Who is Howard Rubenstein in the Epstein files?

He is the New York public relations executive who acted as a spokesman for Jeffrey Epstein. The files include his statements to the press about the Palm Beach criminal case, Epstein's losses in the Bear Stearns fund, and civil lawsuits. He also forwarded a 2009 Daily News story about Epstein in a set of emails. Litigants named him as a potential witness in civil cases.

Do the documents show Rubenstein corresponded directly with Epstein?

Only in a limited way. Five emails list him in the header, all copies of the same October 9, 2009 message in which he forwarded a Daily News story about Epstein to "Darren". That message was later forwarded to Epstein's Jeevacation account. The files do not show a broader exchange of personal messages between him and Epstein.

Was Howard Rubenstein accused of wrongdoing in the files?

No. The documents show him in a public relations role, speaking for Epstein. He is named as someone litigants thought might have knowledge, and one witness list describes him as having "Knowledge of finances and defendant's sexual desire for minor girls". That is a description of expected testimony. Epstein's side argued he had no relevant information, and the files do not show what he said under oath.

What did Rubenstein say publicly about Epstein?

In the articles in the files, he said Epstein had resolved the criminal case and "accepted responsibility for the charges". He called a civil lawsuit meritless and said the women suing had lied. He said Epstein was "Major Investor No. 1" in the Bear Stearns fund indictment and had lost about $57 million. He also said Epstein had "no business relationship" with MC2 Model Management. In several other articles he said Epstein had no comment.

Who is Howard Rubenstein in the Epstein files?

He is the New York public relations executive who acted as a spokesman for Jeffrey Epstein. The files include his statements to the press about the Palm Beach criminal case, Epstein's losses in the Bear Stearns fund, and civil lawsuits. He also forwarded a 2009 Daily News story about Epstein in a set of emails. Litigants named him as a potential witness in civil cases.

Do the documents show Rubenstein corresponded directly with Epstein?

Only in a limited way. Five emails list him in the header, all copies of the same October 9, 2009 message in which he forwarded a Daily News story about Epstein to "Darren". That message was later forwarded to Epstein's Jeevacation account. The files do not show a broader exchange of personal messages between him and Epstein.

Was Howard Rubenstein accused of wrongdoing in the files?

No. The documents show him in a public relations role, speaking for Epstein. He is named as someone litigants thought might have knowledge, and one witness list describes him as having "Knowledge of finances and defendant's sexual desire for minor girls". That is a description of expected testimony. Epstein's side argued he had no relevant information, and the files do not show what he said under oath.

What did Rubenstein say publicly about Epstein?

In the articles in the files, he said Epstein had resolved the criminal case and "accepted responsibility for the charges". He called a civil lawsuit meritless and said the women suing had lied. He said Epstein was "Major Investor No. 1" in the Bear Stearns fund indictment and had lost about $57 million. He also said Epstein had "no business relationship" with MC2 Model Management. In several other articles he said Epstein had no comment.

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Howard Rubenstein

Person

Also known as:

HOWARD RUBENSTEIN

Total Mentions

Documents

928

Connected Entities

New York publicist and socialite, referenced in Epstein social network documents

Watch: Howard Rubenstein in the Epstein files

1:07

Narrated from the AI-generated summary of the documents. Numbers reflect the archive at generation time.

Howard Rubenstein, the New York public relations executive, appears in the files as Jeffrey Epstein's spokesman. He is quoted in press coverage of the Palm Beach case and civil lawsuits, he forwarded a 2009 Daily News story about Epstein, and he is named in civil litigation papers as a potential witness.

The most direct material is five copies of the same email chain from October 9, 2009, in which Rubenstein forwarded a Daily News story on Epstein to a contact addressed as "Darren". It was later forwarded again to Epstein's Jeevacation account. Most of the 62 documents are legal records (27) and emails (24), mainly news articles on the Palm Beach case, the Bear Stearns fund losses, and civil suits. In these, Rubenstein is quoted speaking for Epstein. He also appears in legal filings that discuss deposing him and in witness lists. Only 5 emails put him in the header, and the rest of his appearances are quotations and references in other people's documents.

Key Highlights

•Five copies of an October 9, 2009 email, "FW: Daily News story on Jeffrey Epstein", show Rubenstein sending a news story about Epstein to "Darren". It was then forwarded to Epstein's Jeevacation account. These are the only records of him in the header of an email.
•News articles in the files call him "Epstein's spokesman" or "Epstein's rep". In one, he says Epstein "accepted responsibility for the charges" after the criminal case was resolved. In others, he says Epstein would have "no comment".
•He is quoted as saying of a civil lawsuit, "The lawsuit has absolutely no merit. They're just looking for money." He is also quoted on the Bear Stearns Mortgage Investment Fund indictment, confirming that Epstein was "Major Investor No. 1" and had lost about $57 million, and on MC2 Model Management, saying Epstein had "no business relationship with them".
•A legal filing says Epstein believed Ghislaine Maxwell, Howard Rubenstein, Ava Cordero and Alan Dershowitz had no information bearing on the issues. It says Edwards claimed they had information regarding victim issues. Witness lists in the files also name Rubenstein, with descriptions such as "Knowledge of finances and defendant's sexual desire for minor girls". These are litigants' descriptions of what he might know, not findings.
•A lawsuit described in the files says the New York Post used "the publicist it shares with Epstein", Howard Rubenstein, to portray an accuser and her attorney unfairly. That is an allegation made in the suit.
•A Daily Beast-style profile in the files describes Epstein arriving at Rubenstein's office while under indictment in Palm Beach. It portrays Rubenstein as a PR adviser.
•The high co-occurrence counts with Bill Clinton, Jack Goldberger, Ghislaine Maxwell and Alan Dershowitz mostly reflect shared news articles, legal filings and witness lists. They do not by themselves show a relationship with those people.
•One hit, a conference program listing "Richard Rubenstein" of the University of Bridgeport, is a different person.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 62)

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021764 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021774

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

months of home confinement. That would be a fraction of the time he would have to serve if he were to be convicted by a jury. Epstein's spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, said his client would have no comment. Dershowitz also declined to comment late yesterday. Palm Beach police records show that on March 15, 2005,

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021770 →

Microsoft Word - Epstein combined articles.doc

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021775 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021789

Aug 12, 2008Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

5 months of home confinement. That would be a fraction of the time he would have to serve if he were to be convicted by a jury. Epstein's spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, said his client would have no comment. Dershowitz also declined to comment late yesterday. Palm Beach police records show that on March 15, 2005, a

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021781 →

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021794 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021805

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_021800 →

Sponsored

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030299 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030310

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

15 months of home confinement. That would be a fraction of the time he would have to serve if he were to be convicted by a jury. Epstein's spokesman, Howard Rubenstein, said his client would have no comment. Dershowitz also declined to comment late yesterday. Palm Beach police records show that on March 15, 2005, a

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030305 →

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030999 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031001

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

Daily News story on Jeffrey Epstein To: Jeevacation < [email protected]> Privileged - Redacted Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Howard Rubenstein < Date: October 9, 2009 7:26:54 AM PDT To: Subject: FW: Daily News story on Jeffrey Epstein Hi Darren: I hope you are well. Since we are no longer wo

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030999 →

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031002 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031004

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031002 →

Sponsored

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031005 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031007

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

ust woke up to find this from Howard. A going to canyons today, so not sure about phone reception. Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Howard Rubenstein < Date: October 9, 2009 7:26:54 AM PDT To: Subject: FW: Daily News story on Jeffrey Epstein Hi Darren: I hope you are well. Since we are no longer wo

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031005 →

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031008 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031010

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031008 →

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031099 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031101

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

Daily News story on Jeffrey Epstein To: Jeevacation < [email protected]> Privileged - Redacted Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Howard Rubenstein < Date: October 9, 2009 7:26:54 AM PDT To: ' Subject: FW: Daily News story on Jeffrey Epstein Hi Darren: I hope you are well. Since we are no longer

Page: HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031099 →

Sponsored

EFTA00013698 - EFTA00013700

1 mention

this matter. Indeed, the only recent comment was Howard Rubenstein's confirmation to the Palm Beach Daily News that

Page: EFTA00013699 →

EFTA00013882

1 mention

" alMIN> Subject: Additional Info Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:12:00 +0000 Importance: Normal Hi I.- You might want to add that Epstein's publicist, Howard Rubenstein, is also the publicist for The New York Post where the article quoting Lefcourt's letter appeared. Assistant U.S. Attorney West Palm Beach, FL 334

Page: EFTA00013882 →

EFTA00077923.pdf

EFTA00077923

1 mention

home for up to a half-hour while traveling to and from work or community service. Goldberger would not comment on the case. But Epstein's spokesman, Howard J. Rubenstein, said in a statement that Epstein has now resolved the criminal case. "Mr. Epstein accepted responsibility for the charges, relating to conduct tha

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EFTA00090685.pdf

EFTA00090685

1 mention

EFTA00176105.pdf

EFTA00176105

1 mention

ng some semblance of privacy for Mr. Epstein, we have avoided interacting with the media regarding this matter. Indeed, the only recent comment was Howard Rubenstein's confirmation to the Palm Beach Daily News that this matter had been resolved and would not proceed to a trial. That comment was authorized only out

EFTA00176798.pdf

EFTA00176798

1 mention

Sponsored

EFTA01334281.pdf

EFTA01334281

1 mention

EFTA00189922.pdf

EFTA00189922

1 mention

EFTA00190013.pdf

EFTA00190013

1 mention

7 Corbis) Jeffrey Epstein is under indictment for sex crimes in Palm Beach, Florida, and I'd expected that when he came into the office of PR guru Howard Rubenstein, he would be sober and reserved. Quite the opposite. He was sparkling and ingenuous, apologizing for the half-hour lateness with a charming line— "I

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EFTA00214426.pdf

EFTA00214426

1 mention

S)" ..: > Subject: Additional Info Date: Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:12:00 +0000 Importance: Normal Hi M— You might want to add that E stein's publicist, Howard Rubenstein, is also the publicist for The New York Post where the article quoting letter appeared. EFTA00214426

HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013415 - HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_013434

Source: House Oversight Committee

1 mention

the feds unravel a Ponzi scheme" related to the June 2008 indictment of two former managers of Bear Stearns Mortgage Investment Fund. Epstein's rep, Howard Rubenstein, confirmed last year that Epstein is "Major Investor No. 1" in the indictment, which says he lost about $57 million. Goldberger could not be reached

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Connected Entities(20 of 928)

Jeffrey Epstein