Epstein coordinated campaign to free corrupt son of Senegal's president, files seen by Global South World show

Jeffrey Epstein coordinated a campaign to use pressure from the US to secure the freedom of corrupt Senegalese former minister Karim Wade, newly released files show.Previously unreported emails from the paedophile financier indicate that he channelled more than $100,000 to a lobbying firm to push for the release of Wade, son of former president Abdoulaye Wade.

There is no indication that any of the lobbying activities were illegal.

The files indicate that Epstein met Wade and travelled with him on his private jet in 2011. As minister for air transport, among other roles, Wade appears to have personally secured landing permission for Epstein.

After his father's defeat to Macky Sall in the 2012 election Wade was imprisoned on corruption charges, which he claimed were politically motivated. He was also fined the equivalent of $228 million. Shortly after the Supreme Court rejected his appeal, Wade's personal assistant contacted Epstein, asking him to pay a legal firm to lobby for the US to intervene.

Subsequent emails suggest that as the bill rose to $150,000, Epstein asked Wade's representatives to forward him payment so he could settle the bill. They then asked if they could pay in cash instead of wiring the money.

Further correspondence shows the law firm Nelson Mullins informing Epstein of an opportunity to contact members of Congress to help push the case. That email came a month before Sall announced he would pardon and free Wade, who subsequently moved to Qatar.