New Epstein documents show Woody Allen visited White House in 2015

Summary

In a set of records released by the U.S. Department of Justice in recent days, emails and White House scheduling information tie filmmaker Woody Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, to a White House visit in 2015 arranged with the help of Jeffrey Epstein. The documents include an exchange in which Epstein reached out to former White House counsel Kathy Ruemmler about showing Previn the White House while Allen would be “too politically sensitive,” and Ruemmler responded that she could show both of them. The White House visit was later recorded for Dec. 27, 2015, according to White House records cited in the reports.

The email materials add detail to how Epstein’s social and political connections extended beyond his personal circle, including his relationships with prominent cultural figures. Allen and Previn were neighbors of Epstein in New York City, and the records describe frequent dinners and periods of mutual support as they faced media criticism, with emails saying they were being accused “unfairly” of sexual misconduct.

Epstein’s May 2015 message to Ruemmler asked: “Could you show soon yi the White House.” He added that he assumed “woody would be too politically sensitive?” Ruemmler replied that she was “sure” she could show both of them the White House, but said she doubted whether Epstein would be allowed to attend because of his prior federal case, where he had pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution involving an underage girl.

The trip itself is described as taking place while President Barack Obama was traveling: White House records show Allen, Previn and Ruemmler visited on Dec. 27, a Sunday, and Obama was in Hawaii at the time, the AP reported. The documents also depict Ruemmler and Allen as among a wider list of notable people who maintained friendships with Epstein even after his legal troubles became widely covered.

The communications also describe how Allen and others compared public scrutiny to other celebrity scandals. The records include an exchange in which Epstein, Previn and Allen referenced Bill Cosby, whose case involved allegations that he drugged and sexually assaulted women. Epstein wrote, “The crowd needs a witch to burn, and there are not many left,” and Allen responded that his situation was “radically different” from Cosby’s, as relayed through Previn, saying he faced “many ugly unfair accusations” but that Cosby “has to battle 50 women and criminal charges” while Allen said he had “one irate mother” whose case had been investigated and “discredited.”

The records also capture how the three discussed Allen and Previn’s own public scandal, which dates to the early 1990s and Allen’s acknowledgment that he was having an affair with Previn, who was adopted by his then-girlfriend Mia Farrow. Around that time, state authorities investigated allegations that Allen assaulted Farrow’s adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, while Allen visited Farrow’s home in Connecticut, the AP reported. A Connecticut prosecutor said in 1993 that there was “probable cause” to charge Allen with molesting Dylan Farrow, but the prosecutor decided not to pursue the case.

Allen has denied wrongdoing, according to the AP report, and Dylan Farrow’s allegations returned to public attention in 2014 with an open letter published in The New York Times. The AP also said it does not identify people who say they have been sexually assaulted or subjected to severe abuse unless they have publicly identified themselves or consented to have their names used.

In the email record, Epstein is portrayed as giving advice to Allen and Previn, including encouraging them to enjoy themselves and warning that some actors might decline roles after the scandal. Epstein also attended screenings of Allen’s movies and, the AP said, would visit so Allen could watch him edit a film, according to emails. In a letter written for a 2016 Epstein birthday party, Allen described their dinners as having “Wide variety of interesting people at every dinner,” and said “It’s always interesting and the food is sumptuous and abundant.”

The Associated Press said it is reviewing the documents released by the Justice Department in collaboration with journalists from CBS, NBC, MS NOW and CNBC, with each newsroom handling its own independent coverage of what is in the files.