‘Daily Mail’ on Barak libel suit: We uphold story

‘We note Mr. Barak’s assertion is a denial of a claim we never made’

“The Daily Mail stands by its recent story concerning Ehud Barak’s relationship with the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein 100%,” wrote the newspaper on its website on Thursday in response to a libel suit filed by Israel Democratic Party leader Ehud Barak after the newspaper published an expose showing Barak entering convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein’s house on the same day as four women. “We note that Mr. Barak’s assertion that he was not party to Mr. Epstein’s illegal activities is a denial of a claim we have never made,” wrote the Daily Mail.

When the photos were published in 2016, the Daily Mail

did not receive any complaints and Barak was described as “an unidentified man.”

“The reason for the latest article is that Mr. Barak has now admitted he is the man in the photographs, which also raises a legitimate question about his statement that he ‘never met Epstein in the company of women or young girls,’” explained the Daily Mail.

The newspaper also denied that it did not attempt to reach Barak and stated that they were unsuccessful in contacting him. The article does “prominently” record quotes given to the Daily Beast the day before the Daily Mail article was published, including Barak’s explanations for his covered face and visit to Epstein’s house.

The Daily Mail clarified that it has “no view at all” on Israeli politics which are “properly a matter for the Israeli people.”

“However, since Mr. Barak is a highly prominent political figure currently engaged in an election campaign in Israel, it is absolutely clear that this is a story of the utmost public interest,” said the newspaper. “In short, DailyMail.com will not be removing the disputed story as demanded.”

The news site also called Barak’s “dog-whistle description” of the story as a “blood libel” offensive in the extreme and demanded that he retract the “vile and defamatory insinuation immediately.”

Epstein was convicted of soliciting a teenage girl for prostitution in 2008 and was indicted last week in connection with allegations that he was involved in the sex trafficking of dozens of minors in New York and Florida between 2002 and 2005.

Barak admitted to the Daily Beast that it was him, but claimed that the visit was innocent.

“I was there, for lunch or chat, nothing else,” said Barak. “So what? I never attended a party with him. I never met Epstein in the company of women or young girls.”

Epstein financed much of an investment formerly made by Barak in the company Reporty Homeland Security, according to Haaretz. Now called Carbyne, it develops call-handling and identification capabilities for emergency response services.

Barak defended his decision to enter a business relationship with Epstein even though other former partners kept their distance.