What do monsters do when they visit Long Beach? A look inside the Epstein files

Long Beach is in the Epstein files.

While the Watchdog's review of hundreds of documents did not turn up anything outwardly salacious or scandalous related to the city or any of its current or past officials, the files make clear that Jeffrey Epstein met with many wealthy people and at least a few women in Long Beach.

Most of the mentions are related to trips Epstein took to the city for TED Conferences across three years, including conversations about booking hotel rooms and travel plans into Long Beach Airport.

While files related to Long Beach do not detail explicit crimes, they do show what he was doing in the city and who he was doing it with.

Dinner and drinks at popular Long Beach establishments such as the Sky Room, Michael’s on Naples, George’s Greek Cafe and 555 Steakhouse. Expensive stays at the Hyatt Regency. Meetings with billionaires and other elites.

The most notable outing appears to be an extravagant private dinner at L’Opera in 2011, which was attended by about two dozen high-profile guests, including Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and other wealthy and influential people.

L’Opera owner Terry Antonelli, who opened the restaurant in 1990, did not immediately respond to calls or emails from the Watchdog.

Then-New York Times columnist David Brooks came under fire in December after the House Oversight Committee released images showing that he attended that dinner, when the month before, he had written a column titled “The Epstein Story? Count Me Out.” Brooks resigned from the newspaper in January.

Epstein’s influence was so great he even allegedly enjoyed special privileges at Long Beach Airport, which famously does not have a customs facility. It was a whole thing: JetBlue wanted one but residents pushed back fiercely — to the point that they even made one councilmember cry during a public meeting. The City Council ultimately voted it down and the fallout was the loss of JetBlue.

But none of this stopped Epstein’s pilot from obtaining “approval to land in Long Beach for Customs” after a direct flight from the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to a December 2013 email from his longtime pilot Larry Visoski.

It cost Epstein anywhere from $36,000 to $45,000 to travel via private jet from St. Thomas (one of the Virgin Islands near his infamous Little St. James island) to Long Beach, according to another 2013 email from Visoski.

Long Beach is named in the files 999 times and the Watchdog went through each and every one. Because numerous files are repeated multiple times, it’s difficult to say how many unique mentions the city has.

Some of the duplicated files are redacted differently. Where certain information is blacked out on one, it is not redacted in another. Some pages are even blank — not redacted, blank.

Initial file dumps did not redact victim names and other personal information, but concealed non-victims, including potential perpetrators and people marked as “co-conspirators.” While potential criminals had their names redacted, an executive assistant for Hyatt Regency Long Beach had her full name appear in one of the files simply for confirming a reservation.

Certain files bring up a 404 error “page not found” alert. Random site glitches boot you from your search and declare “no results found” despite having just shown dozens of pages of results for your keyword(s).

All of this further demonstrates the Department Of Justice’s sloppy and haphazard handling of these disclosures.

Almost all of the files related to Long Beach fell between 2011 and 2013, when the city was hosting the annual TED Conference at the Convention Center.

Epstein was first arrested by Palm Beach police in July 2006 after a two-year investigation found he was sexually abusing children at his Florida home, down the street from Mar-a-Lago. The department filed felony charges for trafficking minors for prostitution and solicitation of a prostitute.

At that time, the FBI began its own investigation into Epstein, eventually compiling a list of 40 minors who alleged he had sexually abused them. The bureau ultimately drafted a 53-page, 60-count indictment.

But the indictment went nowhere when high-profile lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who would later defend President Donald Trump on multiple occasions, including during his first impeachment, negotiated a plea deal with then-attorney for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Alex Acosta. Acosta would go on to serve as Secretary of Labor during the first Trump administration.

The deal granted Epstein and all known and unknown co-conspirators immunity from federal criminal charges. Instead, Epstein pled guilty to one count of felony solicitation of prostitution and one count of procuring a person under 18 for prostitution.

He was sentenced to only 18 months in prison, most of which was served in a work-release program that allowed him to leave jail during the day. He was also required to register as a sex offender.

For a full timeline surrounding Epstein’s arrest, events leading up to the release of the files and some of the fallout, click here.

In 2013, Epstein was given a reminder that he had to update his sex offender registry photo to something more current. Meanwhile, his February itinerary was full of meetings with dozens of influential people ahead of attending the TED Conference in Long Beach at the end of the month.

All of this information was public knowledge for years prior to these meetings in Long Beach.

Of course, since the Department of Justice‘s grudging release of the files (after flip-flopping on what existed and what would be released and ultimately being forced to by law), truly horrifying details have emerged to corroborate the stories told by the victims who have long called out Epstein, Trump and other high-profile elites as predators.

Even now, there are files that have not been released, including some further implicating Trump, according to an NPR report.

While the currently-available files contain no direct evidence tying Long Beach to the crimes committed by Epstein and his cadre of rich and powerful friends, they do offer a glimpse at what monsters do when they visit our city:

2011

Email exchanges between a woman named Sarah K. and an unidentified person about booking Epstein a room during the 2011 TED Conference, which was held at the Long Beach Convention Center. The pair were looking into suites at either the Marriott Renaissance or the Westin. One email noted that the Westin was full, the Renaissance only had standard rooms available but that they might be able to book a suite at the Hyatt Regency via Tom Pritzker.

A 2011 trip itinerary for Epstein, including checking into the Hyatt Regency Long Beach on Feb. 28, dinner with literary agent John Brockman at L’Opera on March 1 and a TED Conference party at the Long Beach Arena on March 3.

In a Feb. 14 email, Gary Rosen, who was an editor at the Wall Street Journal at the time, asked Epstein to introduce him to people during the upcoming TED Conference. In response, Epstein told Rosen to meet him at the Hyatt Regency, where he was staying.

A Feb. 15 email from Tom Pritzker to Epstein about an open Hyatt Regency suite. In a post-script, Pritzker writes he “still prefers my unhyphenated idea from this morning as I find the visuals very entertaining.” Pritzker, an American billionaire heir and business man named in the files numerous times, was appointed President of Hyatt Hotels Corporation in 1980 and became its Chairman and CEO in 1999, a position he held until 2006. Since then, he has served as executive chair of the company as well as president of the Pritzker Family Philanthropic Fund, the Hyatt Foundation’s charitable wing. 

A Feb. 26 email to Epstein outlining issues with his private jet and plans for repairs at the Gulfstream service center at Long Beach Airport. A March 2 email gave additional details on the plane.

A March 1 email from Lesley Taylor giving additional information about the L’Opera dinner, including a full guest list:

• Jeff Bezos, Founder, CEO Amazon
• Sergey Brin, Cofounder, President, Technology, Google
• Anne Wojcicki, Cofounder, 23andMe
• John Brockman, Cofounder, EDGE; Founder, Brockman, Inc.
• Max Brockman, VP, Brockman, Inc.
• David Brooks, New York Times Columnist
• Jeffrey Epstein, Money Manager & Science Philanthropist
• Tony Fadell, Fmr Senior VP, iPhone & iPod Division, Apple
• Danielle Lambert, Fmr VP, Human Resources, Apple
• Peter Gabriel, Musician
• Bill Gates, Cofounder, Chairman, Microsoft, Gates Foundation
• Danny Hillis, Cofounder, Thinking Machines Corporation; Applied Minds
• Jennifer Jacquet, Postdoctoral researcher, University British Columbia
• Salar Kamangar, CEO, YouTube
• Katinka Matson, Cofounder, EDGE; President, Brockman, Inc.
• Marissa Mayer, VP, Consumer Products, Google
• Zack Bogue, Investor, Cofounder, Montara Capital Partners
• Dave Morin, Cofounder, CEO, Path, Fmr Platform Mgr, Facebook
• Elon Musk, Tesla Motors, SpaceX, SolarCity
• Talulah Riley, Actor
• Nathan Myhrvold, Cofounder Intellectual Ventures; Cookbook Author
• Tim O'Rielly, founder, O'Rielly Media
• Lucy Page Southworth, Postdoctoral Biomedical Informatics Researcher
• Lori Park, Software Engineer, Google
• Jean Pigozzi, Investor, Photographer, Environmental Researcher, Liquid Jungle Lab
• Ricardo Salinas Pilego, CEO Grupo Salinas & Grupo Elektra
• Jeff Skoll, Philanthropist; Participant Media
• Evan Williams, Founder, Blogger & Twitter

A March 2 email exchange in which John Brockman thanked Epstein for “great fun.” He invited Epstein to a casual lunch with “Dennett and Brand” at George’s Greek Cafe in Downtown Long Beach.

A Dec. 24 email from Epstein to Yfke, presumably referring to Dutch model Yfke Sturm, telling her to consider attending the TED Conference in Long Beach, saying he could introduce her to “interesting candidates.”

2012

In Jan. 12 emails with Epstein, Boris Nikolic, a scientist who worked for Bill Gates, said the two men would be spending time with Regina Dugan, who was director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency at the time, during the upcoming TED Conference. In the exchange, Epstein told Nikolic he was “exhausted.. with a smile,” to which Nikolic replied: “Find something for your older brother!!!! All work, no fun makes Boris a dull boy ;)”

A Jan. 13 email exchange between Larry Visoski and Epstein regarding a potential purchase agreement with Gulfstream’s Long Beach Airport facility.

A Feb. 6 email between two unidentified people saying to “check in with Jeannine at Pritzker’s office” regarding two suites at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. The email is referring to Jeannine Jeskewitz, a former assistant of Tom Pritzker. Jeskewitz later confirmed with Lesley Groff two rooms were booked for Epstein.

An email from pilot Larry Visoski to Epstein about booking an inspection of a Gulfstream II at the company’s Long Beach facility. The email said the inspection could be scheduled around Epstein’s “possible Long Beach visit.”

A Feb. 22 email from Lesley Groff to Epstein explaining how she had missed the deadline to cancel two rooms at the Renaissance hotel without penalty, but said she called and complained until the hotel waived the penalty.

A Feb. 22 email confirming Epstein’s $4,039.60, four-night, two-room stay at the Hyatt Regency.

A Feb. 24 email from Claudia Lescheck asking Epstein if he would join Nathan Myhrvold and Craig Mundle for a dinner party at 555 East American Steakhouse in Downtown Long Beach on Feb. 29.

A flight itinerary showing Epstein, as the sole passenger, was scheduled to land at Long Beach Airport via fixed-base operator Signature FSO on Feb. 28, 2012.

A Feb. 28 email from Lesley Groff to John Brockman regarding a dinner with Epstein and a woman named Karina in a private room at the Sky Room in the historic Breakers building. Groff said Epstein would only “stop by for drinks!”

A Feb. 28-29 email exchange between Epstein and Richard Merkin, CEO of the Heritage Group Healthcare Investment Partners, trying to set up a time to meet in Long Beach. Merkin is named in the files numerous times.

A Feb. 29 email from an unidentified sender saying a key to Epstein's Hyatt Regency Long Beach room was left at the front desk for the unknown email recipient. (The conjoined rooms were 534/536 for those who would prefer to avoid staying in the same room.)

A Feb. 29 email exchange between Epstein, Ian Osborne and Nathan Myhrvold about having breakfast together. Myhrvold chose the now-defunct “New Jersey style greek diner” Long Beach Cafe, saying it would have “fewer conference people there, so it is a good choice.”

A March 1 email to Epstein from an unknown sender saying Merkin was free to “hang out” in Long Beach that day.

A March 21 email from an unknown person to Epstein saying an unidentified photographer took “beautiful” photos of him and girlfriend Karyna Shuliak, who began dating Epstein in 2010, in Long Beach.

2013

A 2013 appointment itinerary emailed to Epstein from Lesley Groff, including checking into the Hyatt Regency Long Beach on Feb. 24. The following day, Epstein had lunch with Elon Musk and others at SpaceX in Hawthorne before attending the TED Conference in Long Beach. On Feb. 26, Epstein attended the TED event and then flew to New York from LA. The next day, Epstein had a meeting scheduled with Bill Gates and Woody Allen.

A Feb. 11 email from Epstein to an unknown recipient saying he will be “holding court” in Long Beach during the TED Conference.

A Feb. 17-18 email exchange between Epstein and an unidentified woman where he asked her to visit him while in Long Beach. The woman said she could visit on the 25th or 27th. “I have class on the 26th,” she said. Epstein responded asking her to consider visiting his New Mexico ranch that weekend.

A Feb. 24-25 email exchange between Epstein and a woman named Shelley in which he offers to buy her a plane ticket to Long Beach. The woman declined his offer to pay but said she would visit him because it would be “fun” to “spend a little time with you my lovely pumpkin pie!”

A Feb. 25 email from an unidentified person to Larry Visoski asking if he could pick up an unidentified woman from Long Beach Airport and transport her to the Hyatt Regency for Epstein.

A Feb. 25 email from Boris Nikolic asking if Epstein had arrived. Nikolic said there are “many more talents here than at the long beach!” It’s unclear to where “here” refers. Epstein responded, saying he had just had a drink with Philip Rosedale, an American entrepreneur who founded Linden Lab, somewhere in Long Beach.

A Feb. 25 email from Epstein telling Bobby Kotick, who was CEO of video game company Activision Blizzard at the time, that he would not be at dinner, but rather “holding court in the westin in bill gates suite.” Kotnick declined the invitation, instead asking Epstein to bring his friends to his house in Beverly Hills.

A Feb. 26 email from a person named Larry asking where Epstein is staying in Long Beach. The unidentified recipient responded by describing a woman as a “5’6” thin blond pretty with English accent!!” and trying to figure out where the unnamed woman should meet Epstein.

An ominous Feb. 26 email from Clearstone Venture Partners founder Bill Elkus, which appears to be only a few words, is fully redacted. Epstein responded with “yes.”

A Feb. 27 email from Nina and Tim Zagat, founders and publishers of Zagat Restaurant Surveys, inviting Ghislaine Maxwell to dinner at Michael’s on Naples.

A bank statement, presumably of Epstein and/or an associate, from Feb. 12 to March 11, 2023 showing charges from Travel Traders and Hyatt Hotels in Long Beach.

A Dec. 26 trip schedule that included Epstein landing at Long Beach Airport via JFI Jet Center (which shuttered in 2017). Epstein had a meeting at Terrenea in Rancho Palos Verdes with entrepreneur and venture capitalists Joi Ito and Reid Hoffman.

2020

A July 17, 2020 FBI intake report connected Epstein to a house used for human/sex trafficking. An unidentified female alleged that Maxwell and Epstein had a house from 2014-2019 in an unspecified location in LA County. Girls were trafficked through the house, which was reported to an unidentified police department, the person alleged, adding that “police were turning a blind eye to the calls.” In other incidents, a dead body was found and assaults occurred in the house. According to the report, the person made a report to the FBI in 2015 at its Long Beach office near Long Beach Airport.