Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has issued his first public response after his name appeared in recently released documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation, firmly denying any personal contact, meeting, or relationship with the late financier.
Aboul Gheit said that while serving as Egypt’s foreign minister in 2010, he received an invitation to attend a diplomatic forum involving around ten Arab foreign ministers. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Sir Bani Yas Island in the United Arab Emirates as part of a broader forum for Arab foreign ministers. According to Aboul Gheit, he was provided with a preparatory document listing the invited participants, which included his name alongside other Arab officials.
He stressed that the appearance of his name in the Epstein-related files is limited solely to that invitation list and does not reflect any form of interaction with Epstein himself. Aboul Gheit stated unequivocally that he never met Epstein, was never photographed with him, and did not attend the event in question. He added that the Secretary-General of the Arab League at the time also confirmed that the invitation did not include his participation.
Aboul Gheit explained that Epstein appears to have obtained access to the list of invitees for the forum, but did not have personal meetings with the participants. “There is no connection whatsoever between me and Epstein,” he said, emphasizing that his name’s inclusion in the documents should not be interpreted as evidence of contact or association.
He rejected any claims suggesting otherwise as inaccurate, reiterating that the only link is the presence of his name on an invitation list circulated ahead of the forum. “There was no meeting, no photograph, no communication, and no relationship of any kind,” Aboul Gheit said.
His statement comes amid heightened global scrutiny following the release of millions of pages of U.S. government documents related to Epstein’s network. The disclosures have prompted resignations, apologies, and official denials from political figures, business leaders, and members of royal families worldwide, as institutions seek to contain the reputational fallout from renewed attention to the case.
While U.S. Justice Department officials have indicated that the latest disclosures are unlikely to result in new criminal charges, the documents have continued to fuel public debate and place pressure on those whose names appear, regardless of the nature or context of their inclusion.
Aboul Gheit’s response reflects a broader pattern of preemptive clarification by officials seeking to draw clear distinctions between documented associations and unsubstantiated implications as the Epstein files continue to reverberate across international political life.
