Newly declassified files from the U.S. Department of Justice, released last Friday, reveal that jeffrey Epstein paid for surgery for a Dominican employee who worked as head of cleaning on Little St.James, his private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It’s a detail that raises fresh questions about the extent of Epstein’s control and financial influence over those in his employ.
Emails from August 7, 2018, show that The St. James Group-the company responsible for managing the island-requested financial assistance from Epstein for Basilia Morales, known to her coworkers as “dulce.”
The messages detail that Morales needed surgery on her leg due to complications with her Achilles tendon, stemming from a back injury she sustained years earlier while moving furniture on Little St. James.
Chronology of Basilia Morales’s medical Care
According to the emails, Morales requested support to cover the cost of the operation, which was initially planned to take place in the Dominican Republic, and would require approximately four weeks of leave from work.
Six months later, on february 28, 2019, Stephanie Remington emailed Epstein again regarding Morales’s situation.Remington noted that knee surgery in Florida would cost around $40,000, a figure she deemed “too high.”
Faced with this cost, Remington presented Epstein with several options: cover the expense, seek an choice outside of the United States, or proceed with Morales’s job separation.
“Although Dulce is the most valuable of the housekeeping staff to us, these problems are starting to outweigh her contribution. I think it might be best for us and Dulce to remove her. We will definitely feel her absence. Since she has been with you for 18 years,” Remington wrote, adding that she assumed Epstein would have an opinion on how to proceed.
Epstein responded: “How was the surgery in the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico? And yes, we must be very fair and considerate.”
He was later informed that Morales preferred to remain in the Dominican Republic, as her family lived there and she would need their assistance after surgery.
epstein’s Employment Decisions and Financial support
In early March, Epstein learned that Morales had a doctor’s appointment scheduled in Quisqueya, in the Dominican Republic. Remington again proposed options, including keeping Morales employed or separating her from the company with compensation.
Epstein responded that he planned to provide $5,000 to help her, release her from work, and then rehire her after her recovery.
On March 19,2019,Remington emailed Epstein to inform him that morales had already been let go and had received payment for her accrued vacation and sick days.
In the same email, Remington sent Morales’s medical records and asked if Epstein would like to contribute additional funds.
why: Basilia Morales required surgery for a leg injury sustained while working on Epstein’s island. Who: jeffrey Epstein, Basilia Morales, and Stephanie remington were central figures. What: Epstein initially offered to pay for Morales’s surgery and rehire her, but she was ultimately terminated and received compensation. how: Remington presented Epstein with options,and he agreed to a severance package,though Morales was dismissed before the surgery took place. The dismissal occurred on March 19, 2019, after Morales had already been let go and received payment for accrued time off, with Remington seeking further financial contribution from Epstein for medical expenses.
