Provoked with Darryl Cooper and Scott Horton
Episode 22: "Epstein’s Mossad Connection Proven"
November 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Darryl Cooper and Scott Horton dissect the mounting evidence that Jeffrey Epstein served as an asset for Israeli intelligence agencies, drawing from recent investigative journalism. They explore Epstein’s role in global political intrigue, his relationships with Israeli powerbrokers, and the broader culture of elite immunity in the face of egregious criminality. The discussion branches into how intelligence agencies leverage well-connected "friends" and "assets," the psychological and cultural underpinnings of elite behavior, and disturbing parallels in other conflict zones. The episode also touches briefly on U.S. foreign policy failures and controversies surrounding recent events in Syria before circling back to the vital importance of free speech.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Recent Revelations: Epstein's Ties to Mossad

(05:00–12:00)

• Darryl recites a series of headlines from Ryan Grim’s reporting at Drop Site News, highlighting Epstein's deep ties to Israeli intelligence, including:
  • Hosting Israeli spies in Manhattan
  • Brokering Israeli security deals with Mongolia
  • Facilitating backchannels between Israel and Russia during the Syrian civil war
  • Aiding Israeli arms deals in Côte d’Ivoire
• Scott expresses incredulity that Epstein played a direct intelligence role, especially during the Obama-era negotiations with Russia over Syria.

2. How Epstein (and Maxwell) Operated as Intelligence "Assets"

(06:38–13:23)

• Darryl draws parallels between Ghislaine Maxwell’s father, Robert Maxwell, and Epstein as "assets" or “sionim”—informal but critical facilitators and brokers on behalf of intelligence agencies.
• He explains that such individuals are useful precisely due to their unofficial status and freedom to move in influential circles:
  “They need people like this… who can connect them to places they can't send an official employee.” (09:01, Cooper)
• Scott references Victor Ostrovsky’s definition of “sionim” as friendly, resourceful non-official contacts.

3. Was Epstein Running Honey Traps/Blackmail for Mossad?

(08:50–12:00)

• Darryl is skeptical that Epstein’s notorious sexual blackmail operation was directly run for Israeli intelligence, noting that such schemes can be too risky even for Mossad to mix openly with back-channel diplomacy.
• Evidence suggests such activities may have served Epstein’s own interests or those of organized crime, not necessarily those of states:
  “If he was doing that [sexual blackmail], it might have been something he was doing for himself, or for other interests—organized crime interests, maybe. Who knows?” (09:25, Cooper)

4. Concrete Ties: Epstein’s Personal Relationships and Deals

(10:58–12:03)

• Cooper enumerates Epstein’s tangible connections:
  • Close personal relationship with former Israeli PM Ehud Barak, who frequently stayed in Epstein’s homes and cofounded tech ventures with him
  • Substantial investments and board positions linked to Israeli cyber and surveillance tech
  • Services performed for Israel now confirmed by multiple new investigative reports
• Scott: “Now we have real evidence and real confirmation… he was, very much in cahoots with them.” (12:03, Horton)

5. Examples of Other Intelligence "Friends" (Milchan, Pollard, Maxwell)

(13:35–15:10)

• Discussion includes Arnon Milchan (Hollywood producer and confirmed Israeli nuclear smuggler) and the fate of "Nekhim," the Israeli technological espionage unit.
• Darryl recalls DoD security lectures highlighting that many notable espionage cases involved “loyalty” to ancestral countries, not greed:
  “Sometimes it’s just straight-up loyalty…” (16:48, Cooper)

6. Intelligence and Money Laundering: The Iran-Contra Connection

(18:48–21:50)

• Ari Ben-Menashe, an Israeli ex-intelligence officer, claims that Epstein played a key role laundering money for illegal arms deals during Iran-Contra.
• Early in his post–Bear Stearns career, Epstein was linked to major weapons brokers and was valued for his financial maneuvering, not upstanding business skills.

7. Did Ari Ben-Menashe Confirm the Honey Traps?

(21:07–21:48)

• While Ben-Menashe alleged Epstein used honey traps, Darryl explains he never offered first-hand evidence on this point, distinguishing between direct claims and rumor.

8. The Culture of Immunity: "Everyone Knew"

(26:52–31:56)

• The hosts lament the culture among elites that enabled Epstein’s behavior.
  • Scott recalls Cindy McCain openly admitting, “Everyone knew what he was doing, but we were all afraid to say anything.” (26:52, Horton)
• Both marvel at the disconnect between elite circles, where predation is tolerated, and "regular people":
  “It heightens that sense… these people are operating on a whole different moral plane than the rest of us.” (31:56, Cooper)

9. Specifics of Epstein’s Abuse and Guest Implication

(35:54–41:09)

• The most thoroughly documented abuse occurred in Palm Beach, where there are dozens of victim statements and corroborations.
• Epstein also operated in New Mexico, New York, and the infamous private island, though specific evidence there is sparser.
• Multiple guests, such as Alan Dershowitz, were named independently by victims—highlighting how elites generally evaded consequences.
  • Dershowitz’s self-defense: “Yeah, I got a massage from one of those girls, but I kept my underwear on.” (39:51, Horton)
• Darryl emphasizes that Epstein targeted vulnerable girls with fractured families to avoid immediate repercussions.

10. Elite Hypocrisy and Western Foreign Policy

(45:03–47:23)

• Darryl recounts U.S. military ignoring rampant sexual abuse of boys by Afghan allies while ruthlessly imposing other social reforms, demonstrating deep official moral confusion and hypocrisy.

11. Breaking Down the Cycle of Enabling Power

(49:25–50:14, 54:30–68:47)

• The discussion broadens to illustrate repeated patterns: elites and intelligence networks shielding each other, official narratives shifting, and public trust corroded.
• Coop and Horton apply similar skepticism to current U.S. foreign policy—especially in Syria, where war criminals are normalized for diplomatic convenience.
  • “As far as him visiting the White House…I wonder…maybe it's a signal... look, we're going to let this play out.” (64:00, Cooper)

12. Brief Diversion: Free Speech, Lawfare, and Censorship

(68:47–73:33)

• The hosts denounce lawfare against right-wing podcaster Elijah Schaeffer, persecuted for retweeting an accusation against a Biden administration official’s girlfriend.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "All humans break. The difference between humans and gods is that gods can break humans."
  Darryl Cooper, 01:33

• "He was absolutely very tied in with the Israeli government, and specifically the security services and intelligence agencies over there..."
  Darryl Cooper, 11:22

• "If he was doing that [sexual blackmail], it might have been something he was doing for himself, like on the side, or for other interests, organized crime interests..."
  Darryl Cooper, 09:25

• "It heightens that sense… these people are operating on a whole different moral plane than the rest of us."
  Darryl Cooper, 31:56

• "Dershowitz literally had a line pretty much like that. He said, 'Yeah, I got a massage from one of those girls, but I kept my underwear on.'"
  Scott Horton, 39:51

• "I mean…it just, you know, it goes to show you, a lot of the time people think of somebody like Epstein or Milchan… sometimes it's just straight-up loyalty, you know."
  Darryl Cooper, 16:48

• "…see your son’s job was installing a police chief who was a serial child rapist, and then one of them grabbed an AK47 and shot your son in the back. But he died a hero for his country, though."
  Scott Horton, 47:23

• "When in 2011, when the Obama administration put us on the same side as Al Qaeda…everyone involved with that should have been hung for treason."
  Darryl Cooper, 65:50

Important Timestamps & Segments

| Time | Segment/Highlight | |----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:00 | Grim’s stories on Epstein’s latest exposed ties to Mossad begin | | 06:38 | Discussion of back-channel diplomacy and the role of “assets” | | 09:01 | Distinguishing assets from agents in intelligence services | | 11:22 | Detailed evidence of Epstein's personal and business links to Israeli officials | | 13:35 | Explaining the function of "friends" and financial enablers for intelligence agencies | | 16:48 | Personal anecdotes from DoD, the true "motives" for espionage (loyalty vs. greed) | | 18:48 | Iran-Contra, Ben-Menashe, and Epstein as the "money man" for illegal arms sales | | 26:52 | Cindy McCain's admission that “everybody knew” about Epstein’s crimes | | 31:56 | Reflection on the corrosive culture among the elite | | 39:51 | Alan Dershowitz "kept my underwear on" defense | | 45:03 | U.S. foreign policy hypocrisy in Afghanistan | | 47:23 | U.S. soldiers killed by child sex slaves of police chiefs the U.S. installed | | 54:30+ | Broader debate on U.S. support for questionable actors in Syria | | 68:47 | Attack on free speech: lawfare against podcast host Elijah Schaeffer | | 73:33 | The PROMIS software, Robert Maxwell, and intelligence backdoors |

Memorable Moments

• Scott’s rant about the known character of Bill Clinton as a "face-biting rapist", connecting elite impunity for sexual assault to cases like Epstein (31:56–36:07)
• Cooper and Horton lambasting Alan Dershowitz’s self-defense regarding Epstein’s massage accusations (39:51)
• Darryl’s comparison of elite normalization of child abuse with U.S. policy of ignoring Afghan police sexual abuse while forcing other western social norms (45:03–47:23)
• Both hosts expressing despair and disgust at the bipartisan enabling of war criminals for diplomatic expediency, with explicit condemnation of Al Qaeda’s normalization via U.S. foreign policy (54:30–68:47)

Tone and Language

The discussion is irreverent, pointed, and often darkly humorous, with both hosts using strong, sometimes graphic language to express their contempt for elite hypocrisy and the normalization of predatory behavior. They maintain a collaborative, probing style, each drawing on their expertise and providing specific references and anecdotes.

For Further Listening

• Martyr Made podcast: in-depth explorations by Darryl Cooper on historical and current intelligence issues
• Scott Horton Show and Scott Horton Academy: long-form interviews and courses on U.S. foreign policy
• Ken Silva’s forthcoming book on Thomas Crooks and the PROMIS software saga

Summary Prepared for Listeners Unfamiliar with the Episode: This episode of "Provoked" offers a comprehensive, scathing look at new evidence confirming Jeffrey Epstein’s long-rumored function as an Israeli intelligence asset, not merely a "lone wolf" financial criminal. Using the latest investigative reporting, Horton and Cooper argue that Epstein’s circle of impunity, well-documented predation, and shadowy foreign diplomacy were enabled and protected as part of broader, decades-spanning intelligence practices. The discussion broadens to examine the psychological architecture and culture of those in power—why such people are tolerated until exposure is inevitable—and the long-term consequences for public trust, foreign policy, and the law.