Orioles Owner Addresses Epstein Meeting Revelations

Rubenstein says 2012 meeting with convicted sex offender was brief and he pursued no initiatives.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Baltimore Orioles owner David Rubenstein has addressed newly released Justice Department files showing he met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2012, years after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor. Rubenstein's spokesperson said the 20-minute meeting was at the request of intermediaries seeking his involvement in philanthropic efforts, and that Rubenstein did not pursue any initiatives or have further interaction with Epstein beyond that single meeting.

Why it matters

The revelations about Rubenstein's meeting with Epstein raise questions about the Orioles owner's judgment and potential associations with individuals involved in criminal activities, even if no direct allegations have been made against Rubenstein himself.

The details

Emails included in the document release indicate that Rubenstein and Epstein met once in 2012 and discussed a possible follow up. A spokesperson for Rubenstein said he held a single 20-minute meeting at Carlyle's office at the request of intermediaries who sought his involvement in philanthropic efforts, and that Rubenstein did not pursue any initiatives and had no further interaction beyond that meeting. The correspondence began when Boris Nikolic, who previously served as a science adviser to Bill Gates, introduced the two men by email and described Epstein as a close friend.

  • In the summer of 2012, Boris Nikolic introduced Rubenstein and Epstein by email.
  • In November 2012, Epstein wrote to Rubenstein thanking him for the meeting and referencing former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak's travel schedule.
  • Two weeks later, Epstein sent an article about Barak stepping away from politics, and Rubenstein responded with a short note asking about dinner plans.

The players

David Rubenstein

The owner of the Baltimore Orioles who met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2012.

Jeffrey Epstein

A convicted sex offender who met with Rubenstein in 2012.

Boris Nikolic

A former science adviser to Bill Gates who introduced Rubenstein and Epstein by email in 2012.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Epstein manipulated those around him and that he regretted the association.”

— Boris Nikolic, Former science adviser to Bill Gates (The Wall Street Journal)

What’s next

The Orioles organization has not indicated any plans for further investigation or action regarding Rubenstein's meeting with Epstein.

The takeaway

This case highlights the continued fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, as new revelations emerge about the convicted sex offender's connections to prominent individuals. While Rubenstein maintains the meeting was brief and he pursued no initiatives, the optics of an Orioles owner meeting with Epstein raise concerns about judgment and potential associations with criminal activities.