Blair receives significant consultancy payments from Epstein and Israeli firm

US Department of Justice Releases Audio Recording of Epstein and Barak Discussing Former UK Prime Minister’s Consulting Work

A recently released audio recording has captured a conversation between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, discussing the significant sums paid to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair for his consulting work. The recording was released as part of a new tranche of investigative files related to Epstein.

In the recording, Epstein appears to be discussing strategies for former political figures to make money after leaving office with Barak. Epstein mentions that Blair is reportedly earning “gigantic numbers” from various clients, including governments, and speculates that some of these funds may not be going directly to Blair, but rather to other parties.

Blair has provided consultancy services to clients through his firm Tony Blair Associates since leaving office in 2016. He closed the firm in 2016 to establish the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, a non-profit organization that describes itself as helping governments and leaders turn bold ideas into reality.

The recording also raises questions about the financial arrangements of former political figures. Barak asks Epstein how to make money from contracts with governments or governments, while Epstein replies that he is not sure what Blair is doing for money and whether the funds he receives are actually going to him or others.

The US Justice Department has confirmed that the recorded conversation took place in early 2013, although the exact date is not specified. A spokesperson for Blair’s institute stated that “none of these people have any idea about what he did or didn’t earn” and that the figures mentioned are “rubbish.” The payment for work with Kazakhstan was reportedly made to Blair’s organization, which hired a team of people for the purpose of that work.

The recording provides new insight into the financial dealings of former politicians and raises questions about the transparency of their arrangements.

Source: Al Jazeera