Joichi Ito, linked with Epstein, to leave Japan government panel: Sankei report

Mr Ito resigned in 2019 as director of MIT’s Media Lab over an Epstein-linked funding scandal. Read more at straitstimes.com.

TOKYO – Japan will not reappoint businessman Joichi Ito to a government committee on an entrepreneurship project when his term ends in March, over his ties to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the Sankei newspaper said on March 2.

The decision comes after the release of millions of new Epstein documents by the US Justice Department that revived scrutiny of Mr Ito’s ties with Epstein and his current roles in Japanese government and academic circles.

Mr Ito will not be reappointed to the committee after his term ends in March, the paper said, citing an unidentified source.

Government officials in charge of the committee were not immediately available to comment when contacted by telephone.

Mr Ito could not be immediately reached for comment.

Mr Ito, who has denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, resigned in 2019 as director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab over an Epstein-linked funding scandal.