_{Dinner at Jeff's.}

The chairman of Paul, Weiss has resigned after the extent of his relationship with sexual predator Jeffery Epstein was put under the spotlight.

Brad Karp first met Epstein professionally through his work at the US law firm representing Leon Black, co-founder and former chairman of Apollo Global Management.

Black was one of two billionaire patrons who provided Epstein with the majority of his income, paying him millions in fees to arrange his tax and estate affairs.

Documents released by the US Department of Justice show how Karp was drawn into Epstein’s personal orbit through star-studded dinners thrown at the financier's $50m Manhattan mansion.

“You're amazing....and thank you!” Karp gushed in a July 2015 email after one such experience.

“I can’t thank you enough for including me in an evening I’ll never forget. It was truly ‘once in a lifetime’ in every way, though I hope to be invited again. You are an extraordinary host -- and your home...!!!”

Epstein replied, “you are always welcome. there are many many nights of unique talents. you will be invited often”.

Epstein subsequently invited Karp to Sunday lunch with Ehud Barak, the former Prime Minister of Israel. Karp responded, “I'm a huge admirer of his… Let me see if I can move something”, telling him after another invitation, “You're quite the host, my friend!”

Epstein’s friendship with Woody Allen was another draw for Karp, whose son was a fan with filmmaking ambitions.

They accepted Epstein’s invitations to several screenings hosted by Allen and in 2016 Karp informed Epstein that his son had described a dinner with the sexual predator, who was convicted of procuring a child for prostitution in 2008, as "The best night of my life". Karp said his son exclaimed, “I’ve never met anyone as cool as Jeffrey’!”

“great kid”, Epstein replied.

Later that year Karp called on the billionaire fixer to find his son a job with the auteur. “Can I raise a personal issue with you concerning my son David? … He would love to work, in any capacity, with Woody on his upcoming film project, if that's a possibility”.

Although Epstein invited Karp to Little St James, which later came to be known as ‘paedophile island’, Karp demurred. “Maybe sometime soon, you can come to island”, Epstein suggested on another occasion.

Many of the hundreds of released emails depict a busy lawyer trying to placate a difficult agent. “Been tied up at a brutal funeral and now a board meeting” was a typical excuse proffered by Karp when Epstein asked him why he hadn’t answered his calls.

Epstein described himself as being “easy” to deal with: Karp told him, “You are many, many, many things, but ‘easy’ is not at the top of the list!”

Epstein replied, “should have said ‘easy’ to my friends ‘all others beware’”.

That included Karp’s underlings: “could you remind [x] your real estate girl for leon, that he is an important client”, Epstein emailed Karp in 2014. “Ugh. I'll follow up immediately”, Karp replied.

In an unusual episode, the Paul, Weiss chair liaised closely with Epstein when Black's mistress was suspected of attempting to blackmail their mutual client.

Karp hired the private investigation firm Nardello to tail her through New York and provided Epstein with a running commentary on her location.

“What do we know since she left the lunch?” asked Epstein. 

“She’s returning to the Gansevoort hotel”, replied Karp.

“Any news” Epstein pressed him. 

“She didn't go on her flight. She's at Topping House in Bridgehampton”, updated Karp. “It's a hotel on rte 27 in bridgehampton.”

Ruing a fumbled attempt to record her, Karp informed Epsein, “The restaurant was extremely loud, with lots of background noise, and the audio tape needs to be enhanced”.

In a disaster for Epstein, Black decided in 2016 that his agent had embezzled millions from him and began to wind down their relationship. The dispute threatened one of Epstein’s two largest income streams and Karp became a receptacle for Epstein’s dismay, and a target of his attempts to win Black back.

Epstein grumbled to Karp after a “very ugly meeting” in 2017 that Black “suggested that as a result of my money dispute with him I went to the firms counsel . you." 

“told him i thought he was on drugs… i pointed out that having his wife yell at the senior partner of paul weiss. was odd”.

“I got a lot of the same blow back. Very difficult”, Karp commiserated.

Winning Karp to his side became a significant project for Epstein. In an extraordinary exchange with former Trump aide Steve Bannon in 2019, Epstein plotted how to secure Karp a membership of the Augusta golf course:

In the years before his arrest for sex trafficking in 2019, Epstein routinely sent Karp articles about famous sex pests alleging they had been falsely accused. The emails met with silence or a bemused response from the Paul, Weiss boss.

“I didnt follow the elliot spitizer extortion girl issue, did you?” asked Epstein on one occasion. “Not really”, Karp replied.

Epstein only got a rise when he showered Karp with dozens of links to stories about the resignation of Latham & Watkins’ Managing Partner after a sexting scandal. “Ugh. Was this what you couldn't tell me? I really liked Bill Voge”, Karp responded.

Epstein also repeatedly enquired after Karp’s health issues, which sometimes prevented the lawyer from calling Epstein back. “Been working 20 hour days/nights and sick as a dog”, explained Karp on one occasion.

Epstein told Karp he was worried about the “physical toll” Karp’s work was taking on him and appears to have sent him a link to some relaxing music. “Thanks, my friend”, said Karp, “That was incredibly soothing!”

A few months before he was arrested in 2019, Epstein sent Karp a Walmart link to a six pack of Vicks VapoRub Topical Cough Suppressant. In the bizarre email he offered Karp detailed instructions for its use, advising the lawyer to “put a towel over your head and breathe in the hot menthol… You should start coughing up the most disgusting things that are sitting in the base of your lungs”.

Karp doesn’t appear to have responded, but he assisted Epstein to the bitter end.

In April 2018, Karp passed Epstein a confidential report relating to Black's business. “leon said you had a copy of the stock sale re [redacted] can you forward to me , ?” asked Epstein.

‘Of course”, replied Karp. “please don't let him know that I shared it. It is supposed to be strictly confidential”.

As Epstein felt the FBI’s noose tightening in March 2019, he called on Karp to use his contacts at the New York Times to get a letter published which would rubbish the allegations against him and argue that the authorities should leave him alone.

Karp obliged, telling Epstein, “The editorial folks I know best at the Times are Matt Purdy, Rebecca Blumenstein, Ellen Pollock and Jim Dao. I would send by email. The draft looked strong.”

“so do you send to each ?” asked Epstein.

“I've sent to all at once, so they don't think we're being sneaky”, Karp replied.

The letter appeared in the Times two days later. Signed by Epstein’s lawyers, it stated, “The number of young women involved in the investigation has been vastly exaggerated, there was no ‘international sex-trafficking operation’ and there was never evidence that Mr. Epstein ‘hosted sex parties’ at his home.”

Referring to the growing legal threat which would see him dead in a cell within months, that March Epstein joked to Karp, “not public yet, but doj is moving the defense of the case to the ND georgia… you will smile but the us attorney there is named BJ”.

“Love it!” replied Karp.

Earlier this week a Paul, Weiss spokesperson said that "Mr. Karp never witnessed or participated in any misconduct. Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email, all of which he regrets”.

On Thursday Karp resigned from his position, stating, “Leading Paul, Weiss for the past 18 years has been the honor of my professional life. Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm.” He said he will remain at the firm.