Madrid/Fidel Castro and the sexual offender Jeffrey Epstein pose for the camera in the middle of a smiling group, all hugged, and in Cuban soil. A recent publication of The New York Times He has brought to light images and documents seized in the New York mansion of the US financial.
The image is part of a set of letters, objects and portraits that show Epstein’s links with dozens of global power figures – from Bill Clinton to Pope John Paul II – and re -enlivens the debate about the real scope of his influence network.
The context of this image with Castro leads to 2003, when former Colombian president Andrés Pastrana said he traveled to Havana on the private plane of Epstein, known as the Lolita Expresswith the explicit purpose of meeting with the leader of the revolution. According to his testimony, Epstein was the host of the trip and had supposedly been invited by the Cuban president. Of the companions on the flight, one was the French model Jean-Luc Brunel, subsequently involved as a recruiter in the magnate’s sexual trafficking network.
Journalistic investigations, such as those of Miami Herald, have suggested that Epstein’s trip to Cuba could have hidden motivations
Journalistic research, such as Miami Heraldthey have suggested that Epstein’s trip could have hidden motivations. Among the hypotheses raised is that Epstein would be exploring the possibility of requesting asylum on the island, anticipating its growing judicial exposure in the United States. However, there are no indications that Castro offered him such protection. What does exist is photography, which adds a layer of mystery to an episode already cloudy and without clear answers.
Until now, the Cuban regime has kept silent about the appearance of the image published by The New York Times. Meanwhile, official media such as Cubadebate They have dedicated wide spaces to the relationship between Epstein and Donald Trump, including almost a dozen recent articles.
There is no doubt about the authenticity of the photos where Trump and Castro appear with the tycoon – clarh, never at the same time. Instead, there are many other false images and videos generated with artificial intelligence where Trump is seen in compromising situations.
At least one video and seven manipulated images have accumulated more than 7.2 million visualizations, according to the organization Newsguard. The scenes show Trump and Epstein dancing with young people or sitting on sofas surrounded by girls who appear to be minors. However, specialized tools such as Hive and Identifai They have determined that these are digitally manufactured content to look authentic.
Apocryphal materials have been interpreted by conservative sectors as maneuvers to divert attention from real documentation, and at the same time protect certain elites from public scrutiny
The viralization of these montages has highlighted the dangers of automated misinformation and their ability to rewrite narratives in real time. In the midst of a renewed public interest in the Epstein case – impulsed by recent FBI reports and the Department of Justice that have denied several conspiracy theories – apocryphal materials have been interpreted by conservative sectors as maneuvers to divert attention from real documentation, and at the same time protect certain elites from public scrutiny.
Castro’s image with Epstein is not part of that manufactured content ecosystem, was recovered by the FBI in one of the official records to the magnate mansion and his authenticity has not been denied by any source. On the contrary, the testimony of the former Colombian president supports his existence.
Was it an informal meeting? Did you have diplomatic, personal or strategic purposes? Did Epstein look for any kind of political protection on the island? While official documents are still sealed and Havana maintains its mutism, the mystery is extended. Only one thing is safe: Epstein’s reach came further than many imagined, even even the halls of power in Cuba.
