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Powerful Law Firm Chairman Resigns Over Epstein Ties
Emails show Brad Karp remained in contact with convicted sex offender until 2019
Published on Feb. 5, 2026
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Brad Karp, the chairman of the prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, has abruptly resigned after newly released emails showed he remained in contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein up until 2019, the year Epstein died in prison.
Why it matters
Karp's resignation highlights the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal, which has ensnared numerous high-profile individuals and institutions. The revelations about K's ties to Epstein raise questions about the vetting processes and ethical standards at the highest levels of the legal profession.
The details
The emails show that in a 2015 exchange, Karp praised Epstein as "amazing" and thanked him for "an evening I'll never forget" at the financier's Manhattan home, which reportedly included Woody Allen. In another email a year later, Karp asked Epstein for help getting his son a job on an Allen film.
- In 2015, Karp praised Epstein and thanked him for an evening at his Manhattan home.
- In 2016, Karp asked Epstein for help getting his son a job on a Woody Allen film.
- Karp remained in contact with Epstein until 2019, the year Epstein died in prison.
The players
Brad Karp
The former chairman of the prestigious law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, who resigned over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Jeffrey Epstein
A convicted sex offender who died in prison in 2019.
Leon Black
A billionaire client of Paul, Weiss, who reportedly introduced Karp to Epstein.
Woody Allen
A filmmaker who was reportedly present at the 2015 dinner at Epstein's Manhattan home.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)
The takeaway
The revelations about Karp's ties to Epstein raise serious questions about the ethical standards and vetting processes at the highest levels of the legal profession, and highlight the continued fallout from the Epstein scandal.
