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When former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine’s name appeared in the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s “little black book” in 2019 alongside 13 different phone numbers, Levine maintained that he did not have a “friendship or business relationship” with the disgraced financier.
However, newly released documents from the United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) latest Epstein file release (an assortment of 3.5 million pages) appear to show that Levine, who served as mayor of Miami Beach from 2013 to 2017, had a relationship with both Epstein and Maxwell that was cozier and longer than he previously described. New Times identified more than 600 mentions of “Phillip Levine” in the DOJ files. The documents paint a picture of a close relationship between Levine and Epstein that dates back to at least 2003, from business meetings to sending words of encouragement as Epstein dealt with a 2008 prostitution case.
Levine did not return New Times‘ requests for comment via phone or text. A Miami Beach spokesperson declined to comment in a phone call with New Times.
“Think I met him possibly one, two, or three times, but briefly, maybe over 15 years ago at events. Don’t remember ever giving him my full contact info, but possibly did give him my contact card,” he told New Times in August 2019, following Epstein’s death by apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail. “[W]hen I read [the book,] I was also surprised. I truly just don’t know.”
In a July 2025 interview with the DOJ, Epstein’s co-conspirator and longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell referred to the former Miami Beach mayor as her “very good friend,” and said she met Clinton after he left the White House in 2001 and later became friendly with him through Philip Levine. When New Times asked Levine about Maxwell’s statement in December 2025, Levine responded, “The precise nature of our relationship was that of a friend to my wife and I, nothing more and nothing less.”
During her DOJ interview, Maxwell told Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, “I was actually introduced to the President post his coming out of the White House and became friendly with him, because of Philip Levine.” But Levine denied those allegations, telling New Times, “This is simply untrue.”
He accompanied that statement with links to a Wikipedia page documenting Epstein’s relationship with Clinton, citing early-1990s events where Maxwell, Clinton, and Epstein were all present.
The seeming inconsistencies in Levine’s recollection to New Times late last year unraveled in the DOJ’s latest release.
The DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs had not responded to a New Times media inquiry submission by the time of this reporting.
The Epstein Connection
In a 2003 email to Antonio Belloni, the former managing director of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, Levine described Epstein as his friend.
“Toni, I have been asked to possibly set up an appointment between you and my friend Jeffrey Epstein. Jeffrey would like to meet with you in Paris regarding Sephora,” the email reads. “Briefly, Jeffrey is a major financier and the financial advisor and representative for Leslie Wexner of The Limited. He will be in Paris next week, and depending on your schedule, he is available Tuesday-Thursday. Please let me know so I can relay info. Thanks. PL.”
After federal prosecutors offered Epstein a widely criticized nonprosecution plea deal in 2008 and Epstein served time at a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detention center under a work-release program, Levine congratulated Epstein on moving past that chapter.
“Hi, Just want you to know that I am happy that everything has come to a positive ending for you during these tough times,” Levine wrote in July 14, 2010, email. “You are a great guy and I know all good things will come to you going forward. In Europe for a while and hope we can catch up soon. Your friend, Philip.”
And it seems they did catch up a few months later, when Levine allegedly made plans to visit Epstein’s home. On September 21, 2010, Lesley Groff, Epstein’s employee, according to the New York Times, emailed Epstein letting him know that Levine would be at the house the next day “for a visit.”
The relationship seems to pay off on May 22, 2013, when Epstein, in an email to Levine, asks how he can contribute to his mayoral campaign. “I would like to contribute to the campaign, h=w [sic] do I do it?” Levine’s campaign then emails Epstein a link to the campaign website, “www.levineformayor.com.”
An “Old Fashioned Approach to Courting”
The latest DOJ documents also include emails between Maxwell and Levine dating back to at least 2001. The pair exchanged flirty messages, discussing dinner plans, traversing the globe together, and even, apparently, Levine’s generous genitals.
“PS,” a January 1 email from Maxwell to Levine reads (the year the email was sent is unclear in the underlying document). “I told her that you were hung like a horse and she sd [sic] that she would like to see it at breakfast — I told her to take pictorial evidence for me”
On October 4, 2001, Maxwell inquires about a breakfast Levine is apparently attending. “Polyp,” she writes to Levine via email, “FYI Lindsay Kraines called me today – Do you think I should call pre or post your breakfast?”
Levine makes the equine reference himself in his email response. “Call her pre but don’t tell her that you know we are having breakfast!!!” he writes. “Just tell her that the rumor is that I am hung like a horse…not a rumor!!!”
In another January 1 email with an unclear year, Maxwell writes to Levine, “Just forwarding what I sent to to [sic] your friend Doug – Philip just e mailed me your contact info. When we are all back in NY the plan is to do a dinner- will have the sluty [sic] Spanish girl which will be nicely counter balanced by the cool poised Swedish type. Let me know when you next go to Europe as I do have some interesting and fun friends that you could hook up with. Hopefully we will meet up again soon,” she writes. “Ghislaine”
Then, on December 29, 2001, Maxwell sends Levine a more serious email. “Are you upset that I told him to take a hike and that I wanted to be with you at all costs?” Maxwell writes. “I thought that you would be pleased? I am truly a little hurt that you only want me if I come with an important dowry. Somehow that seems so old fashioned. Dowry went out over 100 years ago. But you know if I think about it part of your charm is your old fashioned approach to courting. Till consummation”
In a November 26, 2003, email, Maxwell writes, “Oh, vile one. I am coming to Miami Sat, meeting w/Carol to go shopping. Thought seeing [sic] as no one else could possibly want to have dinner w/you [sic] we would sacrifice our selves [sic] as an act of charity and keep you co. for dinner.”
In an emailed response later that evening, Levine responds, “Have a hot, young thing spending the weekend…call me.”
This is a breaking story which will be updated as events warrant.
