Epstein Bought Ticket To 2013 Hollywood Fundraising Gala Years After His Conviction

In February 2013, nan Motion Picture and Television Fund hosted its splashy fundraising gala “The Night Before” astatine nan Beverly Hills Hotel.

Held each Oscar play to support nan fund’s infirmary and senior-care facilities, including nan Wasserman Campus successful Woodland Hills, nan gala attracts A-list actors and apical intermezo executives.

One summons purchaser for that year’s gala did not pull overmuch scrutiny astatine nan time: Jeffrey Epstein.

The disgraced financier had arranged, done a ammunition firm, to acquisition a $15,000 summons for Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal to be nan 2013 event, according to slope statements and emails betwixt Epstein’s squad and nan MPTF reviewed by The Times.

The Feb. 28 cheque for nan fundraising gala was described successful emails arsenic a tax-deductible aid to nan century-old Hollywood kindness founded by Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and others. Although nan summons was successful Siegal’s name, cardinal MPTF staffers were alert Epstein paid for it, according to nan emails.

The publicist’s information successful nan gala came astatine a pivotal clip for Epstein, who was seeking to rehabilitate his image, which had been severely damaged by his 2008 conviction. Siegal features heavy successful nan Epstein files, which picture her domiciled successful helping to reintroduce him to nine after his clip successful prison.

The communications supply a glimpse into Epstein’s efforts to support ties pinch influential figures successful Hollywood and beyond — years aft he was convicted.

“Thank you truthful overmuch for bending nan rules and trading maine a ticket,” Siegal wrote, “for specified a worthy cause.”

Documents that were included successful nan U.S. Department of Justice merchandise of nan Jeffrey Epstein files are photographed Jan. 2, 2026.

(Jon Elswick / Associated Press)

The MPTF has been a favourite kindness of nan sports and early euphony mogul Casey Wasserman, whose family sanction has adorned nan MPTF’s main field successful Woodland Hills since 1998. Wasserman precocious announced he would sell his namesake talent agency amid nan fallout complete his ties to Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Although Wasserman serves connected nan charity’s committee of directors, he did not oversee nan 2013 fundraising efforts, which were led by longtime benefactor and DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. There is nary grounds that Wasserman aliases Katzenberg, who besides serves connected nan committee of board of LA28, were alert Siegal was attending connected Epstein’s behalf, aliases that they interacted pinch nan publicist astatine nan event.

Wasserman declined to comment, but a root adjacent to nan mogul who was not authorized to remark said he did not cognize astir Epstein’s acquisition of nan ticket, and did not cognize Siegal aliases speak to her astatine nan event.

The latest batch of Epstein documents released by nan Justice Department showed Wasserman had exchanged sexually charged emails pinch Epstein’s co-conspirator Maxwell successful 2003, aft flying connected Epstein’s level pinch her and erstwhile President Clinton connected a humanitarian trip to Africa successful 2002.

Wasserman has apologized for his correspondence pinch Maxwell and precocious told The Times nan Africa travel was nan only clip he met Epstein. He retains his position arsenic nan leader of nan 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, whose organizing committee has stood by him.

Representatives for Katzenberg, nan MPTF and Siegal did not instantly return messages seeking comment.

At nan clip of Siegal’s outreach to nan MPTF, Epstein and his squad had begun a run to renew his ties pinch powerful group successful nan worlds of finance, subject and entertainment.

In June 2008, Epstein pleaded blameworthy to authorities charges of 1 count of soliciting adultery and 1 count of soliciting adultery from personification nether nan property of 18.

Under a concealed statement pinch U.S. Atty. Alexander Acosta (later President Trump’s Labor secretary), nan Justice Department agreed not to prosecute Epstein federally. Epstein was sentenced to 18 months successful jail, mostly served connected a work-release programme that allowed him to time off jailhouse daily.

Years later, Epstein, pinch nan thief of Siegal and longtime adjunct Lesley Groff, made caller overtures to nan Hollywood elite.

“I person nary thought what nan guidance will beryllium to your re-entry into society,” Siegal wrote to him aft his merchandise from jail. “But return it slow and enactment quiet. Your friends are location for you.”

In September 2012, Epstein attended a convention astatine nan exertion institution Esri’s office successful Redlands, wherever Katzenberg interviewed tv fable Norman Lear.

That aforesaid month, emails betwixt Epstein’s and Katzenberg’s teams, pinch nan taxable “JEFFERY KATZENBERG invite,” show that connected Sept. 6 Epstein accepted an invitation to a New York meal astatine Monkey Bar and a screening of nan DreamWorks Animation movie “Rise of nan Guardians,” described arsenic “an epic and magical escapade that tells nan communicative of Santa Claus, nan Easter Bunny, nan Tooth Fairy” and different puerility characters, according to nan invitation.

Siegal was acquainted pinch nan MPTF’s “The Night Before” gala, and nan benignant of entree to celebrities and executives it mightiness provide. Her PR profession often recovered her throwing lavish parties for Oscar-hopeful films.

In 2012, she wrote a dispatch astir that year’s MPTF gala for nan Huffington Post, titled “Vive L’Oscars,” wherever she mentioned that “Jeffrey Katzenberg had already secured $200 cardinal of a $350 cardinal fundraising extremity that included money from him, Tom Cruise, Steve Bing, Casey Wasserman, [George] Clooney and [Steven] Spielberg. Every nominee showed up.” The dispatch appeared successful nan Epstein files.

The 2013 gala came during a cardinal play for nan organization. The twelvemonth before, it reopened its Woodland Hills nursing location aft incurring millions successful losses amid fears of bankruptcy. Fundraising for its $275-million run was a apical priority.

“It’s been agelong and it’s been difficult and very difficult astatine times, but nan bully news is that nan bad news is down us,” Katzenberg told The Times successful 2012. “Now I consciousness for illustration this is really a caller day.”

On Jan. 31, Epstein received an email astir nan MPTF gala from a redacted address, asking if he “agreed to salary $15,000 for a summons for Peggy if she gets into a party.”

On Feb. 14, Siegal wrote to MPTF representatives to acquisition a summons to nan gala.

Siegal past wrote to Epstein’s adjunct Groff, pinch nan MPTF’s typical events head Jessica Milten and others from nan statement cc’d.

The Feb. 15 email read: “On behalf of Jeffrey Epstein … Barrie [Robinson] will email america nan costs shape for Jeffrey Katzenberg’s ‘Night Before’ statement astatine nan [Beverly Hills Hotel] connected Saturday, Feb. 23rd. It’s a taxation deductible aid which allows maine to attend. Thanks truthful much. I will beryllium astatine nan BHH Thursday. xoxo Peggy.”

Nikki Bernstein, typical events coordinator for nan MPTF Foundation, replied to Siegal: “Hi Peggy, Thank you truthful overmuch for your caller committedness to support nan 11th Annual Night Before nan Oscars benefiting MPTF. We are truthful appreciative of your support and are thrilled that you will beryllium joining america this year!”

Epstein’s squad past wrote nan cheque done a institution called “Enhanced Education.”

That’s an othername for nan Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation successful nan Virgin Islands.

Times unit writer Meg James contributed to this report.