Epstein bought ticket to 2013 Hollywood fundraising gala years after his conviction

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In February 2013, the Motion Picture & Television Fund held its annual fundraising gala, a glamorous event called “The Night Before,” at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Every year during Oscar season, a gala is held to raise money for the fund’s hospitals and care facilities for seniors, like the Wasserman Campus in Woodland Hills. The event draws famous actors and leading figures in the entertainment industry.

One ticket buyer for that year’s gala did not attract much scrutiny at the time: Jeffrey Epstein.

Bank records and emails reviewed by The Times show the convicted financier used a company created to hide his involvement to buy a $15,000 ticket for Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal to a 2013 event. The purchase was made through this shell company and involved communication between his team and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF).

Emails show a $28,000 check from February, intended for a charity fundraising gala, was presented as a tax-deductible donation to the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), a Hollywood charity with a history dating back over a century and originally founded by stars like Mary Pickford and Charlie Chaplin. While the ticket was purchased under Siegal’s name, internal emails reveal MPTF staff knew Epstein was the one who actually paid for it.

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How Casey Wasserman entered Epstein’s orbit and why it might affect his role with the LA28 Olympics

Recently revealed, sexually suggestive emails involving Ghislaine Maxwell, a close associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, are creating problems for Casey Wasserman, who is in charge of planning the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Epstein’s attendance at the gala coincided with a crucial period where he was trying to repair his reputation after being convicted of crimes in 2008. Documents related to Epstein show the publicist played a significant role in helping him reintegrate into society following his imprisonment.

These communications reveal how Epstein tried to stay connected with powerful people in Hollywood and other industries, even after his conviction.

I was so grateful when they made an exception and sold me a ticket – I really appreciated it, especially knowing it was for such a good cause. It meant a lot to be able to support it!

Casey Wasserman, a prominent figure in sports and entertainment, has long supported the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF), with his family’s name featured on the charity’s Woodland Hills campus since 1998. Recently, Wasserman announced he is selling his talent agency following scrutiny related to his connections with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

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Casey Wasserman is selling his talent agency following the release of old emails showing inappropriate communication with an associate of Jeffrey Epstein. Despite the controversy, he will continue to lead the LA28 Olympic Committee, which has publicly expressed its support for him.

I’ve been following this situation closely, and it seems like Casey Wasserman, while on the charity’s board, wasn’t actually in charge of the 2013 fundraising. That was handled by Jeffrey Katzenberg, who’s been a major supporter for years. From what I understand, neither Wasserman nor Katzenberg, who is also involved with LA28, had any idea that the publicist, Siegal, was there representing Epstein, or that they even spoke to him at the event. It’s good to know there’s no indication they were aware of his connection.

Wasserman didn’t offer a statement. However, a source familiar with the situation, who wasn’t permitted to speak publicly, said the mogul was unaware that Epstein had bought the ticket and didn’t know or speak with Siegal at the event.

Recently released Justice Department documents related to Jeffrey Epstein revealed that Wasserman exchanged suggestive emails with Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2003. This communication occurred after Wasserman, Maxwell, and former President Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane together on a charitable mission to Africa in 2002.

Wasserman has apologized for communicating with Maxwell and stated in a recent interview with The Times that the trip to Africa was the only time he ever met Epstein. Despite the controversy, he continues to lead the organizing committee for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, and they continue to support him.

Requests for comment from representatives for Katzenberg, the MPTF, and Siegal were not immediately answered.

When Siegal contacted the MPTF, Epstein and his associates were actively working to rebuild his relationships with influential figures in finance, science, and entertainment.

In June 2008, Epstein admitted guilt to state charges related to soliciting prostitution, including one instance involving a minor.

Through a confidential deal with U.S. Attorney Alexander Acosta, who later became President Trump’s Labor Secretary, the Justice Department decided not to pursue federal charges against Epstein. He received an 18-month jail sentence, but spent most of it on a work-release program, allowing him to leave jail each day.

After some time passed, Epstein, along with Siegal and his dedicated assistant Lesley Groff, began reaching out to prominent figures in Hollywood again.

After his release from jail, Siegal wrote to him, saying she didn’t know how people would react to his return to normal life. She advised him to take things slowly, keep a low profile, and rely on his friends for support.

In September 2012, Epstein went to a conference hosted by the technology company Esri in Redlands. While there, he listened to David Katzenberg interview the famous television producer Norman Lear.

In the same month, emails revealed that Jeffrey Katzenberg invited Jeffrey Epstein to dinner at Monkey Bar in New York on September 6th. Epstein accepted, and the invitation also included a screening of the DreamWorks animated film “Rise of the Guardians,” which was described as an exciting and fantastical story about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, and other beloved characters from childhood.

Siegal knew about the Motion Picture & Television Fund’s annual “The Night Before” gala and the opportunities it offered to connect with famous actors and industry leaders. Throughout her public relations work, she frequently organized extravagant parties to promote films expected to contend for Oscars.

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It’s been really unsettling seeing Casey Wasserman’s name pop up in connection with the Epstein files, and a lot of us who work with him – and many artists too – are now calling for him to resign. He hasn’t said anything publicly about all the turmoil inside the company, but people in the industry are speculating that he might try to launch a separate music division to distance himself from this.

I remember reading a fun piece she wrote back in 2012 for the Huffington Post about the Motion Picture & Television Fund gala – she called it “Vive L’Oscars.” She mentioned Jeffrey Katzenberg was a fundraising machine, already having $200 million of their $350 million goal – and he got contributions from big names like Tom Cruise, Steve Bing, Casey Wasserman, Clooney, and Spielberg. Apparently, everyone who was nominated for an award showed up! It’s a bit unsettling to learn that article ended up in the files related to Epstein, though.

The 2013 gala was particularly important for the organization. The previous year had been difficult, with the reopening of its Woodland Hills nursing home following significant financial losses and concerns about potential bankruptcy. A major focus was raising funds for their $275 million campaign.

In 2012, Katzenberg told The Times that while the journey had been lengthy and challenging, they had overcome the worst of it. He expressed optimism, saying he felt like they were starting fresh.

On January 31st, Epstein received an email from an unknown sender regarding a gala hosted by the MPTF. The email asked if he would cover the $15,000 cost of a ticket for Peggy, should she be invited.

On Feb. 14, Siegal wrote to MPTF representatives to purchase a ticket to the gala.

Siegal emailed Epstein’s assistant, Groff, and included Jessica Milten, the MPTF’s special events manager, and other members of the organization on the message.

An email from February 15th stated that Barrie Robinson would send the payment form for Jeffrey Katzenberg’s party, ‘Night Before,’ at the Beverly Hills Hotel on February 23rd, on behalf of Jeffrey Epstein. The payment was described as a tax-deductible donation that would allow the sender to attend. The sender also mentioned they would be at the hotel on Thursday, and signed off with ‘xoxo Peggy’.

Nikki Bernstein from the MPTF Foundation responded to Peggy Siegal, thanking her for her support of the 11th Annual Night Before the Oscars, which benefits the MPTF. She expressed their gratitude and excitement that Peggy would be attending this year.

Epstein’s team then wrote the check through a company called “Enhanced Education.”

That’s an alias for the Jeffrey Epstein VI Foundation in the Virgin Islands.

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2026-02-16 14:33