Latest Epstein files reveal Arab contacts shared sacred Kaaba cloth with him

The latest tranche of US Justice Department records on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein shows he acquired three pieces of the Kiswa — the sacred black cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca — through an Emirati businesswoman and Saudi intermediaries, according to emails included in the newly released documents.

The correspondence indicates the items were arranged by Aziza Al-Ahmadi, who coordinated with a Saudi-based contact, Abdullah Al-Maari, and were shipped to Epstein’s residence in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, via Miami. The fragments were labelled as “artwork from Saudi Arabia” for customs clearance, reports said.

In a March 22, 2017, email, Al-Ahmadi described the black cloth as having been touched by “minimum 10 million Muslims of different denominations,” stressing its spiritual significance and association with prayers, tears and hopes. The records do not clarify why Epstein sought the sacred material.

According to the emails, the shipment included three separate pieces — one from inside the Kaaba, another from the used outer covering, and a third made from the same material but not previously used.

Epstein associate Daphne Wallace handled logistics in the US, while Chalmer Stauffer managed customs clearance and transportation. The documents also contained invoices, payment details and delivery confirmations.

The disclosure comes as part of a broader release of investigative files mandated under the Epstein Files Transparency Act, aimed at revealing what authorities knew about Epstein’s sex trafficking network and his links with influential figures.

Epstein, a US financier, was arrested in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors in Florida and New York. He had earlier served 13 months in jail under a controversial 2008 plea deal. He died in a New York jail cell in August 2019 in what was ruled a suicide.

The newly released cache also references numerous high-profile persons, though none have been formally accused of wrongdoing in the documents.

Who was Jeffrey Epstein?

Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier and convicted sex offender who became widely known for his involvement in the sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors. In 2008, he pleaded guilty to state charges related to soliciting prostitution, including involving a minor, under a plea deal that was later criticised as overly lenient.

More than a decade later, in 2019, federal prosecutors charged him with sex trafficking of minors in Florida and New York. Epstein had cultivated relationships with wealthy business figures, politicians and celebrities through his financial dealings and elite social circles. While in federal custody awaiting trial, he died by suicide in a New York jail in August 2019.

Epstein’s crimes and investigations

Epstein’s legal troubles spanned several years and multiple jurisdictions. His 2008 conviction resulted in a 13-month jail term after he admitted to state prostitution charges involving underage girls, a sentence that sparked public outrage and criticism from victims’ advocates. Renewed investigations later led to his arrest in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges, with prosecutors alleging that he ran a network that recruited and abused underage girls at properties in New York, Florida and elsewhere. His death in custody before trial intensified scrutiny of the justice system and raised persistent questions about accountability for those connected to him.

What the “Epstein Files” are

The “Epstein files” refer to millions of pages of investigative material released by the US Department of Justice under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The law requires the government to make public unclassified documents related to Epstein’s criminal cases and associated investigations.

These include emails, evidence, court filings and internal records collected over the years by federal and local authorities. While large volumes have been released, many documents remain partially redacted to protect victims’ identities and sensitive legal information. Officials have said the material provides insight into Epstein’s operations and contacts but does not automatically establish criminal liability for others mentioned.