Epstein, eugenics, and the far right

Long after race science fell into public disgrace, Epstein was working to revive its core assumptions – and connecting biological hierarchy to far-right politics. As Dr Annabel Sowemimo uncovers...

What links Jeffrey Epstein (centre), Noam Chomsky (L), and Steve Bannon (R)? Pics: Wikicommons

The latest tranche of Epstein files reveals a troubling preoccupation with eugenics – heredity, racial difference, ‘intelligence’, and reproductive selection – and a concerted effort from the paedophile financier to embed that fascination within elite institutions.

A recent investigation revealed that scientists and doctors are the second most common group present in Epstein’s emails, after financiers. Why? From emails with leading academics, to investments in genetics start-ups, and funding for evolutionary research centres, a pattern emerges: the building of an ecosystem in which race science could flourish, and the foregrounding of a dangerous political vision.

While the horrors contained in the latest files – 3.5 million pages released on January 30th – continue to dominate headlines, the prominence of racist ideology and behaviours has gone largely underreported, but it shouldn’t be ignored. From Harvard, to Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT] and Princeton University, these elite networks of academics were integral in helping Epstein maintain his social standing, and pursue his racist scientific agenda.

An ideological project

In 2019, the New York Times revealed Epstein’s desire to seed the human species with his “superior DNA” driven by his interest in transhumanism (the idea that technology can and should enhance human biology). A range of scientists, alongside organisations such as the Center for Genetics and Society, have criticised such ambitions as a contemporary revival of eugenics – the 19th century theory which argues the human race can be improved by selective breeding of ‘superior’ individuals, namely white, wealthy and without physical or mental illness.

A review of the Epstein files shows his money and attention repeatedly flowed toward research on these themes. In one exchange with German scientist and former MIT employee, Joscha Bach, Epstein was interested in exploring the idea of making Black people smarter through genetic modification. Bach says Black children’s brains “are slower at learning high-level concepts”, but adds that high motor skills make them better adapted “to a more hunting/running style of life.” In another exchange, Epstein discussed a potential study with a redacted individual, and suggested taking female pelvic x-rays to determine reproductive potential, adding Nigerian women have the “shortest birth interval” which would make them ideal candidates – which has strong echoes of US medical experimentation on enslaved Black women and girls in the 19th century.

Epstein was also sent studies linking prenatal stress to IQ, responding: “this relates to the blacks” – an unambiguous endorsement of racial hierarchy.

In emails with leftist intellectual Noam Chomsky, Epstein cites a paper on racial differences in intelligence and reaffirms that “the test score gap, amongst african americans is well documented. 20 years of testing. many countries,” and tries to convince Chomsky of his idea. He goes on to say; “Not looking seems cruel”, in relation to an editable gene that could improve racial intelligence.

In one email from a redacted person, Epstein is sent a reminder for a lecture by Bryon Bishop, a transhumanist and crypto investor, on “designer babies” – IVF embryos that have had their genetic material screened or modified. Bishop goes on to ask Epstein for funding and he responds that “he has no problem investing.”

In other exchanges, Epstein reveals he has been through genome sequencing and is exceptionally keen that his elite connections do the same. He repeatedly ordered genetic testing kits for himself and his social circle – including Woody Allen and the Chomsky family. Epstein displays a keen interest in finding evidence of his own genetic superiority, that of his “elite” circle, and how to replicate this.

Eugenics rebranded

Epstein’s philanthropy fits a broader pattern in which wealthy donors have helped sustain controversial research agendas long after the term ‘eugenics’ fell out of favour after the Holocaust. Harvard’s own 2020 internal review found the university accepted more than $9 million from Epstein after his 2008 conviction, while The Guardian revealed in 2018 that University College London had hosted a secret “London Conference on Intelligence” featuring speakers associated with scientific racism. In recent years, businesses promoting polygenic embryo selection have been backed by private capital in Silicon Valley, prompting scientists to warn of a market-driven revival of eugenics and “reproduction as quality control.”

Epstein wielded a huge amount of influence within the research community, and was bankrolling the work of dozens of scientists. He had multiple exchanges with Professor Brian Greene, at Columbia University, discussing which scientists should be invited to the World Science Festival. Greene admitted Epstein gifted him $100,000 and has since apologised, stating that beyond the funding they had limited contact.

In another exchange about an event at prestigious New York cultural venue 92NY, Epstein lists suggested scientists to invite, even providing details on whether they have blue eyes or not. This preoccupation persists, and there are multiple emails where he shares articles or studies that suggest those with blue eyes may be of higher intelligence; reminiscent of studies conducted by Nazi scientists.

Epstein’s ties to Harvard University are perhaps the most well documented, with The Jeffrey Epstein Foundation providing $30 million in 2003 to establish the Centre for Evolutionary Dynamics led by Professor Martin Nowak. Supported by Epstein, Nowak was conducting research creating synthetic DNA, and was in regular contact with him on genetic developments. It has been reported Epstein held an office in the department for a number of years and emails reveal him inviting other scientists to meet him there. After funding ties to Epstein were revealed, the centre was closed in 2023. Professor Nowak remains employed by Harvard and currently teaches a course on evolutionary dynamics, but this week he was placed on paid administrative leave while a formal investigation takes place.

At The Lead we have been keeping a close eye on the Epstein files and the implications for British politics. In February, Zoë Grünewald analysed the conspicuous silence from Nigel Farage, flying in the face of claims to care about the safeguarding of women and girls:

Reform UK’s silence on Epstein speaks volumes

Epstein also appears to have funded a number of start-ups focusing on genetics, which is clear in exchanges between Dr Luhan Yang, founder of eGenesis – and he was an early investor in deCode genetics, a company that studies population genetics.

Despite the looming FBI investigation for sex trafficking, there was no shortage of eminent academics willing to consort with Epstein and take his money. In one, bizarre email from scientist Professor Jonathan Farley, currently at Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee, Farley suggests he is “throwing a lifeline” to help Epstein avoid “a conviction like Bill Cosby.” He argues that by donating money to him personally (he suggests $5 million), that Epstein would “[have] an advocate at one of the world’s most prestigious universities publically defending you.” It is unclear if the funds were ever transferred.

How deep is the institutional impact?

Epstein’s network was an ecosystem of influence, and this was integral to his ability to abuse his victims without consequence for so long. His relationships with leading academics assisted in maintaining his image and enabled him to further promote his own far-right ideology. His long-term funding of specific disciplines may also have lasting consequences for academia – particularly in shaping which research agendas were amplified and legitimised.

Many of the academics associated with Epstein, like physicist Lawerence Krauss, were vocally against affirmative action, which sought to address the socioeconomic barriers leading to fewer African Americans attending higher education institutions in the US. In June 2023, the US Supreme Court effectively struck down affirmative action – the Court ruled race-conscious admissions policies unconstitutional – which will impact the social mobility and life outcomes for millions of young Black Americans for generations. For years, Epstein was providing close friends and associates with tens of millions in funding without any formal application process, or any rigour applied to their research proposals.

“His funding of certain types of research obviously tilts the scales in terms of shaping the direction of research fields,” Professor Rebecca Sear, director of the Centre of Culture and Evolution at Brunel University tells The Lead. “Maybe even more damaging to the ‘free marketplace of ideas’ was his facilitation of a network of academics, who were not a remotely diverse group.”

Professor Sear adds: “Given that evidence that Epstein and several of his academic contacts shared beliefs that privilege is the result of inborn advantages, not circumstance, his network may have been influential in helping what are essentially eugenic beliefs become more prominent again – or perhaps more openly expressed – in and outside academia.”

The far right and eugenics

If Epstein’s academic investments helped legitimise biological hierarchy, his political alliances suggest he also saw how such ideas could be weaponised.

A recently released photo shows Epstein, Novak, and Steve Bannon, the far-right political strategist before he became the White House chief of staff, meeting at Harvard university. Steve Bannon has 1,974 email exchanges and plenty more texts with Epstein in the years preceding his arrest for child sex trafficking. Within those messages, they discuss strategies for building the far right in Europe, while scheduling multiple meetings in the run-up to Trump being elected. He likens a meeting between himself, Bannon and Sebastian Kurz (then Australian chancellor) to a meeting between “Bronshtein, Goebbels”, to which Bannon responds “way way too close.”

In a series of texts, Bannon seemingly tries to rally support for Epstein as more articles on his abuse come out. He mentions “talking to Pompeo” (Mark Pompeo would become Trump’s secretary of state). He then tells Epstein that far-right activist Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon) is “the backbone of England.” Robinson has regularly pushed the Great Replacement Theory – that Britain is being taken over by immigrants with plans to change the racial demographic of the country.

From Nick Candy to Elon Musk, we took a closer look at all the far-right figures lurking within the Epstein files, and why they feature:

The Lead Untangles: Who are the far-right figures mentioned in the Epstein files?

In another exchange from July 2018, Bannon informs Epstein that he is “with Boris in London.” He goes on in other messages to describe his plans for bolstering the far right in Europe and Epstein offers his support by way of making useful introductions.

Epstein’s commitment to far right ideology might be best summed up by a Thomas Jefferson quote he emailed to French model scout Jean Luc Brunel in 2019:

“It will probably be asked, Why not retain and incorporate the blacks into the State [instead of colonizing them]? Deep rooted prejudices entertained by the whites, ten thousand recollections by the blacks of the injuries they have sustained, new provocations, the real distinctions which nature has made, and many other circumstances will divide us into parties and produce convulsions which will probably never end but in the extermination of the one or the other race.”

As far-right movements in the UK increasingly ground their arguments in claims about IQ, birth rates and racial replacement, the legitimisation of these ideas is incredibly dangerous. As well as revealing a picture of elite convergence – in which powerful men across the political spectrum bolster each other’s wealth and influence – the Epstein files also expose a coordinated web of funding, prestige and access that helped keep race science circulating within elite universities long after eugenics became publicly discredited.

When ideas about inherited superiority are discussed in Harvard offices and at prestigious science festivals rather than fringe rallies, they acquire a dangerous sheen of credibility.■

About the author: Annabel Sowemimo is a doctor, academic, activist and writer. She is an NHS Consultant in Sexual & Reproductive Health working in South London.

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