Model recruiter linked to Epstein found dead in France

The Nanterre Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation to determine the cause of death. An autopsy must be performed. Siad had not yet been heard by French authorities in the investigation related to the Epstein case.

Of French-Algerian and Swedish nationality, the recruiter was 69 years old. He was the target of accusations of rape and sexual violence and appeared in thousands of documents released by the United States Department of Justice about the American financier's activities.

The messages revealed show that Siad was in frequent contact with Epstein and sent photographs, information and profiles of young people found during trips to different countries. In one of the emails, he compared the recruitment work to the activity of a fisherman.

"In this business, I feel like a fisherman. Sometimes I catch fast, sometimes there are no fish," he wrote in a 2014 message.

Investigators suspected that he had worked to bring potential victims closer to Epstein, using supposed opportunities in the fashion market. Some of the young women presented to the businessman were minors.

Siad denied having participated in the trafficking and sexual exploitation network. When commenting on the accusations, he stated that Epstein had taken advantage of his trust and maintained that his contacts with the financier were for professional purposes.

The recruiter also said he wanted to testify and present his version to the authorities. At the time of his death, he had not been formally charged by the courts in the case related to Epstein's network.

France reopened and expanded investigations into the case after the release of millions of pages of documents by American authorities. Five magistrates began to analyze possible sexual crimes, human trafficking and financial irregularities committed in the country or with the participation of French citizens.

Paris occupied a strategic position in Epstein's activities. The businessman maintained a luxury apartment at 22 Avenue Foch, close to the Arc de Triomphe, and regularly visited the French capital.

The country's justice system had already investigated Jean-Luc Brunel, a modeling agent accused of supplying young people to Epstein. Brunel was found dead in a Paris prison in February 2022 while facing accusations of rape and sexual harassment.

Epstein was arrested in the United States in July 2019, accused of sex trafficking of minors. A month later, he was found dead in the cell where he was awaiting trial. Authorities classified the death as a suicide.

The social ties maintained in the past between Epstein and Donald Trump were also examined again with the release of the files. The American president acknowledges that he knew the financier, but claims that he broke off their friendship decades ago and denies having knowledge of or participation in the crimes.

Among the documents released is a letter attributed to Trump, accompanied by a drawing. The president denies having produced or signed the material.

Victim reports continue to reveal details about how the network works. Brazilian Marina Lacerda, identified in the American federal lawsuit as “underage victim number 1”, stated that she was 14 years old when she was attracted by a proposal that seemed to represent an opportunity, but turned into a period of abuse.

Another Brazilian, former model Amanda Ungaro, also made public accusations related to Trump, Melania Trump and Epstein's social circle. In April, she threatened to release information that she said would compromise the couple. The statements have not been substantiated, and the White House has rejected the allegations.

Epstein planned to blackmail Bill Gates with extramarital affairs

Bill Gates considered that Jeffrey Epstein planned to blackmail him with information about his extramarital affairs, however, he assured that the convicted sexual abuser never made any "direct threat"