Tucker Carlson retracts claim linking Isaac Herzog to Epstein after Israeli leader's 'long letter'

WASHINGTON,DC: Tucker Carlson said he is sorry for implying he had knowledge that Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited Jeffrey Epstein’s private island.

The TV personality clarified that he was referencing a Justice Department email, not asserting firsthand proof.

In a video statement on Saturday, February 21, Carlson walked viewers through how the issue first came up during his recent interview in Israel with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.

Tucker Carlson alleges Israeli President's connection with Epstein

Carlson said that while interviewing Huckabee, he brought up the Epstein files and “specifically an email the Department of Justice released from December of 2014 from Jeffrey Epstein to his friend Leon Black, inviting him to his now famous island in the Caribbean.”

According to Carlson, the email included a line that read: “Lots of other people are coming, among them, quote, Herzog and Ehud, Barack.”

Based on that email, Carlson said he asked Huckabee “Were you aware that this email suggests that the current President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, went to Epstein's Island?”

Huckabee responded that he was not aware.

Carlson said he asked about it again, noting that at the time there had been news items referencing the email and even a protest against Herzog in Australia tied to the allegation.

Isaac Herzog’s office sends Tucker Carlson a letter

Carlson said that after the interview aired, he received what he described as a “long letter” from Herzog’s office.

The letter, he said, denied “unequivocally that he had any contact with Epstein ever.”

“They didn’t know each other. They never emailed with each other, never been in the same room. They had no relationship of any kind,” Carlson said, relaying the contents of the denial.

Carlson added that while he frequently receives letters claiming he got something wrong, “rarely do you get a denial this unequivocal.” Because of that, he said, “we are taking it seriously.”

“There’s nothing worse than impugning the reputation of an innocent man,” Carlson said.

He then clarified that he had not meant to suggest he possessed independent knowledge.

“I just want to say clearly, I’m sorry to imply that I knew something I didn’t know,” he said. “Of course, I don’t know that Isaac Herzog was on the island. I was referring to that email and the protest against him, but I don’t know that, and I didn’t mean to suggest that I do know that.”

Carlson concluded by saying he wanted to present Herzog’s position directly.

“Again, President Herzog says he’s never had any contact with Epstein ever. I just want to say that in the interest of honesty and transparency.”