Epstein Claimed He Lobbied Congress to Defund Cold Fusion Research

Federal files reveal emails where Epstein boasted of personally intervening to end funding for the promising clean energy technology

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Federal documents released as part of the US Department of Justice's January 2026 Epstein file disclosure contain emails in which Jeffrey Epstein claimed personal credit for ending congressional funding for cold fusion research in 1989. Epstein described how he lobbied against the science and met with the head of the Mormon Church to secure the outcome, targeting the work of electrochemist Stanley Pons.

Why it matters

If Epstein's account is accurate, it would place a private individual with no scientific credentials at the center of a political effort to end what was, at the time, one of the most closely watched scientific controversies of the 20th century, with major implications for the potential development of clean, limitless energy from water.

The details

The emails, filed under federal exhibit numbers EFTA02437662, EFTA00740161, and EFTA00740600, show a 2009 exchange between Epstein and Al Seckel, a perceptual scientist and TED speaker. In the exchange, Epstein wrote that 'the origidnal senate funding came out of congress, and wayne owens senator from utah ,, i was there an argued against, it, had ot meet with the head of the mormon church.' The target of Epstein's claimed intervention was Stanley Pons, the University of Utah electrochemist who, alongside Martin Fleischmann, announced in March 1989 that they had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature.

  • In March 1989, Pons and Fleischmann announced they had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature.
  • In the following months, mainstream physics institutions moved to discredit the findings, and funding was withdrawn.
  • Pons eventually relocated to a French laboratory funded by Toyota.

The players

Jeffrey Epstein

An American financier and convicted sex offender who claimed to have personally lobbied Congress to defund cold fusion research.

Stanley Pons

A University of Utah electrochemist who, alongside Martin Fleischmann, announced in March 1989 that they had achieved nuclear fusion at room temperature.

Wayne Owens

A Democratic congressman representing Utah's 2nd district from 1987 to 1993, whom Epstein claimed to have met with to argue against funding for cold fusion research.

Al Seckel

A perceptual scientist, TED speaker, and board member of Milken's Knowledge Universe who corresponded with Epstein about cold fusion.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Mormon Church, whose head Epstein claimed to have met with to secure the defunding of cold fusion research.

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What they’re saying

“regarding cold fusion. i killed pons years ago.”

— Jeffrey Epstein (ibtimes.co.uk)

“How did you kill him?”

— Al Seckel (ibtimes.co.uk)

“the origidnal senate funding came out of congress, and wayne owens senator from utah ,, i was there an argued against, it, had ot meet with the head of the mormon church.”

— Jeffrey Epstein (ibtimes.co.uk)

What’s next

The DOJ's Epstein file release, which began on 30 January 2026, continues to surface correspondence that researchers and journalists are still working through to verify Epstein's claims and understand the full extent of his influence.

The takeaway

The emails add a new dimension to Epstein's influence, suggesting he may have directly intervened in congressional science funding decisions, potentially impacting the development of a promising clean energy technology with global implications.