Unpacking claim Netanyahu sent ‘torture video’ to Epstein while in China

In late January 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice released more than 3 million files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In the days after the release, numerous social media users shared an April 2009 email that Epstein sent in which he praised a “torture video” he received from someone who was in China. 

Many people online claimed the recipient, whose name was redacted, was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who they said was in China at the time of the email exchange. Screenshots of the files circulating online indicate the email exchange occurred on April 24 and 25, 2009. The exchange is as follows:

EPSTEIN: where are you? are you ok , i loved the torture video

REDACTED EMAIL ADDRESS: I am in china I will be in the US 2nd week of may 

Some social media users who shared the rumor included a screenshot of a purported news article, which they suggested showed the Israeli prime minister was in China in April 2009. Another screenshot of a Wikipedia article shows Netanyahu was in the United States on May 18, 2009, which some users claimed further supported the theory he was the person emailing with Epstein.

(X user @jakeshieldsajj)

Epstein did send the above email about a “torture video” to an unknown recipient who claimed to be in China. However, there is no evidence Netanyahu was the person exchanging emails with Epstein. He was not in China at the time, according to various sources. Epstein was in jail during the exchange.

However, because the email address was redacted and we could not independently confirm the recipient of Epstein’s email at the time of publication, we’ve left this claim unrated.

According to the Epstein email files released by the DOJ, Epstein sent the email in question to a redacted recipient on April 24, 2009. On April 25, Epstein also wrote back saying, “Hope to see you,” after the recipient said they would be in the U.S. in May. 

(Department of Justice)

The article shared on social media clearly stated that on April 23, 2009, Netanyahu met Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Jerusalem — not China — making it unlikely, though not impossible, that Netanyahu sent the email in question. An archived copy of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ news release about their meeting can be found here. 

On May 18, 2009, Netanyahu met then-U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., where they gave shared remarks to the press. On May 19, Netanyahu met with congressional leaders, according to news reports. By May 20, he was back in Jerusalem, The New York Times reported.

It is unlikely that Epstein was planning to meet Netanyahu within that time frame, too. Between 2008 and 2009, Epstein was serving an 18-month sentence in a Palm Beach County, Florida, jail for sex crimes involving a minor. According to The Washington Post investigation, Epstein was allowed to leave jail to go to his office during the day and return at night as part of a work-release program. He served 13 months in jail and was released in July 2009. 

Given Epstein’s timeline in jail and Netanyahu’s travel schedule, it is improbable that the two exchanged the emails referenced in social media posts and that they planned to meet. 

Snopes has reported extensively on various claims related to the Epstein files.

Sources