Ten-time Pro Bowl quarterbackRussell Wilsonturned to social media on Sunday, Feb. 1, to refute any connection with notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after his name was referenced the Justice Department's latest release of Epstein files.
Several emails from Epstein and his personal pilot, Larry Visoski, were among themillions of pages of documentspublished by the DOJ on Friday, Jan. 30. In them, the two discussed Wilson's interest in buying Epstein's Gulfstream G-IV private jet in 2019.
"NOPE!!! ABSOLUTELY NOT! Not TODAY satan!" Wilson wrote In his Feb. 1 post on X, acknowledging he did discuss a potential purchase with "some random plane broker," but saying he "had no idea whose plane" it was.
According to the Justice Department emails, Epstein had given Visoski permission to show Wilson the plane on Jan. 25, 2019, and that during the flight Wilson "took many photos and video" with his wife, Ciara.
Visoski's email to Epstein two days later said, "Russell Wilson (Seattle SeaHawks quarterback) is calling Gary non-Stop since his viewing yesterday. He wants your GIV."
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Visoski also discusses a possible timeline for a sale, noting that Wilson "wants to sign his new contract with Seattle SeaHawks before letting the media and his team know that he is Purchasing a Plane."
Russell Wilson: Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champion, New York Giants QB
Later that spring, Wilson did end up signinga four-year, $140 million contract extensionwith Seattle that made him the NFL's highest-paid player at the time.
Wilsoneventually did purchase a different Gulfstream G-IV. TheSeattle Times reportsthat FAA records show the aircraft was registered to Seattle-based West2East 330 LLC in December 2020.
Publicist Stephanie Jones, whose firm represents Wilson, told the Times in an email Sunday afternoon that the Super Bowl 48 champion "never purchased the aircraft, nor was he aware that any aircraft discussed by third parties had any connection to Epstein."
Wilson, 37, is a 14-year NFL veteran who began last year as theNew York Giants' starting quarterback but was later benched for rookieJaxson Dart. He is set to become a free agent this offseason.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Russell Wilson had 'no idea' plane broker worked for Jeffrey Epstein