Newly released Justice Department documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein have offered an unexpected window into Silicon Valley’s electric vehicle boom, revealing how previously obscure figures pursued ties to high-profile startups. The records shed light on investment conversations that took place amid a period of intense capital flows into emerging mobility ventures.
Report shows that a businessman approached Epstein seeking involvement in funding electric vehicle companies including Faraday Future, Lucid Motors and Canoo. At the time, Chinese investment and state-linked capital were keen to participate in the sector’s rapid expansion, and Stern’s outreach reflected broader efforts to connect influential backers with startups positioned as part of “the future of transportation”.
The documents include email exchanges about Lucid Motors’ efforts to close a Series D fundraising round to begin production of its first electric sedan. Stern sought information regarding potential investment activity, including whether firms such as Ford might participate. The correspondence suggests a strategy focused on timing and opportunity, with the potential for rapid returns rather than long-term company building. Although Epstein did not ultimately invest in the companies discussed, Stern later invested in Canoo, which has since gone bankrupt.
The files also depict the backdrop to the early EV era in Silicon Valley, when mobility and autonomous technologies were closely intertwined in public narratives about innovation. Stern emerged as a recurring figure in the emails, evolving from an enigmatic presence to someone who was consistently present in discussions with Epstein about deal opportunities over an extended period.
Importantly, much of the correspondence occurred after Epstein’s 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor, highlighting how some business actors in the Valley maintained contact with him despite his legal history. The exchanges provide a retrospective lens on how investor networks operated during the formative years of several electric vehicle ventures and how connections beyond traditional venture capital channels were pursued.
