Epstein is said to have possessed a forged Austrian passport

In the files released on Friday by the US Department of Justice in connection with the late Jeffrey Epstein, photos of an Austrian passport that expired in 1987, found by FBI agents in a safe in Epstein's townhouse in New York in 2019, can be seen. This was reported by the "Wall Street Journal" on Tuesday. The photographed passport contains a photo of Epstein but is issued in the name of Marius Fortelni. Saudi Arabia is listed as the place of residence.

Epstein reportedly did not use the passport

Previously, "Der Standard" had also reported on the discovery of a "fake" Austrian passport. It raises many questions, wrote the newspaper. The passport states that it was issued on May 21, 1982, by the Federal Police Directorate in Vienna. However, Epstein's photo was not authenticated by a stamp.

The passport includes some entry and exit stamps, such as French and Saudi Arabian. Epstein's lawyers argued in 2019 that the financier had received the passport from a friend. Allegedly, to protect himself from kidnappings during travels in the Middle East. Epstein reportedly never used it.

Existence not confirmed by Ministry of the Interior so far

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) wrote in a parliamentary inquiry response in March 2022 that the investigations could not confirm the existence of the Austrian passport in question so far. Therefore, there are no corresponding findings on who issued it under what circumstances. Furthermore: "According to the Passport Act, both ordinary passports and service and diplomatic passports may only be issued to persons who hold Austrian citizenship," said Karner in his response to an inquiry from the FPÖ.

For an entry or exit of Epstein with the passport, there would also be "no records," said a spokesperson for the Ministry of the Interior in response to an APA inquiry. "It should be noted that US citizens may enter the Schengen Area visa-free and stay here for 90 days, provided they comply with the entry requirements of the Schengen Border Code. Only for a planned total stay of more than 90 days is a residence visa required." However, the stamps in the passport date from the 1980s, when there was no Schengen Area yet.

Documents from the US Department of Justice show that the Austrian embassy apparently inquired with US authorities immediately after the discovery of the passport, reports "Der Standard." The newspaper is still awaiting responses.

According to media reports from "Standard," "Kurier," and "Heute," Epstein made a short visit to Vienna in March 2019. According to the available files, he landed with three companions. Apparently, a meeting with former US President Donald Trump's advisor, Steve Bannon, and former Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák was planned. However, this meeting likely did not take place, which is why Epstein's private jet took off again after a few hours.

(APA/Red)

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