Brad Karp, the former chairman of prominent law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, stepped down from his leadership position in February 2024 due to his ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The connection between Karp and Epstein came to light through messages obtained from Epstein's communications. In July 2019, Epstein sent an iMessage to Steve Bannon requesting assistance with getting Karp admitted to Augusta National Golf Club, the exclusive venue that hosts the Masters Tournament.

In the message exchange, Epstein wrote to Bannon: "Need to work magic to get brad Karp admitted to augusta golf club." Bannon responded asking for clarification: "The head of Paul Weiss Brad Karp?" to which Epstein confirmed "Yes."

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison is one of the most prestigious law firms in the United States, known for handling high-profile corporate litigation and regulatory matters. Karp had served as the firm's chair before his resignation.

The revelation of Epstein's communications adds another dimension to the ongoing scrutiny of individuals and institutions connected to the financier, who died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Epstein's network of contacts had extended across various sectors including finance, academia, and politics.