Puri Clears Epstein Meetings, Rahul Gandhi Faces Scrutiny
Puri Clears Epstein Meetings, Rahul Gandhi Faces Scrutiny
Union Minister Hardeep Puri says Epstein meetings were professional and not tied to crimes; Rahul Gandhi faces a privilege notice as accusations ignite parliamentary tension.
On February 11, 2026, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri told reporters that his meetings with Jeffrey Epstein happened a few times over eight years and were strictly professional. He explained that these interactions occurred during his time as India’s Ambassador to the United Nations in New York and later in roles with international bodies, and they were not connected to Epstein's crimes.
He said the meetings were three or four times at most, and he served in positions where he met Epstein as part of IPI and ICM delegations. He noted an email from November 13, 2014, in which his contacts introduced him to Reid Hoffman, and said he wrote to Hoffman about immense opportunities in a private capacity, not endorsing wrongdoing.
Meanwhile in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi faced charges from the government after indulging in innuendo and smear campaigns about these episodes. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju warned of a breach of privilege notice, saying Gandhi's statements contributed nothing substantive to the Budget discussion and were untruthful. Gandhi said he would authenticate his remarks, while Rijiju asserted that authentication would fail because Gandhi allegedly lied.
Later at the BJP headquarters, Puri reiterated that his Epstein meetings were not tied to crimes and that his communications were part of professional diplomacy. The exchange underscores a partisan clash over accountability and the proper use of privilege in the House.
