Jeffrey Epstein was always gaming the system.
The New York Times recently published an exposé about his girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, who’s the last person the disgraced financier called before he died in his jail cell in August 2019. Up until this point, little has been known about Shuliak. A native of Belarus, she met Epstein when she was 21 years old and quickly became his “favorite.” During their time together, he helped her get into Columbia University’s dental school, as well as obtain U.S. citizenship.
For Shuliak’s admittance to Columbia, Epstein asked his own dentist, a distinguished alumnus, to put him in contact with the school’s dean. (Records show he dangled a potential $10 million donation, though he only wound up giving $210,000.)
As far as Shuliak’s U.S. citizenship, Epstein leveraged a much more sordid side of his network. The convicted sex criminal arranged for Shuliak to marry one of his female “assistants,” who were responsible for giving him sexualized massages.
Politics, but make it gay!
Stay woke with our briefing while staying informed on all things LGBTQ+ entertainment, life, and more!
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
“I think its [sic] time you found an american girlfriend,” Epstein emailed her in March 2013. “same sex marriage will be the fastes [sic] way to green card. by far.”
Two years earlier, New York legalized same-sex marriage.
Related
Todd Blanche tried to hide this explosive Epstein-Tr*mp s*x trafficking allegation. It just backfired.
He really thought he was being slick
Phony matrimony
On September 16, 2013, emails show that Epstein instructed his assistant, a 30-year-old woman from Minnesota, to meet Shuliak at the New York City Marriage Bureau. Three weeks later, they were married at the Office of the City Clerk. The Times has a photo from the affair. In it, Shuliak is smiling and holding the woman’s arms.
Rather than honeymoon together, the woman flew immediately to the Virgin Islands. Meanwhile, Shuliak stayed behind to begin dental school and work on her immigration case. Once she was listed as the woman’s wife and beneficiary, her pending deportation proceedings were dismissed.
Soon after, Shuliak received her green card, making her a lawful resident. She obtained citizenship in 2018.
The following year, she and her spouse divorced. In a report released by House Democrats, Shuliak’s ex-wife said she had been forced into marriage. Her attorney, Brad Edwards, told the Times she was a victim of Epstein’s and that “nobody was permitted or dared ever to disobey” him.
That included Shuliak. Though emails show she objected to Epstein’s philandering, she asked him to keep that side of his life hidden. “I understand you need it,” she wrote.
Not once did Shuliak ever express concern for the women.
Is Shuliak’s citizenship now threatened?
In a word, “no.” Though House Dems have questioned the legitimacy of Shuliak’s marriage, immigration authorities haven’t challenged her status. That may seem strange, until one considers the president’s close friendship with Epstein and potential implication in sex crimes himself.
As of this spring, Shuliak had been living in a NYC apartment building owned by Epstein’s brother, according to the Times. She worked part-time as a dentist in Downtown Brooklyn as recently as February. The Times interviewed a woman who was unknowingly treated by Shuliak on two occasions.
“I was so upset,” the woman said. “I just couldn’t believe it. Of all the things that happened to me, I didn’t win the lottery. I met Epstein’s girlfriend.”
Epstein’s exploitation of gay rights
Shuliak’s arranged marriage shows how Epstein always tried to tip the rules in his favor, and usually succeeded. Outside of self-enrichment, the billionaire accused pedo didn’t appear to have any political beliefs at all (though he did call Tr*mp “one of the “worst people” he’s ever met).
During one of his last interviews, Epstein invoked antigay discrimination as a defense for his interest in young women. According to James B. Stewart of the Times, Epstein said criminalizing sex with teenage girls was a “cultural aberration,” and that “homosexuality had long been considered a crime and was still punishable by death in some parts of the world.”
Shortly before Epstein died in his jail cell, he amended his will to leave Shuliak much of his fortune. Even with all of the legal cases, she could still stand to inherit $100 million.
Related
Melania threatens to sue ex-BFF over Epstein claims, but there’s one very inconvenient problem
Discovery is going to be wild
Sign up for the Queerty newsletter to stay on top of the hottest stories in LGBTQ+ entertainment, politics, and culture.
