News Desk
Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan, the Special Envoy to the President and a former president of the Maldives, resigned on Tuesday following the release of U.S. Justice Department communications that show he maintained extensive contact with Jeffrey Epstein over several years.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu received Dr. Waheed’s resignation letter early in the morning, the President’s Office said. Dr. Waheed has not publicly commented on the disclosures. Public filings indicate that he holds an advisory position with Red Sea Global, the Saudi state‑owned company overseeing the Red Sea megaproject, a role reflected in both corporate statements and his professional biography
The documents, part of a trove of roughly 20,000 files released by the U.S. House Oversight Committee, include email and SMS exchanges indicating that Dr. Waheed shared detailed political information about the Maldives with Epstein during his tenure as vice president, president and after leaving office. The communications suggest the relationship spanned from 2012 onward, years after Epstein had been convicted in 2008 of sex‑offense charges and released from jail.
The emails show Dr. Waheed seeking Epstein’s advice on a range of political and financial matters, including the 2013 presidential election and a proposed multibillion‑dollar financial scheme presented to the Maldivian government.
In one exchange from early 2013, Dr. Waheed asked Epstein for guidance on a $4 billion proposal submitted by then‑Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad. Epstein warned that the offer resembled a scam and outlined how such schemes typically unfold. Dr. Waheed responded by thanking Epstein and indicating he would follow his advice.
Other messages show Dr. Waheed discussing the political climate in the Maldives, including claims that India influenced the 2013 election and assessments of the prospects of former presidents Abdulla Yameen and Mohamed Nasheed. The emails also indicate that Epstein offered to connect Dr. Waheed with a foreign diplomat to assist with campaign organization.
The communications further suggest that Dr. Waheed collaborated with Epstein on a proposed private‑island development in the Maldives. Dr. Waheed reportedly prepared and shared a feasibility report for the project.
According to the files, Dr. Waheed met Epstein in person in 2012 during a visit to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting appears to have focused on the same financial proposal that Epstein later advised against.
Epstein, a financier with ties to political figures and celebrities, was first arrested in 2005 on charges of sexually abusing minors. He was arrested again in 2019 on federal sex‑trafficking charges and was found dead in his jail cell a month later. His longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell was later convicted of aiding his crimes and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Dr. Waheed has not commented on the nature of his relationship with Epstein or the contents of the leaked communications. The Maldivian government has not said whether it will initiate a formal inquiry. The revelations have prompted broader concerns about whether he used the authority of the presidency inappropriately, and officials have not indicated whether his presidential pension could be subject to review.
