The Texans who have shown up in the Epstein files

Published On: February 17, 2026

The Texans who have shown up in the Epstein files

Newly released Epstein files highlight several Texas connections, revealing Epstein’s ties to local elites in academia, business, and PR, though no criminal accusations are leveled against them. Journalist Gwen Howerton detailed these in Chron.com coverage, emphasizing the vastness of his network without implying guilt.

Key Texans Named

These individuals appear in emails or files, often via professional or social contacts—no evidence of island visits or trafficking involvement.

Name	Role/Connection
Ken Starr	Epstein’s 2007-2008 lawyer; hosted him at Baylor University (president 2010-2016); emails through 2018. Died 2022.
Terry Kafka	Dallas businessman/ad exec; long-time friend; emails to 2018.
Warren Eisenstein	Dallas optometrist; Epstein friend.
Thomas Hubbard	UT professor; sought Epstein Foundation funds in 2015 for conference.
Merrie Spaeth	Dallas PR exec; crisis consulting post-2008 (e.g., apologies); emails to 2015.

Texas Institutions/Companies

Match.com (Dallas-based): Sent Epstein young women’s profiles post-2008 sex offender registration.
Dallas Contemporary: Requested loan of Epstein-owned painting (2014).

These mentions underscore Epstein’s elite outreach across sectors, per Howerton, mirroring national patterns where contacts deny deeper ties—now fact-checkable via emails. No Texas-specific probes have emerged from 2026 releases.

SOURCE