By: Joshua Rosenberg, February 4th, 2026
Photo downloaded from Tulane’s website.
NEW ORLEANS — Walter Isaacson is known for many things: being a professor at Tulane University, his association with the university’s Book Festival, his authoring of many books, and his interviews on the Amanpour & Company folks.
Unknown until recently , however — and perhaps just as career-defining — is the fact that Isaacson was part of Jeffrey Epstein’s social circle. Epstein was the predator and child sex trafficker who died in prison in 2019. Epstein was first sentenced in June 2008 after pleading guilty to soliciting sex from girls as young as 14.
Newly leaked emails, compiled by the Department of Justice, show a certain coziness, or at least familiarity, Isaacson had with Epstein and other members of his social circle, even after Epstein’s original arrest. Exhibit A is how often Isaacson was shortlisted for invitations at Epstein-related events and gatherings, including at Epstein’s own residence, which was on New York City’s Upper East Side, one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the world.
“Jeffrey Epstein is having Ehud Barak, the Israeli Defense Minister, over to his house on Tues night the 21st, [2010]” one such communication read. “[V]ery private , no agenda. He thought you might like to join in, IF [sic] you want to speak directly to Jeffrey I can have him call you, if you give me a time.” It appears Isaacson was busy that evening.
Exhibit B includes how Isaacson’s own work itself became entangled in the Epstein social network.
“I just wanted to check in on Sean’s updated travel schedule. and plans for 1) meeting with me, 2) dinner or drinks or coffee with Jeffrey tomorrow, and 3) dinner following Isaacson event,” Ian Osborne, a British “fixer” who apparently made connections for Epstein said in an email. It’s unclear what the “Isaacson event” is that he’s referring to.
Separately, on December 2, 2014, Lisa New emailed Epstein a$500,000 proposal that would fund a supposed educational undertaking. Isaacson is mentioned as a potential contributor to the project. It’s unclear if New was soliciting the 500k directly from Epstein.
“500,000 would fund this initiative as the second HGSE (perhaps Harvard Graduate School Of Education) course (after Poetry of the City) and could begin immediately, Jan 1.. I’d be thrilled to include other scientists you name, perhaps taping the group in a session on metaphor at the edges of fields,” New wrote.
“I note that taped sessions already include economics, marine biology, astronomy, evolutionary biology, physics and computer science. Richard Dawkins, Walter Isaacson, David Mossberg and David Malan have all said yes to tapings,” the note said.
Exhibit C is the social milieu in which Isaacson found himself at times with unexpected characters, at least to this reporter’s judgement.
Take for instance a list of people invited to British aristocrat William Astor’s dinner.
Among those invited to the soiree were Martin Bashir, Christiane Amanpour, Katie Couric and Christopher Cuomo: all people who have claimed at one time or another to be journalists. It appears Epstein’s assistant sent Epstein a copy of the attendee list. One is left to wonder what the topic(s) of conversation were.
Neither Tulane nor Isaacson responded to a request for comment.