What the Epstein files reveal about EV startups and Silicon Valley

The recently released Justice Department documents related to Jeffrey Epstein have shed light on his indirect connections to the electric vehicle (EV) startup scene and Silicon Valley investment networks. Journalist Sean O’Kane, reporting for TechCrunch, uncovered that Epstein was pitched investment opportunities in multiple EV startups, including Faraday Future, Lucid Motors, and Canoo, through a mysterious German businessman named David Stern. Stern, who had ties to China and was reportedly close to Prince Andrew, played a key role in introducing Epstein to these deals over a period spanning about a decade, beginning around 2008. Although Epstein never directly invested in these companies, Stern’s involvement reveals a complex web of financing and influence behind the rise of several EV startups. One particularly notable case is Canoo, a now-bankrupt EV company whose early investors were initially concealed. Among them were high-profile figures connected to Chinese political and business elites, as well as Stern, whose background and role remained obscure until the Epstein files surfaced. Stern’s efforts