Emails released by the U.S. Department of Justice reveal connections between Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette and Barbro Ehnbom, a businesswoman linked to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The correspondence, spanning from 2009 to 2016, suggests a disturbing relationship that included Ehnbom offering Epstein potential young women for his “wife choice” and discussing DeGette’s political campaigns.
The documents indicate that DeGette’s name appeared over a dozen times in emails exchanged between Epstein and Ehnbom. Although there is no evidence that DeGette had direct communication with Epstein, the emails highlight a significant connection between her and Ehnbom, who is accused of leveraging her professional roles to facilitate Epstein’s access to young women.
Ehnbom frequently encouraged Epstein to meet DeGette. In a September 2012 email, she wrote, “I am doing a small fund raiser for Diana DeGette of Colorado. She is smart and courageous… Will you help support this?” According to Ehnbom, DeGette had become a “friend,” and her involvement in politics was framed as essential due to her scientific agenda and advocacy for women.
A spokesperson for DeGette, Jack Stelzner, emphasized that the congresswoman was unaware of Ehnbom’s attempts to connect her with Epstein. “Congresswoman DeGette never met Jeffrey Epstein,” he stated, adding that she did not know about Ehnbom’s relationship with Epstein or her fundraising invitations. Furthermore, federal election records confirm that Epstein did not contribute to DeGette’s campaigns.
Despite the absence of direct interactions, the correspondence sheds light on the broader implications of Ehnbom’s activities. In 2014, Ehnbom donated $1,500 to DeGette’s campaign, according to Federal Election Commission filings. DeGette voted in favor of the Epstein Files Transparency Act in November 2022, which mandated the release of documents related to Epstein’s activities. Stelzner noted that DeGette continues to support the full release of these files.
Ehnbom’s connections to Epstein have raised concerns in Sweden as well. Reports indicate that she funded a scholarship at the Stockholm School of Economics with donations from Epstein. In 2022, it emerged that Ehnbom had arranged for scholarship recipients to meet Epstein, with troubling accounts suggesting that young women were instructed on how to present themselves.
Comments from the Stockholm School of Economics following the release of the emails reflect the institution’s dismay. They issued an apology, stating they were “profoundly saddened that young women came into contact with a sex offender through someone they trusted.” The school claimed it ended its collaboration with Ehnbom in 2015, after learning about Epstein’s donations.
Ehnbom first encountered DeGette in 2009 when the congresswoman served as the keynote speaker at Ehnbom’s Swedish-American Life Science Summit in Stockholm. Their last known public appearance together was in 2018 at a SALSS event, as reported by the Colorado Times Recorder. Stelzner clarified that DeGette has not received donations from Ehnbom in over eleven years and no longer maintains a relationship with her.
Despite the lack of evidence linking DeGette directly to Epstein, her name surfaced in various contexts within Ehnbom’s communications. In one email from August 2012, Ehnbom expressed hope for Epstein’s involvement in DeGette’s fundraiser, which he seemingly sidestepped by asking, “who is your wife choice this year?”
Ehnbom’s ongoing attempts to associate DeGette with Epstein have led to significant scrutiny. In one email, she sent Epstein a link to DeGette’s Wikipedia page, alongside a message referencing a “little blond girl” she thought would align with Epstein’s preferences. Ehnbom has since expressed outrage at the media’s portrayal of her interactions with Epstein, condemning the abuse suffered by many young women.
This evolving narrative underscores the complexities surrounding political figures and their associations, especially in light of Epstein’s notorious history. DeGette’s name, although not directly linked to any wrongdoing, has been unintentionally woven into a troubling tapestry involving Epstein and Ehnbom, raising questions about the broader implications of such connections in the political landscape.
