In 2009, Jeffrey Epstein was discussing the possible purchase of Acqua Liana, a $24 million luxury oceanfront estate developed and owned by self-proclaimed rock ‘n’ roll “real estate artist” Frank McKinney. The emails show interest. They show urgency. McKinney appears eager to make a deal. Creative financing. Quiet structures. Anything to move the property.
By that point, Epstein had already been arrested once. His name was public. His reputation was not exactly subtle. In elite real estate and finance circles, ignorance would have been difficult. Not impossible. But difficult. Whether McKinney knew the full scope of Epstein’s crimes is unknown. What’s clear is that Epstein’s money was still welcome. And discretion was part of the pitch.
This is how Epstein continued to operate after his first fall. Not in the shadows. In plain sight. Through lawyers, entities, and “normal” business conversations. The emails don’t prove guilt by association. They show something else. How a disgraced man could still shop for palaces. And how few doors were truly closed.
And while there is no evidence McKinney was aware of Epstein’s criminal conduct, it’s hard to believe he didn’t know. This wasn’t a secret whispered in corners. Epstein’s arrest was public, ugly, and well known around Palm Beach — particularly among the fancy people who share lawyers, brokers, and dinner tables.
See also this email entitled “RE: anonymity and a model” which discusses some creative financing strategies: https://www.justice.gov/epstein/files/DataSet%209/EFTA00771359.pdf
There are 70+ more files related to this conversation at https://justice.gov/epstein if you search “Frank McKinney” and “Acqua Liana”.
