Broadcaster and journalist Mehdi Hasan has explained how his name appeared in newly released documents linked to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a public statement on his official X account, Mehdi explained that the connection was limited to a YouTube link shared more than a decade ago in 2013.
“In 2013, I won a debate on Islam and peace at the Oxford Union. It went viral across the world, millions of views, and apparently an Emirati business then emailed the YouTube link to it to… Jeffrey Epstein. So now I am in the U.S Department of Justice files,” Mehdi Hasan stated.
Mehdi Hasan Unbothered
Hasan addressed the issue on social media after fresh interest in the Epstein files triggered the circulation of names mentioned in emails, contacts, and documents connected to Epstein and his associates.
Some of those names belong to journalists, academics, and public figures who had no personal relationship with Epstein.
In the post, Hasan said the reference to him dates back to 2013, when he participated in a high-profile debate at the Oxford Union.
The debate focused on Islam and peace and attracted millions of views online after it was uploaded to YouTube.
According to Mehdi Hasan, an Emirati businessman who had watched the debate sent a link to the video to Epstein by email.
The message praised the debate and suggested that Epstein watch it, calling it one of the best discussions on Islam and violence the sender had seen.
“Dear Jeffrey, this is the best debate on Islam and violence I have ever seen please watch it. It answers many questions that comes to mind,” read part of the email.
The email, which later appeared in U.S. justice records, contained a short message recommending the video and included a direct YouTube link.
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Hasan said the message was sent without his knowledge and that he had never communicated with Epstein.
There is no record of any reply from Epstein, and no evidence of further contact between the two men.
Hasan stressed that his name appeared only because it was part of the video title and description.
He said Epstein was simply a recipient of a YouTube link sent by a third party with no connection to Hasan’s work or personal life.
After explaining how his name appeared in the files, he joked that he needed “to go take a shower now,” a comment widely understood as sarcasm and as a sign of discomfort at being linked, even indirectly, to Epstein.
Hasan’s View on Epstein Files
As the Epstein files resurfaced online, social media users began sharing lists of names without context, leading to confusion and speculation.
Hasan said this was a clear example of how names can be dragged into serious matters without facts.
He noted that many people named in the files were mentioned only briefly and had no connection to Epstein’s activities.
Legal records show that Epstein received large volumes of emails, links, and forwarded content from people outside his personal network.
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Hasan said the episode should encourage people to read documents carefully and avoid drawing conclusions based only on names.
He added that context, not speculation, should guide public discussion.
Progress of the Epstein Files
By February 1, 2026, the DOJ had published more than 3 million pages of material, including:
- Emails and correspondence
• Court records and investigative files
• FBI interview notes
• Property photos
• Over 2,000 videos and 180,000 images
• Records from Epstein’s New York and Florida cases
Despite the scale of the release, more than 2 million documents remain under review, according to court filings by the DOJ.
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