A French modeling agent and close associate of Jeffrey Epstein has vanished “without a trace,” according to the Daily Mirror.
Investigators have sought in vain to track down Jean-Luc Brunel, the international fashion mogul who has been accused of trafficking underage girls to his pedophile friend. Authorities in France want to interview Brunel, 72, as part of their investigation into Epstein, whose connections to France have come under scrutiny in the wake of his sudden death.
“He is a ghost who has disappeared without a trace,” a French source told the British tabloid.
Close Epstein associate “vanishes”
Authorities in America and France are scouring Europe, America, and Brazil for Brunel, who has long been accused of being a member of Epstein’s inner circle. Recently unsealed court documents from Epstein’s accusers allege that Brunel sent 12-year-old French girls to Epstein as a depraved “birthday present.” Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who has accused Brunel of abusing her, has also alleged that Brunel “farmed out” aspiring models to Epstein.
Brunel established the New York-based modeling agency MC2 with a $1 million investment from Epstein, who owned a home in Paris — reportedly on the same street as Brunel. Epstein was returning from the French capital when he was arrested on sex trafficking charges in July.
But justice never came for Epstein’s many victims after his death in jail last month. Paris investigators have since launched an inquiry into Epstein’s connections with France, particularly his relationship with Brunel.
Brunel is believed to have visited Brazil before the start of the summer to scout for modeling talent, but finding him isn’t an easy task. “There is no address for him, all his internet accounts, including social media, have been wiped out. He is uncontactable,” a source told the Mirror.
An MC2 model was photographed at Epstein’s New York mansion in 2016, and Epstein associate Leslie Wexner, CEO of Victoria’s Secret parent company L. Brands, has come under scrutiny for the company’s involvement with MC2. Wexner has said that he cut ties with Epstein 12 years ago, but MC2 models appeared in the Victoria’s Secret runway show in 2015 and some models auditioned in 2017 and 2018.
Photographed with Epstein’s girlfriend, alleged madam
Epstein was facing sex charges for abusing and trafficking underage girls at his mansions in New York and Florida when he suddenly died in prison last month. The criminal case against the millionaire was formally closed out last week.
While Epstein may have evaded justice, prosecutors in the United States are continuing to investigate any co-conspirators, as Epstein’s associates, including Brunel and others, have entered the public spotlight. The Daily Mail published a photo last week of Brunel cuddling with Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite and former girlfriend of Epstein who has been accused of recruiting underage girls for Epstein.
Brunel, who discovered models like Christy Turlington and Angie Everhardt, rose to fame as a talent scout for the Karins Model Agency in Paris. Rumors that Brunel was a sleazy character followed him as he built his modeling empire in the 1980s and 90s. The fashion mogul has been accused by several models of sexual abuse in incidents dating back to the 1980s.
Brunel has long denied any wrongdoing or illicit involvement with Epstein. “I strongly deny having committed any illicit act or any wrongdoing in the course of my work as a scouter or model agencies manager,” he told the Guardian in 2015.
No comments: