Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that CBS News specifically reported on checks regarding the Texas Torah Institute. CBS News reported on the general release of the Justice Department files, but not on these specific financial records. Additionally, this story has been updated to include a statement from the Texas Torah Institute regarding the nature of the payments, which was not included in the original publication.
A North Dallas Jewish school received more than $28,000 in checks from an account tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to federal records made public this winter. The payments, recorded on bank paperwork in 2008 and 2009, sit inside the massive Justice Department release known as the Epstein Files. The Texas Torah Institute (TTI) has since issued a statement clarifying that these payments were for student tuition.
How Much and When
According to The Dallas Morning News, the Texas Torah Institute received three checks from an Epstein-linked account: $3,000 and $10,750 in 2008, and $14,400 in 2009. The News reports that the payments cleared from an account in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Records Came From the DOJ Release
The checks were discovered within the broader document dump the Justice Department published under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. As reported by CBS News, this release includes millions of pages, thousands of images and videos, and a wide range of financial records that have renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s money and contacts. Justice Department officials say they removed information that could identify victims before posting the material.
Who Signed the Checks
Documents in a public Epstein archive show signature forms and account paperwork listing Harry Beller as a signer on Epstein-related financial records, including materials tied to accounts and checks. Business Insider has outlined Beller’s long-running role as Epstein’s accountant and detailed congressional interest in his large cash withdrawals.
School Statement and Explanation
While initial reports noted a lack of explanatory documents in the public file, the Texas Torah Institute has provided a statement clarifying the nature of the payments. In a statement provided to Hoodline, Rabbi Eliyahu Kaufman said the school was unaware of any connection to Epstein until the documents were released.
"TTI conducted an internal review and based on the records still available we can confirm that every payment identified (3 in total) was a tuition remittance — processed on behalf of a former student and unsolicited by TTI," Kaufman stated. He added that while the checks appeared to be from Epstein's office, they were not signed by Epstein.
The school declined to name the student, citing privacy policies. "Jeffrey Epstein had no relationship with TTI, and we would never have solicited one," Kaufman said.
Broader Fallout
The Justice Department’s release has been felt far beyond courtrooms. As AP reported, social media posts highlighting names in the files have led some school districts to change or cancel picture days and fueled fresh public scrutiny of who received Epstein’s money. Survivors’ advocates and several lawmakers have criticized how the records were rolled out, pointing to redaction mistakes and calling for a clearer public accounting of what the documents actually show.
