Content warning: This article contains references to sexual abuse.
UChicago Trustee Thomas Pritzker (M.B.A. ’76, J.D. ’76) was aware of and planned several trips to Little Saint James—Jeffrey Epstein’s private island, where prosecutors allege Epstein abused many of his victims—according to new documents released by the Department of Justice (DoJ).
Pritzker also advised Epstein on hiring decisions for the island’s staff and helped coordinate a job interview at a Hyatt hotel in the United Kingdom for at least one woman associated with Epstein, according to the documents.
The Maroon previously reported on email conversations between Pritzker and Epstein dating back to June 2010. The new documents reveal that their relationship extended as far back as 2000 and that the two were in contact the day Epstein was released from his 2008 jail sentence for soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.
Pritzker was previously named in a 2016 deposition of the late Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most prominent accusers, who alleged that Pritzker had sex with her on one occasion. Pritzker’s name also appears in Epstein’s “little black book” and on the manifest for a 2000 flight on Epstein’s plane.
Pritzker has denied any wrongdoing stemming from his relationship with Epstein and has not been charged with any crime related to the Epstein investigations. A spokesperson for Pritzker declined to comment on this story.
On Monday, Pritzker stepped down as the executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation, a position he had held since 2004, because of his relationship with Epstein.
“I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with [Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell], and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner. I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims,” Pritzker wrote in his resignation letter to the Hyatt Board of Directors.
According to Pritzker’s spokesperson, “Tom Pritzker will retire from the [UChicago Board of Trustees] this June having reached the mandatory retirement age. Tom has already concluded his service on the board’s executive committee.”
Emails exchanged between Pritzker, Epstein, and Maxwell, a convicted coconspirator and Epstein’s closest associate, also indicate that Pritzker interacted with multiple individuals whose personal information was redacted. These interactions included helping someone secure an interview at a Hyatt hotel in the United Kingdom.
Sections of the documents released may have been redacted if they contain identifying information of victims; child sexual abuse material; information that would jeopardize an ongoing investigation or prosecution; information deemed by executive order to be a threat to national defense or foreign policy; or content depicting death, abuse, or injury, according to the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Pritzker Helped Secure Hyatt Interview for Former Model on Epstein’s Behalf
Pritzker organized a job interview at a Hyatt hotel in the United Kingdom for a woman closely associated with Epstein in 2010, according to several emails. The woman’s personal information is redacted, but emails indicate she was a former model who sometimes received money directly from Epstein and may have worked as his assistant.
“[T]he girl from romania that you met at my house , is currently living in london„ can we see if there is a starting postion in any of hotels,” Epstein wrote in an email to Pritzker in May 2010.
“Have her send me a resume. I can have her interviewed, no idea if they are hiring,” Pritzker replied.
Original spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been retained unless otherwise noted.
On the same day, Epstein advised the person on the information she should include on her résumé, such as the fact that she was a “high fashion model” and how many languages she spoke.
“[H]yatt will contact you.. , pritsker only asked me quesitons about your hobbies„ he thought that was great,” Epstein wrote two days later. The context of the email chain and phone carrier of the recipient suggests that it was sent to the same person.
Two weeks later, presumably the same person wrote to Epstein that she “just finished the interview with the director of HR of Hyatt,” but that she did not secure a job. Epstein responded: “don’t be upset. hyatt is very corporate. . it is difficult to do favors… ”
According to British paper The Times, the individual was ultimately hired at a different company thanks to Lyndon Lea, another associate of Epstein. When she did not attend a July 2010 party hosted by Lea, Epstein wrote to her, “that was a BIG mistake, Do not do it again. This isbusiness, if you don’t got to dinners and parties , you will not be rehired.”
The Miami Herald has reported that Epstein and his associates would leverage promises of future employment, often in fashion and modeling, to recruit young women and girls into his sex-trafficking operation.
Pritzker Interacted with Unknown Epstein Associates
Pritzker met multiple other individuals whose information was redacted in the newly released documents, according to emails between Pritzker, Epstein, and Maxwell.
In a 2003 email, Maxwell invited Pritzker to a dinner hosted by Epstein. When asked who would be in attendance Maxwell responded with several names, further noting that “5 models” would be “the serving girls.”
“Just thought that I owuld let you know that you scored w/ [redacted] – but that [redacted] was heart broken that you did not give her the time of day,” Maxwell wrote to Pritzker.
In a 2013 email chain with both Maxwell and Epstein, Pritzker wrote: “Meant to compliment you on the performance art. As we left I noted one of the girls perched and reading a (red) book on the couch under the stairs. Really excellent touch. :).”
Pritzker Contacted Epstein on Day of His Sex-Trafficking Sentence Release
On the day Epstein was released from his 13-month sentence for soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution in 2009, Epstein’s assistant Lesley Groff sent Epstein an email asking him to call Pritzker. “Tom Pritzker: Please call! If you call today try cell ([redacted])…if it is tomorrow, call the office ([redacted] office) !”
Pritzker corresponded with Epstein directly on the same day.
“[O]h shit,” Pritzker wrote in response to Epstein’s email that he was “free and home.”
Pritzker Advised on Epstein’s Island Staffing, Discussed Visits to Island
On at least three occasions in the 2010s, Epstein sought out advice from Pritzker on staffing decisions, architecture, and consulting related to Little Saint James, Epstein’s private island.
Pritzker told a Caribbean developer about potential work on the island, according to a 2011 email thread. The developer later visited the island and submitted an extensive set of recommendations for resource- and cost-saving to Epstein.
“I would engage with him a bit on whatever he’s doing as a ‘consultant’ just to see if the chemistry works. Have him to the island when you are there or something like that just to get some direct exposure,” Pritzker responded to Epstein, who had shared the proposals with him.
Epstein asked Pritzker in 2017 to share the name of a landscape architect that he had previously mentioned, as he was planning a guest island and needed a new firm “for architecting the whole island as a resort.”
In 2018, Epstein was hiring for an unknown position at Little Saint James. Pritzker told Epstein he had discussed who to hire for the position with Margot Pritzker, his wife.
“John Peshut…. Gay, would be able to manage everything. Anticipates well and can make decisions. Very detailed oriented. Currently lives in Wisconsin., no idea if he would do it,” Pritzker wrote in reference to one candidate.
“Thx,” Epstein responded.
The file release also includes multiple instances where Pritzker made plans to visit the island, but the Maroon did not find any documents indicating that he ultimately visited.
In March 2011, Epstein invited Pritzker to “come spend the day„ either in new york , island or paris,” referencing a need to speak about something in person with Pritzker. It is unclear whether Pritzker visited the island on this occasion or what Epstein needed to speak with him about.
In 2016, Pritzker told Epstein that he was “[t]rying to see if I can come to island for lunch w you and Sultan next Sunday,” asking whether they would be on the island at that time and where he should land. “Sultan” presumably refers to Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, an associate of both Epstein and Pritzker.
“Can you come to New York Friday he can meet there,” Epstein asked Pritzker, who responded “I finish at 3 on Thursday. If I=stay for dinner w you,” suggesting the two met in New York, not Little Saint James, on this occasion.
“Hyatt board starts Wednesday. No Island this week.” Pritzker wrote in a different email chain in December that same year.
“[O]k, try again jan,” Epstein responded.
Read the documents reviewed by the Maroon here.
