The International Peace Institute is an uninspired name for an uninspiring think tank. Based out of New York City, it works closely with the UN and member states to “advance solutions for a peaceful planet”. It could be just another of dozens of similar organisations, which hoover up former politicians from around the world and put them on the talkfest circuit of international affairs – except for the fact that it was backed by Jeffrey Epstein.
When it was revealed in 2019 that Epstein had funnelled hundreds of thousands of dollars to the IPI, it led to the resignation of the organisation’s CEO – one of the world’s most renowned diplomatic figures – and to uncomfortable questions for the organisation’s board, then led by former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
At the time, Rudd said he was “blindsided” by Epstein’s involvement in the IPI and said he had no recollection of ever meeting Epstein.
This week, Rudd again denied ever meeting Epstein after new documents released by the Department of Justice mentioned the recently resigned Australian ambassador to the US a number of times, after his name appeared in emails, text messages and diary entries of Epstein’s.
So far, reporting of these references to Rudd in the latest tranche of Epstein documents has been limited, with media outlets uncertain of the purpose of correspondence mentioning Rudd or what Epstein’s interest in him may have been.
But a Lamestream investigation into Epstein’s relationship to the IPI and some of its key figures, based on previously unpublished documents as well as the documents released by the Department of Justice, can for the first time shed light on Epstein’s interest in and links to Rudd, including their attendance at a dinner in New York City and their participation in a high-level board set up to advise a foreign government.
The billionaire’s dinner
On the evening of 23 September 2013, a number of influential political and diplomatic figures connected with the IPI attended an exclusive dinner party in New York City. It was co-hosted by the IPI’s President and a billionaire property developer, and they had gathered to honour a visiting world leader during United Nations General Assembly week.
