Fake Video Falsely Links German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Jeffrey Epstein
A misleading video is spreading on Russian Telegram channels, falsely claiming that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2015. The footage, which bears the logo of the German news portal t-online, was never published by the outlet and contains no credible evidence. The video suggests that the so-called 'Epstein files'—a collection of court documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice—include proof of a meeting between Merz and Epstein. However, independent fact-checkers at Correctiv have confirmed there is no connection between the two men. The files, released in stages from December 2025 and February 2026, name various high-profile figures, including former US President Donald Trump, ex-Harvard president Lawrence Summers, and linguist Noam Chomsky, but make no mention of Merz.
*t-online* has clarified that the video is fake. The portal does not overlay its logo on footage in this way, and its genuine reports use a distinct font for subtitles. The original *t-online* content also includes proper source attribution for photos and videos, which this clip lacks. Jeffrey Epstein, an American financier, was convicted in 2008 for sex crimes against minors. A second case for child trafficking was opened in 2019, but he died before facing trial. Despite the false claims, no evidence exists that Merz appears in the Epstein files or had any link to Epstein.
The fabricated video continues to circulate, but fact-checkers and t-online have debunked its claims. There remains no verified connection between Friedrich Merz and Jeffrey Epstein. The 'Epstein files' contain no reference to the German chancellor.
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