Barbro Ehnbom responds to allegations over Jeffrey Epstein contacts

Swedish business figure Barbro Ehnbom has addressed criticism over her ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, acknowledging she introduced Swedish women to him but denying knowledge of his crimes, Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports.

Ehnbom, whose networking organisation BBB operated at the Stockholm School of Economics with Epstein’s financial support, told SVT she had been “close to a monster” but insisted that did not make her one. She maintained contact with Epstein until 2018, the year before his arrest and death in custody.

Investigations show Ehnbom and Epstein had a long-standing friendship, with her repeatedly introducing Swedish women to him—ostensibly to aid their careers. She claimed the meetings, held in the office section of Epstein’s New York townhouse, focused on education and professional development.

“I am very proud of all these women,” she said. “That one of hundreds of supporters turned out to be a catastrophe, a monster—that is horrifying.”

Ehnbom stated she was unaware of any women she introduced to Epstein becoming victims. “I absolutely know of none, and I should have heard,” she told SVT.

She described Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor as politically motivated, claiming many in her New York circles viewed it as an attempt to halt his donations to the Democratic Party. After the conviction, she continued organising BBB events at Epstein’s residence.

The Stockholm School of Economics severed ties with Ehnbom in 2015 amid the widening Epstein scandal, but her personal contact with him persisted. She sent one of her final emails to him in 2018.

Ehnbom said she could not pinpoint when she fully grasped the extent of Epstein’s crimes. Reflecting on her role in commenting on the women’s appearances during introductions, she argued it proved her lack of awareness of his offences.

“Had I believed for a second that I was putting them at risk, it would never have happened,” she said.