The public release of a vast tranche of documents by the United States Department of Justice on January 30 has reopened scrutiny of the personal and professional networks linked to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Running into more than three million pages, the disclosure includes emails, text messages, meeting logs, financial records and multimedia material spanning several years. The files shed light on Epstein’s interactions with a wide range of political leaders, business figures, academics and celebrities.
One of the prominent names appearing repeatedly in the material is Deepak Chopra, the India-born American author and public figure associated with wellness, spirituality and alternative medicine.
After the records became public, Chopra moved quickly to address his inclusion and distance himself from Epstein’s crimes.
“I want to be clear: I was never involved in, nor did I participate in, any criminal or exploitative conduct. Any contact I had was limited and unrelated to abusive activity,” Chopra wrote in a post on X on February 4.
He also acknowledged lapses in judgment, adding, “Some past email exchanges have surfaced that reflect poor judgment in tone. I regret that and understand how they read today, given what was publicly known at the time.”
However, a closer look at the documents suggests that Chopra’s interactions with Epstein were sustained and wide-ranging rather than fleeting, as first reported by CNN.
Years of contact across continents
The records show that Chopra and Epstein exchanged hundreds of emails and text messages between 2016 and 2019, including the period leading up to Epstein’s arrest in July 2019.
Their communication appears frequent and familiar. Messages include planning meetings, coordinating travel and extending invitations while both men were moving across countries.
According to the documents, Chopra met Epstein at several properties linked to the financier, including his townhouse in New York City, his residence in South Florida and an apartment in Paris.
The correspondence also includes invitations to dinners and discussions about introducing Chopra to others in Epstein’s social and professional circle. In many messages, Chopra used warm sign-offs such as “Love” or “XO.”
In one exchange, Chopra wrote to Epstein, “I’m deeply grateful for our friendship.”
The tone of the exchanges suggests a level of personal closeness that goes beyond a casual or one-off acquaintance.
Epstein, for his part, appeared keen to sustain the relationship. He frequently asked Chopra about his travel plans and repeatedly invited him to meet. He also spoke about Chopra to others.
In a message to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Epstein described Chopra as “hes very amusing and a good guy filled with troves of stories. if you see him, you might enjoy a conversation. he is the guru to hollywood.”
The files also show Epstein asking his longtime girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, to arrange sweatshirts for Chopra with the initials “DC” and an American flag, a gesture indicating familiarity rather than distance.
Repeated references to “girls”
A recurring element in the correspondence is repeated references to "girls," which appear in several messages exchanged in 2017.
While inviting Epstein to travel to Israel, Chopra wrote, “If you want use a fake name. Bring your girls.” He followed up by saying, “Your girls would love it as would you.”
Later that year, when inviting Epstein to attend a workshop in Switzerland, Chopra again suggested he come “with your girls.”
The documents do not establish who these women were or their ages, nor do they confirm whether Epstein accepted the invitations. However, the repeated phrasing appears across multiple exchanges.
There are also messages containing sexually suggestive language blended with spiritual or philosophical commentary.
In one exchange in 2017, Chopra wrote, “Universe is human construct. … Cute girls are aware when they make noises.”
He added, “God is a construct Cute girls are real.”
When Epstein responded, “so when the girl says oh my god. . ?” Chopra replied, “Yes That’s divine tran=cendence.”
In another exchange, Epstein asked, “find me a cute israeli blonde. . matter over mind.” Chopra replied that he could do so and added, “They are militant aggressive and v sexy.”
In a separate conversation, Epstein wrote, “I liked watching you zero in on your prey . Made me smile.” Chopra responded, “I not a predator Just a lover.”
The records also show Chopra expressing caution in at least one context. While discussing a possible meeting involving his son-in-law, he wrote, “(can’t talk about girls ).”
Professional ideas and financial links
The relationship also extended into business and philanthropic areas.
Emails indicate that Chopra and Poonacha Machaiah, co-founder of the wellness app Jiyo, sought Epstein’s advice and connections for the venture.
In July 2017, messages show plans for Epstein to travel to San Diego so Chopra and Machaiah could “walk [Epstein] through Jiyo Value proposition.”
Epstein later offered to circulate the pitch to what he described as the “three chairman of the largest insurers.” Machaiah responded that he would appreciate introductions “to potential partners in the insurance segment.”
The documents also reveal a financial link. In 2017, the Chopra Foundation received a $50,000 donation from Gratitude America, one of Epstein’s foundations. The files state the funds were meant to support scientific research, though they do not detail the specific projects involved.
Earlier exchanges from 2016 show Epstein floating ideas for collaborative projects, including a game and an “aura” app.
“On another note the aura app would be gigantic. Every woman needs a goodness meter,” Epstein wrote.
Chopra replied, “I’m at your service for any adventure sir If we do do an aura app it should be backed up with the emerging theory of biofield science. … The monopoly game could be fun.”
Support as pressure mounted on Epstein
As Epstein’s legal troubles intensified in early 2019, the messages suggest Chopra expressed sympathy.
In February 2019, Chopra texted Epstein to say he was sending love from India. Epstein replied, “Can you send it in female form J.”
In March, Epstein referred to “another round of very bad press” and later to the “toxicity of my press.” Chopra responded, “Sorry I am not concerned about that.”
In earlier messages, Chopra advised Epstein to “Stay silent Meditate.”
These exchanges took place months before Epstein’s arrest, at a time when media scrutiny of his past conduct was growing.
Political discussions and public figures
The correspondence also touches on politics.
After the 2016 US presidential election, Chopra told Epstein that his family was “devastated” by Donald Trump’s victory. Epstein replied, “no no it’s going to be fine.”
In 2017, Chopra shared with Epstein an article he had written in SF Gate describing Trump as “a President who combines irrational whims, vindictiveness, and amorality.”
Chopra also mentioned that Ivanka Trump had attended one of his meditation sessions in 2016, explaining that he noticed her presence because “I noticed a pretty girl in the room” before learning who she was.
What the files do and do not show
The DOJ records do not accuse Chopra of criminal conduct, nor do they establish that he participated in or was aware of Epstein’s abuse. None of the reviewed videos in the files feature Epstein, and they do not appear to have been produced specifically for him.
At the same time, the volume, tone and content of the communications challenge the idea that Chopra’s engagement with Epstein was minimal or incidental.
As the release of the Epstein files continues to be examined, the documents underline how deeply the financier was embedded in elite networks, and how those associations are now being reassessed under a far harsher light than when they were formed.
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