein listing him among the scientists he wanted to see in New York.
The clearest record is direct correspondence: 43 emails have Axel in the From, To or Cc line. They include his own replies to Epstein (2012, 2014, 2017) and a run of messages from Lesley Groff to Axel arranging Epstein's visits, such as the October 2017 exchange about a 7–7:45pm meeting at Epstein's home at 9 East 71st Street. Axel also appears on Epstein's scheduling and travel-planning documents: a "12:30 LUNCH with Dr. Richard Axel" entry and a "People to See While in NY" list that places him alongside Eric Kandel, Woody Allen and Mort Zuckerman. Most of the 364 documents that mention him are emails, and many of those are repeated or forwarded copies of the same threads. Only about ten are substantive non-email records.
Key Highlights
- •Axel's own emails to Epstein show an informal, ongoing social relationship: he accepts a dinner (July 2017, "I would enjoy dinner with you tomorrow night"), confirms a 1:30 meeting at Epstein's house (October 2012), and replies to an Aspen invitation (September 2014, "Sat at 5 would be great").
- •Lesley Groff, Epstein's assistant, repeatedly wrote to Axel's address to schedule Epstein's time in New York. Examples include a January 2012 exchange, an October 2012 follow-up about meeting Kandel, a July 2017 dinner arrangement, and a long October 2017 thread about timing. Some of these greet a "Phyllis" or "Clayton" rather than Axel, which suggests scheduling went through assistants or other contacts.
- •In a September 2012 email, Axel replied to Epstein that although he would be pleased to oblige a request involving someone's daughter, he could not. Epstein then forwarded it with the note "fyi". The visible text does not show what was asked.
- •Epstein's schedules include "12:30 LUNCH with Dr. Richard Axel" and a recurring "People to See While in NY" list naming Axel with Kandel, Botstein, Julie Taymor, David Blaine, Woody Allen and Mort Zuckerman.
- •A press profile of Epstein, which appears in several legal-document copies, quotes Axel as saying Epstein "has the ability to make connections that other minds can't make" and is "extremely smart and probing". This is a public statement of praise from Axel.
- •An October 2016 email to Epstein lists Axel, a "Nobel prize winner in physiology", among prominent people Epstein met. Separate House Oversight email drafts ask whether Epstein met Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris and others.
- •Nothing in the documents describes any wrongdoing by Axel. They show scheduling, social contact and scientific networking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Links
Books for Further Reading
Perversion of Justice: The Jeffrey Epstein Story
Julie K. Brown
Investigative journalism that broke the Epstein case open
Filthy Rich: The Jeffrey Epstein Story
James Patterson
Bestselling account of Epstein's crimes and network
Relentless Pursuit: My Fight for the Victims of Jeffrey Epstein
Bradley J. Edwards
Victims' attorney's firsthand account
Document Mentions (20 of 364)
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1 mentionHOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023627 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_023634
rist calls—essentially wipe out their cell phones. Likewise if you can decode biological signals you can jam them too, that’s the holy grail.”) Then Richard Axel, a Nobel prize winner in physiology. Then Ron Baron who has $26 billion under management in his Baron Fund. Then Josh Harris, the co-founder of Apoll
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1 mentionHOUSE_OVERSIGHT_024229 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_024250
Source: House Oversight Committee
ist calls—essentially wipe out their cell phones. Likewise if you can decode biological signals you can jam them too, that’s the holy grail.’’) Then Richard Axel, a Nobel prize winner in physiology. Then Ron Baron who has $26 billion under management in his Baron Fund. Then Josh Harris, the co-founder of Apoll
Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_024239 →HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_025875 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_025876
1 mentionSource: House Oversight Committee
ique her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join alunch at your home with Bill Richardson? -
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HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026348 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026350
1 mentionSource: House Oversight Committee
ique her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join alunch at your home with Bill Richardson? -
Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026349 →HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026351 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026353
1 mentionSource: House Oversight Committee
ique her proposed budget? -After meeting with New, did you meet with the following: Hardeep Purie, Kairat Kelimbetov, Nathan Myhrvold, Martin Nowak, Richard Axel, Ron Baron, Josh Harris? Have you funded Nowak's program at Harvard with $30 million? -did Michael join alunch at your home with Bill Richardson? -
Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_026352 →HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_027536 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_027548
1 mentionSource: House Oversight Committee
Message: today i have nobel prize winner friend richard axel and misha grosov , smartest living mathematician
Sponsored
EFTA01300815.pdf
1 mentionEFTA01300815
From: Jeffrey Epstein <• evacatio matcom> To: Jes Staley < Sent: 11/11/2010 5:09:22 PM Subject: Re: Fw: she can sit with Richard Axel when I get back, he won the Nobel prize .. he has guaranteed me. II Nov 11, 2010 at 5:22 PM, Jes Staley e > wrote: esume. She is not giving Columb
EFTA00190013.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00190013
mbia University geneticist says Epstein has that insight in science, too. "He has the ability to make connections that other minds can't make," says Richard Axel, a Nobel Prize winner. "He is extremely smart and probing. He can very quickly acquire information to think about a problem and also to identify bi
EFTA00261255.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00261255
mbia University geneticist says Epstein has that insight in science, too. "He has the ability to make connections that other minds can't make," says Richard Axel, a Nobel Prize winner. "He is extremely smart and probing. He can very quickly acquire information to think about a problem and also to identify bi
Sponsored
EFTA00293595.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00293595
idi Holterbosch 5:00 Appt w/Scott Denett and Larry Visoski (Scott 5:30-6:00 Bruno to come to house to cut JE's hair (Bruno 7:00 A t w oe Pagano & Richard Axel (Joe: )(Richard August 22, 2012 Wednesday ***Rich Barnett to arrive ABQ today at 12:10 via Delta 2385*** 11:00 Depart for Teterboro 12:00 Wheels
EFTA00304795.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00304795
reakfast w/Reid Weingarten 10:00 Jojo to pick up Karyna 11:30 Appt w/Hind Alowais and her sister, Hala (Hind cell: 12:00 Lunch w/Rober Trivers, Dr. Richard Axel, Karina, Joe Pagano (waiting for response) Robert Trivers: Dr. Axel: oe Pa ano: Cell Cell Karyna: EFTA00304796 4:00 Appt w/ 7:00 Appt w/Ol
EFTA00315418.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00315418
rancois Le Poutre (Marketing & Sales Manager) Francois Manalt People to See While in NY EFTA00315422 Paul Barrett & Justin Nelson Michael Wood Richard Axel Kande' Botstein Joffee Julie Taymor Michael Washburn (Lawrence Krauss connection) David Blaine Woody Allen Mort Zuckerman Harvard Marvin T
Sponsored
EFTA00317550.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00317550
t 6, 2016 NY (8:00am Ariane de Rothschild to see Dr. Merrell for blood work & appointment) TBD Deepak, Jabot. TBD Rothschild (setting up meeting w/Richard Axel) TBD Tom Barrack TBD Italy Churldn ( ) EFTA00317550 TBD Peter Thief ( ) TBD Brad Karp ( ) (2:00pm James Ce at the house for 4:30pm Appt w/Sei
EFTA00317563.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00317563
2016 NY (8:00am Ariane de Rothschild to see Dr. Merrell for & appointment) TBD Deepak Jabot. EFTA00317563 TBD Rothschild (setting up meeting w/Richard Axel) TBD Tom Barrack TBD Vitaly Churkin TBD Peter Thiel TBD Brad Karp (2:00pm James Ce at the house for 4:30pm Appt w/Setgey Beliakov 7:00pm DINNE
EFTA00317557.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00317557
(8:00am Ariane de Rothschild to see Dr. Merrell for blood work & appointment) TBD Deepak, Jabor EFTA00317557 TBD Rothschild (setting up meeting w/Richard Axel) TBD Tom Barrack TBD Yltaly Churkin ( ) TBD Peter Thiel ( ) TBD Brad Karp (FI ) (2:00pm James Ce at the house for Juggly) 4:30pm Appt w/Setgey
Sponsored
EFTA00365234.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00365234
change to accommodate JE Paris visit) 8:30wn BREAKFAST w/Reid Weingarten ( 12:00wn appt (interview for traveling assistant) 12:30 LUNCH with Dr. Richard Axel CAN JOE PAGANO JOIN THE LUNCH?. 1:45pm Appt w/David Stern 2:30pm JE to go see Eileen Alexanderson at her office. 8:00 m DINNER w/Ehud Barak a
EFTA00365242.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00365242
From: Lesley Groff <MIIMII > To: Richard Axel gIMI > Subject: Jeffrey Epstein Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:18:34 +0000 Hello Phyllis...Hope you are well. Jeffrey will be in town soon and is askin
EFTA00365262.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00365262
ge to accommodate JE Paris visit) 8:30am BREAKFAST w/Reid Weingarten (I 12:00am app! i, (interview for traveling assistant) 12:30 LUNCH with Dr. Richard Axel WOOD JOIN LUNCH? IF NOT MICHAEL, THEN MAYBE JOE PAGANO. 1:45pm Appt w/David Stern 2:30pm JE to go see Eileen Alexanderson at her office. ( ( )( 5
Sponsored
EFTA00395966.pdf
1 mentionEFTA00395966
NY 8:30ant BREAKFAST w/Reid Weingarten (RWeingarten@ssptn) 12:00am appt w/Kimberly Sexton (interview for traveling assistant) 12:30 LUNCH with D?: Richard Axel AN MICHAEL WOOD JOIN LUNCH? IF NOT MICHAEL, THEN MAYBE JOE PAGANO. 1:45pm Appt w/David Stern 2:30pm JE to go see Eileen Alexanderson at her office.
1 mention
ist calls—essentially wipe out their cell phones. Likewise if you can decode biological signals you can jam them too, that’s the holy grail.’’) Then Richard Axel, a Nobel prize winner in physiology. Then Ron Baron who has $26 billion under management in his Baron Fund. Then Josh Harris, the co-founder of Apoll
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Connected Entities(20 of 706)
Jeffrey Epstein
PersonAmerican sex offender and financier (1953–2019)
319 docs319 co-mentions
Lesley Groff
PersonExecutive assistant to Jeffrey Epstein (2001-2019)
111 docs111 co-mentions
Woody Allen
PersonAmerican filmmaker, actor and comedian (born 1935)
65 docs65 co-mentions
Harry Reid
PersonAmerican politician (1939–2021)
60 docs60 co-mentions
Joe Biden
Person46th President of the United States (2021–2025)
59 docs59 co-mentions
Reid Weingarten
PersonAmerican white-collar criminal defense attorney at Steptoe & Johnson, represented Jeffrey Epstein and other high-profile clients
58 docs58 co-mentions
Marc Rich
PersonAmerican commodities trader (1934–2013)
51 docs51 co-mentions
Ehud Barak
Person10th Prime Minister of Israel
48 docs48 co-mentions
Soon-Yi Previn
PersonWife of Woody Allen
46 docs46 co-mentions
Boris Nikolic
PersonAmerican immunologist, biotech investor, and former chief science and technology advisor to Bill Gates
45 docs45 co-mentions
JP
Joe Pagano
PersonIndividual referenced in Epstein documents
38 docs38 co-mentions
John F. Kennedy
PersonPresident of the United States from 1961 to 1963 (1917–1963)
38 docs38 co-mentions
Mort Zuckerman
PersonCanadian-American billionaire real estate developer, media proprietor, and founder of Boston Properties
37 docs37 co-mentions
Michael Wood
PersonPerson referenced in documents
35 docs35 co-mentions
Alan Dershowitz
PersonAmerican lawyer, author, and art collector (born 1938)
33 docs33 co-mentions
DI
Darren Indyke
PersonAmerican lawyer, longtime personal attorney and co-executor of Jeffrey Epstein's estate
33 docs33 co-mentions
Larry Summers
PersonAmerican economist and government official (born 1954)
32 docs32 co-mentions
LB
Leon Black
PersonAmerican billionaire businessman (born 1951)
30 docs30 co-mentions
Prince Andrew
PersonThird child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born 1960)
30 docs30 co-mentions
Martin Nowak
PersonAustrian scientist
28 docs28 co-mentions