Notorious financier and alleged child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had apparent ties to the University of Alabama through an alumnus and his family.
Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice show how the late Epstein was invited to the 2013 University of Alabama commencement ceremony by the family of John Alexander, a former UA student. Epstein also previously invited Alexander's family to his island in 2011.
As first reported by the Crimson White, Epstein was connected to John Alexander via his father, Epstein's personal psychologist, Stephen R. Alexander.
According to documents in the Department of Justice Epstein Library, Stephen Alexander often contacted Epstein to seek help for himself or his son. However, the emails do not appear to indicate any wrongdoing or criminal activity.
In March 2011, Epstein arranged a helicopter ride for John Alexander, and his father emailed Epstein afterward to say that John "had a blast."
It appears the Alexander family visited the island around Christmas 2011. According to a lawsuit filed in the Virgin Islands, Epstein trafficked dozens of women and girls to his island, some as young as 12, forcing them to perform sexual acts.
On Dec. 15, 2011, Epstein asked Alexander to visit the island in response to Stephen Alexander's email about their cruise passing through the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Epstein's Island is located. An unnamed person started an email chain on Dec. 20, 2011, to organize the family's visit to the island during their trip.
On Christmas Day 2011, Stephen Alexander, under the email name "drsra," emailed Epstein back, presumably after the visit to the island: "That was fun. Probably is best to keep the guest list between you and me."
Other communications between Alexander and Epstein concerned Epstein's ongoing legal battles, primarily his 2008 criminal case involving sexually abusing 14-year-old girls and his 2009 civil suit. Alexander also asked Epstein for financial advice, specifically on how to pay his son's tuition and settle debts.
Stephen Alexander emailed Epstein the day after the Daily Beast story connecting Epstein to Alexander, acknowledging that Epstein was able to avoid an impartial psychological evaluation before sentencing through a report by Alexander.
Alexander disconnected his phones and wrote, "I have made sure reporters cannot find me for their stories. Pretty clever, eh?"
In 2011, it appears that Epstein also helped the Alexander family by connecting him with Steve Hanson, a New York restaurateur, so his company could speak at a university event.
In 2013, Stephen Alexander also emailed Epstein seeking job opportunities in Las Vegas for his son, John. Epstein said he could "guarantee him a job there."
Alexander sent over his son's cover letter and resume and confirmed to Epstein that he still had the laptop Epstein had previously gifted him.
"Thanks for all your help," the elder Alexander wrote.
Trenton Buffenbarger is a senior at the University of Alabama and is the Chairman of the UA Young Americans for Freedom.
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