The Dalai Lama, a global symbol of peace and spiritual resilience, has found himself at the center of an unlikely digital firestorm. Following the massive document dump by the U.S. Department of Justice between December 2025 and January 2026, the 90-year-old Nobel Laureate’s name appeared more than 150 times in files related to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
As the unredacted files move into the hands of Congressional investigators this week, the spiritual leader is breaking his silence to address the connection—or lack thereof—to the Epstein estate.
The “Island” Emails and State Media Reports
The controversy intensified on Thursday, February 5, when China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported that the Dalai Lama’s name surfaced precisely 169 times within the disclosed records. According to the state-run broadcaster, the mentions largely stem from a series of emails involving an unidentified sender and Epstein himself.
In one exchange, the sender expressed interest in attending a gathering on “the island” specifically to see the spiritual leader. “About the event I told you almost a month ago on the island, that the Dalai Lama is coming, and I want to go there to see him. I can skip this event if you need my help today,” the email reportedly stated. A subsequent message noted, “Going now to the event with the Dalai Lama.”
Despite these claims, the documents do not provide evidence that a meeting actually occurred, nor do they confirm the Dalai Lama’s physical presence at any Epstein-owned property. Given the leader’s prolific global schedule, investigators suggest he may have simply been the headliner at a large-scale event where the sender was present.
The “Dream Dinner” That Wasn’t
The files also reveal Epstein’s personal obsession with curating high-profile social circles. In May 2014, Epstein reached out to Soon-Yi Previn, wife of director Woody Allen, stating he was “working on the Dalai Lama for dinner.”
Later correspondence with scientist Lawrence Krauss showed the financier attempting to schedule a “fun dinner” featuring the Dalai Lama, Woody Allen, and Noam Chomsky. Krauss, eager to attend, wrote to Epstein: “It would be a wonderful birthday gift to be involved. Otherwise… I might even consider flying in on a redeye just to be there for the afternoon.” Epstein’s response was characteristically brief: “Talk tomorrow.”
An Unequivocal Denial
With Congressional members now authorized to disseminate copies of the unredacted files, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama moved to quell rising speculation. In a statement released via X, the office addressed the reports head-on.
“Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the Epstein files are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein,” the statement read. “We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorized any meeting or interaction with him by anyone on His Holiness’s behalf.”
Conflicting Accounts and Past Controversies
The official denial stands in direct opposition to claims made by journalist Michael Wolff. Appearing on a podcast in 2025, Wolff alleged he personally witnessed the Dalai Lama at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. Wolff speculated at the time that the leader might have been there seeking philanthropic funding.
Independent journalist Jacob Silverman further scrutinized these claims in a Substack piece titled, ‘Why Was The Dalai Lama At Jeffrey Epstein’s House?’ Silverman noted that while the Dalai Lama has remained silent on specific donor lists, he has previously faced criticism for associations with controversial groups.
Most notably, in 2009, the Dalai Lama spoke at an event hosted by NXIVM, a multi-level marketing organization later exposed as a cult. The organization’s founder, Keith Raniere, was sentenced to 120 years in prison in 2019. Reports at the time indicated the Dalai Lama received $1 million for that appearance, a fact that critics often cite when questioning his vetting process for donors and events.
As the investigation into the Epstein files continues, the focus now turns to Congress to determine if these 150+ mentions represent a genuine connection or merely the aspirational musings of a disgraced man obsessed with proximity to power.