News Desk: A controversy has erupted after reports claimed that the name of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama appeared multiple times in newly released documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — a claim his office has strongly denied, insisting there was never any contact or association.
The controversy surfaced after Chinese state-run news channel CGTN reported that the Dalai Lama’s name appeared 169 times in documents released by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) related to Epstein. According to the report, his name featured in multiple personal emails and in the index of a book titled Massage for Dummies, which was included as a scanned document in earlier file releases.
The issue gained traction as other reports highlighted that the references were found in correspondence and document indexes, including an email exchange suggesting he had been expected to attend an event on an island mentioned in the communication.
Responding to the reports, the Dalai Lama’s office issued a categorical denial of any link to Epstein. It described attempts to connect the spiritual leader with Epstein as misleading and emphasised that no meeting or interaction ever took place.
The office stated unequivocally that the Dalai Lama had never met Epstein and had not authorised any contact or representation on his behalf, reiterating that the inclusion of a name in documents does not imply association or wrongdoing.
Press Statement
Some recent media reports and social media posts concerning the “Epstein files” are attempting to link His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Jeffrey Epstein.
We can unequivocally confirm that His Holiness has never met Jeffrey Epstein or authorised any meeting or… pic.twitter.com/QtV6B3Wr0u
— Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama) February 8, 2026
The references emerged amid a massive release of Epstein-related material involving millions of pages of emails, correspondence and records. The disclosures have named or mentioned several public figures, triggering renewed global debate about the financier’s network and the interpretation of such records.
Observers note that the presence of an individual’s name in correspondence or document indexes does not in itself constitute evidence of misconduct, as such records often include third-party mentions, scheduling notes or unrelated references.
Despite the denial, the reported mentions have sparked intense discussion across media and political circles, fuelling scrutiny over the broader implications of the document disclosures. For now, the Dalai Lama’s office maintains there was no contact with Epstein, even as debate continues over how such references should be understood and reported.
