In a development that’s raised eyebrows across the sports and business worlds, Josh Harris - co-owner of the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Devils - has been linked to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The connection stems from a trove of over three million documents made public as part of a congressionally mandated release of what’s now being called the “Epstein Files.” Within those records are emails revealing that Harris and Epstein had multiple communications over the years, including numerous phone calls and at least one visit by Harris to Epstein’s Manhattan residence.
It’s important to note that the released documents do not suggest Harris was involved in any sexual misconduct. The correspondence, which reportedly occurred after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor and before his 2019 arrest on federal child sex trafficking charges, appears to have centered around business-related discussions.
A representative for Harris, Jonathan Rosen, issued a statement clarifying the nature of the relationship. According to Rosen, Harris's interactions with Epstein were strictly professional - and even then, Harris made efforts to distance himself.
“Harris sought to prevent Epstein’s attempts to develop a corporate relationship with Apollo,” Rosen said, referencing the private equity firm Harris co-founded. “As these emails indicate, Harris sought to avoid meeting with Epstein, canceling meetings and having others return his calls.”
While the nature of the communications doesn’t appear to implicate Harris in any criminal activity, the association itself is likely to draw scrutiny - especially given Epstein’s notoriety and the high-profile nature of Harris’s business and sports ventures. Harris, who has been a prominent figure in both Wall Street and professional sports ownership circles, now finds himself connected to a scandal that continues to ripple across industries and institutions.
With millions of documents still being combed through - and more expected to surface in the coming months - this remains a developing story with potentially far-reaching implications. For now, though, the spotlight is on the extent of Harris’s interactions with Epstein and how those communications fit into the broader narrative of one of the most scrutinized investigations in recent memory.