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10 - PEOPLE/(T-Z)/Peter Thiel.md
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@ -101,25 +101,27 @@ Epstein's staff described the August 2015 gathering as Thiel's as well as Hoffma
On May 21, 2018, Epstein wrote to Thiel: "FYI trae is meeting carbyne Ehud Barak co."[^13] [[Carbyne]], formerly Reporty Homeland Security, was an Israeli emergency-call technology company chaired by the former Israeli prime minister [[Ehud Barak]], in which Epstein held an investment through a limited partnership funded by his [[Southern Trust Company]].[^14] In January 2019 Barak, copying Epstein, offered Carbyne's services for the 2022 World Cup to Jabor Al Thani of Qatar, proposing to "work through a European company of your choice and minimize Israeli profile."[^14]
On September 8, 2014 Epstein wrote to Thiel: "any interest in woody alien". Thiel answered that night: "Would be cool to meet him sometime, but don't go out of the way to make this happen..." and asked: "Are we planning something the weekend of the 13th-14th?"[^15] On September 9 Epstein wrote that the afternoon of the 13th would be "you and I", followed by William Burns, and that "if you choose we can bring in kathy ruemmler. former obama counsel for 5 years. and or sen Bob kerrey, former senate intellignece".[^15] On September 10 Epstein sent Thiel a schedule: "2 pm one on one you and I , 3 -4 bill burns to join. i will need alone time with him after. 730 woody and kathy ruemmler for dinner ( again you can bring guest/s if you choose). sunday lunch with bob kerrey if you have interest or we can continue our one on one".[^16] Thiel replied on September 12: "Free from about 5pm onwards on Saturday... Sunday lunch with Kerrey would be great." Epstein answered: "see you at 5 , bill burns will be here then dinner with woody and kathy".[^17] Epstein's scheduler had written to [[Bob Kerrey]] on September 2 that "Jeffrey is having Peter Thiel and possibly Bill Burns for lunch at his home in NY on Sat. Sept 13th and Sun. Sept. 14th", and a reminder of September 12 reads: "We told him Peter Thiel (Kathy Ruemmler and Cass are attending as well)".[^18] On the night of September 13 Epstein wrote to [[Kathryn Ruemmler]]: "peter will not make it tomorw we just finished".[^19]
### The FBI Confidential Human Source Relationship
[[Business Insider]] reported in October 2023 that Thiel began providing information to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] as a confidential human source (CHS) in summer 2021, with the Los Angeles-based counterintelligence agent [[Jonathan Buma]] as his handler. The CHS relationship placed Thiel in the formal FBI source program while he simultaneously chaired Palantir Technologies (a major CIA and FBI contractor), cofounded the Dialog convening network, funded the JD Vance and Blake Masters Senate campaigns, and maintained the documented Epstein relationship that ran through 2019. A [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] document submitted January 22, 2026 references Thiel's CHS role in the congressional record.[^15]
[[Business Insider]] reported in October 2023 that Thiel began providing information to the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] as a confidential human source (CHS) in summer 2021, with the Los Angeles-based counterintelligence agent [[Jonathan Buma]] as his handler. The CHS relationship placed Thiel in the formal FBI source program while he simultaneously chaired Palantir Technologies (a major CIA and FBI contractor), cofounded the Dialog convening network, funded the JD Vance and Blake Masters Senate campaigns, and maintained the documented Epstein relationship that ran through 2019. A [[House Committee on the Judiciary|House Judiciary Committee]] document submitted January 22, 2026 references Thiel's CHS role in the congressional record.[^20]
Buma was arrested at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|JFK Airport]] on March 17, 2025 while attempting to board an international flight, charged with unlawfully disclosing confidential information. [[CBS News]] reported that FBI investigators assessed Buma may have compromised as many as 130 FBI files. Buma publicly accused the FBI of pro-Trump political bias, and claimed in May 2025 (per [[The Guardian]]) that "intense" Russian-intelligence efforts had targeted Elon Musk.[^15][^16]
Buma was arrested at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport|JFK Airport]] on March 17, 2025 while attempting to board an international flight, charged with unlawfully disclosing confidential information. [[CBS News]] reported that FBI investigators assessed Buma may have compromised as many as 130 FBI files. Buma publicly accused the FBI of pro-Trump political bias, and claimed in May 2025 (per [[The Guardian]]) that "intense" Russian-intelligence efforts had targeted Elon Musk.[^20][^21]
### The Clearview AI Seed Investment
Thiel was the first investor in [[Clearview AI]], the facial-recognition firm founded by [[Hoan Ton-That]] and [[Richard Schwartz]], providing seed funding before the company was even named (the [[Smart Checker]] period). [[NPR]] confirmed in 2023 that Thiel was Clearview's first investor. The seed investment was made directly by Thiel rather than through Founders Fund, placing Clearview in the same Thiel-seed-investment lineage as Palantir.[^17]
Thiel was the first investor in [[Clearview AI]], the facial-recognition firm founded by [[Hoan Ton-That]] and [[Richard Schwartz]], providing seed funding before the company was even named (the [[Smart Checker]] period). [[NPR]] confirmed in 2023 that Thiel was Clearview's first investor. The seed investment was made directly by Thiel rather than through Founders Fund, placing Clearview in the same Thiel-seed-investment lineage as Palantir.[^22]
The *New York Times* reported in March 2021 that [[Charles C. Johnson|Charles Johnson]], the far-right provocateur and self-described federal informant, played a pivotal early role alongside Thiel in the Clearview founding. Johnson announced in 2017 that he was "building algorithms to ID all the illegal immigrants for the deportation squads," which *Byline Supplement* reported as part of the Clearview prehistory. Johnson subsequently claimed cofounder status and sued Clearview for a share of its profits before dropping the suit in February 2025.[^17]
The *New York Times* reported in March 2021 that [[Charles C. Johnson|Charles Johnson]], the far-right provocateur and self-described federal informant, played a pivotal early role alongside Thiel in the Clearview founding. Johnson announced in 2017 that he was "building algorithms to ID all the illegal immigrants for the deportation squads," which *Byline Supplement* reported as part of the Clearview prehistory. Johnson subsequently claimed cofounder status and sued Clearview for a share of its profits before dropping the suit in February 2025.[^22]
Johnson disclosed Thiel's FBI CHS status, per the Business Insider reporting of October 2023. The Johnson-Thiel relationship extends beyond Clearview: the *Business Insider* piece described Johnson as "a tech investor and far-right agitator with long-standing ties to both Thiel and to the network." The [[Federal Trade Commission]] issued a consent order against Clearview in March 2022 barring the company from selling its database to private entities, following the documented deployment of the product by law enforcement, government clients, and private actors.[^17]
Johnson disclosed Thiel's FBI CHS status, per the Business Insider reporting of October 2023. The Johnson-Thiel relationship extends beyond Clearview: the *Business Insider* piece described Johnson as "a tech investor and far-right agitator with long-standing ties to both Thiel and to the network." The [[Federal Trade Commission]] issued a consent order against Clearview in March 2022 barring the company from selling its database to private entities, following the documented deployment of the product by law enforcement, government clients, and private actors.[^22]
### New Zealand Citizenship
Thiel was granted [[New Zealand]] citizenship on August 4, 2011 under an "exceptional circumstances" provision that waived the standard 1,350-day residency requirement. Thiel had visited New Zealand four times before the grant and had never resided there. The *Guardian*, *New York Times*, and *Washington Post* reported in February 2017 that internal Department of Internal Affairs officials granted the waiver after Thiel made approximately ten million dollars in New Zealand investments (including stakes in [[Xero]]) and a one million dollar donation to [[Christchurch]] earthquake relief. Thiel described New Zealand as "the future" in his citizenship application.[^18]
Thiel was granted [[New Zealand]] citizenship on August 4, 2011 under an "exceptional circumstances" provision that waived the standard 1,350-day residency requirement. Thiel had visited New Zealand four times before the grant and had never resided there. The *Guardian*, *New York Times*, and *Washington Post* reported in February 2017 that internal Department of Internal Affairs officials granted the waiver after Thiel made approximately ten million dollars in New Zealand investments (including stakes in [[Xero]]) and a one million dollar donation to [[Christchurch]] earthquake relief. Thiel described New Zealand as "the future" in his citizenship application.[^23]
The citizenship was not publicly disclosed for nearly six years. The February 2017 disclosure prompted criticism of the New Zealand government's use of the exceptional-circumstances provision for a non-resident billionaire. Thiel also acquired a 193-hectare estate near [[Lake Wanaka]] in the South Island, part of a documented pattern of Silicon Valley billionaire property acquisition in New Zealand. The New Zealand government subsequently tightened the investor-visa provisions.[^18]
The citizenship was not publicly disclosed for nearly six years. The February 2017 disclosure prompted criticism of the New Zealand government's use of the exceptional-circumstances provision for a non-resident billionaire. Thiel also acquired a 193-hectare estate near [[Lake Wanaka]] in the South Island, part of a documented pattern of Silicon Valley billionaire property acquisition in New Zealand. The New Zealand government subsequently tightened the investor-visa provisions.[^23]
### Footnotes
@ -137,7 +139,12 @@ The citizenship was not publicly disclosed for nearly six years. The February 20
[^12]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02074070, DataSet 10, email from Lesley Groff, "Jeffrey Epstein (Hoffman & Thiel Dinner Party)," August 5, 2015. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2010/EFTA02074070.pdf
[^13]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA01052344, DataSet 9, email from Jeffrey Epstein to Peter Thiel, May 21, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA01052344.pdf
[^14]: U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, EFTA02634615, DataSet 11, email chain among Tomer Toor, Darren Indyke and Jeffrey Epstein on the exercise of Carbyne warrants by SUM (E.B.) Limited Partnership, funded 66.67 percent by Southern Trust Inc., March 2019; and EFTA02607775, DataSet 11, email from Ehud Barak to Jabor Al Thani, copied to Jeffrey Epstein, January 1, 2019. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02634615.pdf ; https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02607775.pdf
[^15]: "Exclusive: Tech Billionaire Peter Thiel Was an FBI Informant." *Business Insider,* October 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-fbi-informant-charles-johnson-johnathan-buma-chs-genius-2023-10 ; U.S. Congress, House Judiciary Committee, document referencing Thiel's CHS role, January 22, 2026. https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/118881/documents/HHRG-119-JU00-20260122-SD011-U11.pdf
[^16]: "Former FBI Special Agent Arrested for Disclosure of Confidential Information." *DOJ Office of Inspector General,* 2025. https://oig.justice.gov/news/press-release/former-fbi-special-agent-arrested-disclosure-confidential-information ; "FBI whistleblower claims he tried to get to Musk to warn him he was being targeted by Russia." *The Guardian,* May 22, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/may/22/fbi-whistleblower-musk-russia
[^17]: "What We Learned About Clearview AI's Hidden 'Co-Founder.'" *New York Times,* March 18, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/technology/clearview-facial-recognition-ai.html ; "Business Partner Sues Chuck Johnson for Falsely Presenting as Intelligence Agent." *Semafor,* October 16, 2024. https://www.semafor.com/article/10/16/2024/business-partner-sues-chuck-johnson-for-falsely-presenting-as-intelligence-agent
[^18]: "Documents reveal how Peter Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenship." *The Guardian,* February 1, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/01/documents-reveal-how-peter-thiel-was-granted-new-zealand-citizenship ; "New Zealand Is 'the Future,' Peter Thiel Said in His Push for Citizenship." *New York Times,* February 1, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-zealand-citizenship.html
[^15]: Email exchange between Jeffrey Epstein and Peter Thiel, September 8 and 9, 2014, EFTA00996779, U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, Data Set 9. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00996779.pdf
[^16]: Email from Jeffrey Epstein to Peter Thiel, September 10, 2014, EFTA00362932, U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, Data Set 9. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00362932.pdf
[^17]: Email exchange between Peter Thiel and Jeffrey Epstein, September 12, 2014, EFTA00362699, U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, Data Set 9. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00362699.pdf
[^18]: Email from Epstein's scheduler to Bob Kerrey, September 2, 2014, EFTA00363673, U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, Data Set 9; reminder email, "Re: Reminder Bob Kerrey," September 12, 2014, EFTA02097598, Data Set 10. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00363673.pdf
[^19]: Email from Jeffrey Epstein to Kathryn Ruemmler, September 13, 2014, EFTA02338079, U.S. Department of Justice, Epstein Library, Data Set 11. https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%2011/EFTA02338079.pdf
[^20]: "Exclusive: Tech Billionaire Peter Thiel Was an FBI Informant." *Business Insider,* October 2023. https://www.businessinsider.com/peter-thiel-fbi-informant-charles-johnson-johnathan-buma-chs-genius-2023-10 ; U.S. Congress, House Judiciary Committee, document referencing Thiel's CHS role, January 22, 2026. https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/118881/documents/HHRG-119-JU00-20260122-SD011-U11.pdf
[^21]: "Former FBI Special Agent Arrested for Disclosure of Confidential Information." *DOJ Office of Inspector General,* 2025. https://oig.justice.gov/news/press-release/former-fbi-special-agent-arrested-disclosure-confidential-information ; "FBI whistleblower claims he tried to get to Musk to warn him he was being targeted by Russia." *The Guardian,* May 22, 2025. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/may/22/fbi-whistleblower-musk-russia
[^22]: "What We Learned About Clearview AI's Hidden 'Co-Founder.'" *New York Times,* March 18, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/18/technology/clearview-facial-recognition-ai.html ; "Business Partner Sues Chuck Johnson for Falsely Presenting as Intelligence Agent." *Semafor,* October 16, 2024. https://www.semafor.com/article/10/16/2024/business-partner-sues-chuck-johnson-for-falsely-presenting-as-intelligence-agent
[^23]: "Documents reveal how Peter Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenship." *The Guardian,* February 1, 2017. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/01/documents-reveal-how-peter-thiel-was-granted-new-zealand-citizenship ; "New Zealand Is 'the Future,' Peter Thiel Said in His Push for Citizenship." *New York Times,* February 1, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-zealand-citizenship.html