{"id":487505,"date":"2026-02-20T11:16:11","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T11:16:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/487505\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T11:16:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T11:16:11","slug":"montreal-is-mentioned-in-the-epstein-files-hundreds-of-times-heres-what-we-know-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/487505\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal is mentioned in the Epstein files hundreds of times. Here\u2019s what we know"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Located just a short flight away from one of his vacation homes in New York City, Montreal was often on the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s radar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Though it\u2019s unclear whether Epstein visited Quebec after he was convicted in 2008 for soliciting sex from a minor, among other prostitution charges, and was registered as a sex offender, the disgraced financier didn\u2019t shy away from planning trips to its biggest city.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Epstein\u2019s assistant twice reserved a room for him at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%2011\/EFTA02713857.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Ritz-Carlton in July 2014;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Ritz-Carlton in July 2014<\/a> when he tried to catch the Nasty Show at Montreal\u2019s Just for Laughs Festival, before <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%2010\/EFTA02102083.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:ultimately cancelling;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">ultimately cancelling<\/a>, according to emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice last month.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Many of the hundreds of times Montreal and Quebec are mentioned in the so-called Epstein files are largely insignificant.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One person writes to Epstein saying they\u2019re in Montreal to learn French and hope they \u201cdon\u2019t pick up the Quebecois accent.\u201d In another email exchange, Epstein qualifies Montreal as the second best place to learn French and enjoy singledom, after Saint-Barth\u00e9lemy in the Caribbean.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Since the release of the files, prominent people \u2013 from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/world\/us-congress-house-clintons-epstein-testimony-9.7071863\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:the Clintons;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">the Clintons<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/investigates\/lee-smolin-perimeter-institute-epstein-files-9.7087789\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:university professors;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">university professors<\/a> \u2013 have faced scrutiny over \u2014\u00a0 and have had to defend \u2014\u00a0 their association with Epstein, be it personal or business, especially after his 2008 guilty plea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Here are some Quebecers who have found themselves in that position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Investment, talks of \u2018Sharia coin\u2019 with entrepreneur<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Montreal crypto entrepreneur and angel investor Austin Hill notably reached out to and met with Epstein several times over four years, including at the multimillionaire\u2019s private island, Little St. James, in April 2014. According to emails, Hill and his group stayed at an off-island hotel during that visit.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Montreal crypto entrepreneur and angel investor Austin Hill. \" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/5ebf74f0d8f1ed5bbfedf7d2a2882c2c.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Montreal crypto entrepreneur and angel investor Austin Hill. (@austinhill\/X)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The two men first met a month prior at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00870758.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Fairmount Pacific Rim in Vancouver;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Fairmount Pacific Rim in Vancouver<\/a>, after which Epstein invested $50,000 in Hill\u2019s cryptocurrency then-startup Blockstream through a venture fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Over the next few years, according to the files, Hill reached out seeking Epstein\u2019s advice and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%2011\/EFTA02506275.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:connections;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">connections<\/a>. In January 2015, as news of then-prince Andrew\u2019s friendship with Epstein began circulating, Hill <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00673841.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:wrote Epstein;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">wrote Epstein<\/a> apologizing for \u201cinterrupting in what I\u2019m sure is a crazy media storm for you &amp; your team\u201d to ask for his advice and counsel on \u201ca few things both business, Bitcoin, personal &amp; esoteric mind games that we play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The previous month, Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein\u2019s accusers who has since died by suicide, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/world\/prince-andrew-denies-accusations-of-sex-with-minor-in-u-s-lawsuit-1.2888632\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:alleged in a Florida court;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">alleged in a Florida court<\/a> that she was trafficked and forced to have sex with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2026\/01\/31\/uk\/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-epstein-files-pictures-intl-gbr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor<\/a> when she was 17.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">On Thursday, Mountbatten-Windson was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office for his connection to Epstein. He was released from custody the same day under investigation, police said, meaning he has neither been charged nor exonerated. He has previously denied all wrongdoing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Hill and Epstein\u2019s correspondence, at least as far as the Epstein files go, ends in 2018 when Hill suggests they set up \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%2011\/EFTA02600088.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:some secure communication;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">some secure communication<\/a>.\u201d At that point in time, they were in serious discussions to create a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00964459.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u201c[S]haria compliant coin;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">\u201c[S]haria compliant coin<\/a>\u201d for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00815445.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Muslim clients;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Muslim clients<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Hill could not be reached by CBC News for comment, but he <a href=\"https:\/\/montrealgazette.com\/news\/montreal-meeting-with-jeffrey-epstein-island-files\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:told the Montreal Gazette;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">told the Montreal Gazette<\/a> earlier this month that he condemned Epstein\u2019s crimes and regretted \u201cany association\u201d with him.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"A screengrab showing an email exchange between Austin Hill and Jeffrey Epstein ahead of their first meeting on March 19, 2014.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/fa154af4a30c206c4994386056e4c853.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>(U.S. Department of Justice)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Guy Lalibert\u00e9 tried to sell Epstein his villa <\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Another Quebecer whose name comes up more than once in Epstein\u2019s inbox is businessman and Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Lalibert\u00e9.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The emails started in 2011 and, over the years, included a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00356359.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Christmas card;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Christmas card<\/a> and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00434181.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:invite to a charity event;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">invite to a charity event<\/a> where Lalibert\u00e9 called Epstein one of his \u201cdear friends.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">A spokesperson for Lalibert\u00e9, Annie Dongois, told CBC News the emails are \u201cnot really personal\u201d and are more so \u201cmass mailing emails.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In 2018, Lalibert\u00e9 also tried to sell Epstein two of his villas in Ibiza, according to the files, but the sale didn\u2019t go forward. Dongois said the email with that proposal was crafted by Lalibert\u00e9\u2019s communications team and sent to about 25 people who could afford it, essentially.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Cirque du Soleil impresario Guy Lalibert\u00e9 tried selling his Ibiza properties Can Soleil and Can Luna to Epstein, among others according to his spokesperson, in June 2018.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"540\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/8ec41ff3b5fcb3d73bccdbf8d988c555.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Cirque du Soleil impresario Guy Lalibert\u00e9 tried selling his Ibiza properties Can Soleil and Can Luna to Epstein, among others, in June 2018, according to his spokesperson. (Radio-Canada)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Lalibert\u00e9\u2019s appearance in the files has also been reported in Le Journal de Montr\u00e9al and La Presse.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Dongois said the two men didn\u2019t know each other personally beyond a handshake here and there at social events in New York, and that Lalibert\u00e9 has never been to Epstein\u2019s home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201c[Lalibert\u00e9] has a very, like, heavy address book. So Epstein was in his address book and he received the mass mailing Christmas cards and a few communications that he sends to all his contacts,\u201d said Dongois.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As for the \u201cdear friends\u201d reference, Dongois says that email was also crafted by Lalibert\u00e9\u2019s team and sent to thousands of people.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Quebec&#8217;s pension fund rethinks link with Emirati sultan<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Montreal also comes up in the Epstein files so often due to the many visits Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem paid the city. The Dubai tycoon previously headed the portuary terminal operator DP World, which partners on projects with Quebec\u2019s pension fund manager, La Caisse de d\u00e9p\u00f4t et placement du Qu\u00e9bec (CDPQ).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The sultan <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dpworld.com\/en\/news\/appointment-of-chairman-and-group-ceo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:announced his resignation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">announced his resignation<\/a> from the company last Friday after several emails \u2013 many of which contained explicit content \u2013 linked him with Epstein.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In November 2016, Bin Sulayem told Epstein of his \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%2010\/EFTA01787696.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:big day in Canada;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">big day in Canada<\/a>\u201d which took place in Montreal, after which DP World and CDPQ announced the launch of their $5-billion investment platform. Bin Sulayem flew to Epstein\u2019s private island <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%2010\/EFTA01742094.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:right after;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">right after<\/a> finalizing the deal with the CDPQ.<\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem resigned as DP World's CEO and Group chairman on Feb 13, 2026, the company announced.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"613\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/a27721fa4ae04c1a8fed9c7d65433946.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem resigned as DP World&#8217;s CEO and Group chairman on Feb 13, 2026, the company announced. (AP Photo: Kamran Jebreili)<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The correspondence between Epstein and Bin Sulayem included crude jokes, links to profiles on Seeking Arrangements, a website known for connecting people with so-called \u201csugar daddies,\u201d a poem about Brazilian women, and the pricing for an explicit massage the sultan said he received <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%209\/EFTA00630885.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:while in Tokyo;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">while in Tokyo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Bin Sulayem also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/epstein\/files\/DataSet%2011\/EFTA02647482.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:initiated the transfer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">initiated the transfer<\/a> of a masseuse, who worked at Epstein\u2019s private spa, to a spa in Turkey \u201cso she gains better experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After the messages between the sultan and Epstein emerged, the CDPQ paused \u201cadditional capital deployment alongside\u201d DP World and demanded the company \u201ctake the necessary actions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cThe company took the appropriate measures. We will move quickly to work with DP World\u2019s new leadership to continue our partnership on port projects around the world,\u201d a spokesperson for the CDPQ, Jean-Beno\u00eet Houde, told CBC News in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The Port of Montreal says it is also continuing its work in light of Bin Sulayem\u2019s departure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If you or someone you know is struggling, here\u2019s where to look for help:<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">This guide from the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.camh.ca\/en\/health-info\/guides-and-publications\/when-a-family-member-is-suicidal\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Centre for Addiction and Mental Health;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Centre for Addiction and Mental Health<\/a> outlines how to talk about suicide with someone you&#8217;re worried about.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Located just a short flight away from one of his vacation homes in New York City, Montreal was&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":487506,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[194292],"tags":[21262,49,48,196259,196261,12208,2338,196260,196262],"class_list":["post-487505","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-montreal","tag-austin-hill","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-epstein-files","tag-guy-laliberte","tag-jeffrey-epstein","tag-montreal","tag-montreal-gazette","tag-sultan-ahmed-bin-sulayem"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487505","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487505"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487505\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/487506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487505"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487505"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487505"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}