Report Alleges Jeffrey Epstein Arranged Sham Same-Sex Marriage To Help Girlfriend Obtain Green Card
Newly released documents are shedding additional light on Jeffrey Epstein‘s personal affairs, including allegations that the convicted sex offender orchestrated a sham same-sex marriage to help his longtime girlfriend remain in the United States after overstaying her student visa.
According to emails released by the Department of Justice and first reported by The New York Times, Epstein encouraged his Belarusian-born girlfriend, Karyna Shuliak, to marry an American woman in order to obtain lawful permanent residency. In one 2013 email, Epstein reportedly wrote that same-sex marriage would be the fastest path to securing a green card.
Shuliak had come to the United States on a student visa in 2010 but later overstayed her authorized stay while pursuing a dental career. The records indicate Epstein introduced her to one of his female assistants, and the two legally married in New York City in October 2013, not long after same-sex marriage became legal in the state. Shuliak later obtained a green card and became a U.S. citizen in 2018 before the marriage ended in divorce the following year.
A House Committee report later characterized the marriage as “illusory” and concluded it appeared to have been arranged solely to provide Shuliak with a legal basis to remain in the country. The report also stated the assistant was allegedly pressured into participating and did not fully understand the circumstances surrounding the marriage until shortly before an immigration hearing. Despite those findings, the committee did not recommend any legal challenge to Shuliak’s U.S. citizenship.
Shuliak, who graduated from Columbia University’s dental program, was Epstein’s last-known girlfriend and was the final person he reportedly spoke with before his death in federal custody in 2019. She was also listed among dozens of beneficiaries in Epstein’s estate plan, which reportedly included a substantial inheritance, valuable real estate holdings, and a large diamond ring intended in contemplation of marriage.
Shuliak has not been accused of any crime or identified by authorities as a victim in Epstein’s criminal cases. The newly disclosed emails are part of a broader release of records related to Epstein’s activities, continuing to reveal previously unknown details about his personal relationships, financial dealings, and efforts to assist those within his inner circle.