Files show Jeffrey Epstein was asked to invest in Canoo

Canoo had its manufacturing plant in Oklahoma City until it finally shut down operations after filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January of last year.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Newly released documents show that David Stern, a close advisor to former Prince Andrew, pitched Jeffrey Epstein on investing in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, including the now-defunct Canoo. The documents indicate similar pitches were made to Epstein to invest in Canoo, though Epstein claimed he had no direct or indirect interest in the company.

Why it matters

The revelations about Epstein's potential involvement in the EV industry, including Canoo, raise questions about the connections between wealthy individuals, political figures, and emerging technologies. Canoo's shutdown after filing for bankruptcy also highlights the challenges faced by some EV startups.

The details

According to the TechCrunch report, David Stern, described as 'a mysterious businessman and close advisor to former Prince Andrew', saw an opportunity to break the logjam about funding for EV manufacturers by bringing in Jeffrey Epstein. The newly-released documents indicated similar pitches were made to Epstein to invest in Canoo, though Epstein claimed he had no 'direct' or 'indirect' interest in the company.

  • Canoo had its manufacturing plant in Oklahoma City until it finally shut down operations after filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January of last year.
  • The Department of Justice recently disclosed 3 million documents related to Epstein.

The players

Jeffrey Epstein

An American financier and convicted sex offender who was at the center of a sex trafficking scandal.

David Stern

A mysterious businessman and close advisor to former Prince Andrew.

Li Botan

The son-in-law of the fourth-most senior leader in China under Xi Jinping's predecessor Hu Jintao, who eventually became a founding investor in Canoo with Stern.

Canoo

An electric vehicle startup that had a manufacturing plant in Oklahoma City until it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in January of last year.

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What they’re saying

“Ford will likely be lead in $400m Series D in Lucid. Big strategic move”

— David Stern, Advisor to former Prince Andrew (TechCrunch)

“Jia 'has massive cash issues' at Faraday, he wrote, and needs to 'sell now to make payroll for his other business.'”

— David Stern, Advisor to former Prince Andrew (TechCrunch)

What’s next

The Department of Justice is expected to continue releasing more documents related to Epstein's activities and connections.

The takeaway

The revelations about Epstein's potential involvement in the EV industry, including Canoo, highlight the complex web of connections between wealthy individuals, political figures, and emerging technologies. As the Canoo bankruptcy shows, the EV industry continues to face significant challenges, and the role of outside investors and advisors in these companies warrants further scrutiny.