Fact Check: Was Tom Hanks denied entry in Greece over ties with Jeffrey Epstein?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Amid the release of a massive tranche of files related to the convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, a claim has been circulating online that Hollywood actor Tom Hanks was barred from entry into Greece over his links to the late financier. The claim has sparked speculations with many questioning its authenticity. Let us fact-check it.

Claim: Tom Hanks barred from entering Greece 

According to a viral claim circulating on social media, Tom Hanks, who is a Greek citizen, was denied entry to the Port of Athens, Greece, over his purported mention in the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Notably, the viral post, from the X account Paul White Golden Eagle, which has 126,000 followers on the platform, included the claim that an alleged quote from Jostaki Barronopolous, identified as the foreign minister of Greece, was made.

The quote read: "Mr. Hanks had Greek citizenship. But it was revoked when he appeared in the Epstein Files." The post then states: "Hanks can still go to his island off the coast, which is in international waters, but his days of frolicking in the Greek countryside are over."

Fact Check: Tom Hanks has no links to Jeffrey Epstein

Although there are references to Tom Hanks in Jeffrey Epstein's emails in the newly released files related to the FBI's probe into Epstein, they are only mentioned in Epstein's conversations with his associates, and there is no recorded contact between Epstein and Tom Hanks in the files.

Also, the current foreign minister of Greece is Giorgos Gerapetritis, not Jostaki Barronopolous as claimed in the post.

In 2020, a similar rumour emerged that  Hanks flew on Jeffrey Epstein's private jet to Little St. James Island, popularly called 'Epstein Island,' but fact checks proved that the flight logs of Jeffrey Epstein do not mention Tom Hanks, and the claims were false.

Release of millions of files linked to Jeffrey Epstein

The claim surfaced after the Department of Justice released millions of documents related to the disgraced financier on January 30. 

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the release also included more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images.

The release came after weeks of criticism that the department was not following a federal law passed in November, which required all Epstein-related files to be made public by December 19.

Numerous individuals listed are mentioned in flight logs, interviews, third-party communications, or ancillary investigative documents without being accused of any criminal activity.