New York Giants co-owner Steve Tisch is looking to step away from the franchise as controversy swirls around him after his name appeared in the Justice Department’s so-called “Epstein Files.”
Steve, 77, and his siblings, Jonathan and Laurie Tisch, are seeking to move the “approximately 23.1 percent” ownership they hold in the Giants to their children, according to an internal memo sent to NFL executives on Wednesday, March 11 and obtained by CNN.
“Following the transactions, the Sellers will no longer own any interest in the Club,” the memo said.
A CNN source denied any connection between the Tisch family’s decision and Steve’s alleged connection with Jeffrey Epstein.
“This transaction is part of estate planning that has been going on for 3-4 years and has nothing to do with anything else. And everybody’s role remains [the] same,” the source said.
Steve’s appearance in the Epstein Files first came to light in January when the Justice Department released a series of documents, including emails between the Giants owner and Epstein. (Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019 at age 66.)
“We had a brief association where we exchanged emails about adult women, and in addition, we discussed movies, philanthropy and investments,” Steve said in a statement to CNN on January 30. “I did not take him up on any of his invitations and never went to his island. As we all know now, he was a terrible person and someone I deeply regret associating with.”
In an April 2013 email, Steve asked if Epstein knows “anything about” his assistant’s friend, whose name is redacted, calling her a “very sweet girl.”
“No, but i will ask,” Epstein responded. “I will get all info, did you contact the great a** fake tit [redacted] shes a character short term, has an older boyfriend going to acting school, a 10 ass. I am happy to have you as a new but obviosly [sic] shared interest friend.”
That June, the two communicated via email again, with Steve writing to Epstein, “Hopefully we will catch up. Is there somebody in NY you want me to meet? I will be there Thursday. Thanks.”
Steve then asked if the woman was “pro or civilian.”
“Do you want to know if she is sweet as she seems?” Epstein replied. “Boyfriends? Trustworthy, etc. she is earnest [redacted] is a civilian but russian, and rarely tells the truth , but fun.”
Epstein followed up a day later, writing, “Report just in, ——you did very well. She wants to go to the play,, –she is a little freaked by the age difference but go slow and wati [sic], i will try to convince her not to return to ukraine , having her crying worked,”
“Nice report …,” Tisch replied. “Funny comment on crying!!!”
Steve has not been charged with a crime or accused of any wrongdoing.
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