The Humpty Dumpty Institute: Jeffrey Epstein’s Brother, Chinese Executives, and 38 Members of Congress

TL;DR

DOJ FOIA documents reveal that Mark Epstein (Jeffrey Epstein’s brother) was a Director and main financier of the Humpty Dumpty Institute (HDI) – a nonprofit with a Congressional Advisory Board of 38 Members of Congress. Also on the board: executives from Perfect World, China’s largest gaming company. Five days after Jeffrey Epstein’s death, a self-described US military intelligence operative contacted Mark warning about “PRC China involvement” and foreign intelligence using Jeffrey as a “cutout.”

PART 1: The Intelligence Warning

The Melvyn Kohn Emails (August 2019)

Document Source:

• DOJ FOIA Documents: EFTA00037218, EFTA00037238, EFTA00037239-37241
• Date Range: August 12-20, 2019
• Context: 5-10 days after Jeffrey Epstein’s death (August 10, 2019)

Who is Melvyn Kohn?

Self-described credentials from his emails:

• Former US military intelligence
• Security clearance issued “young”
• Uncle was “head of int’l relations at the Pentagon and answered directly to the president”
• Family members hold TS+ (Top Secret Plus) clearances
• Claims to know Israeli Knesset members (Sharon Haskell, Haim Oron)
• Attended Israel Shamir’s book launch in Lord Ahmed’s chambers
• Claims expertise in PRC China intelligence matters

Key Claims Made by Kohn

1. Epstein as Intelligence “Cutout”:

“It is a complex equation of using cutouts to do intel work and then letting others take the blame. In this case, non Jews used Jeffrey.”

2. Foreign Intelligence Weakening Israel:

“This is in fact part of what some foreign intel agencies want to happen, masking their own presence and making Israel weaker.”

3. Denies Mossad Connection:

“Many are rushing to say that he, and you and sometimes even all of us are Mossad.”

“Neither you nor he are Mossad, or even working knowingly for any foreign intel agency.”

4. Arms Dealer Connections:

“Years ago Jeffrey had some exposure to North Korean/Chinese agents, and was in the proximity of arms dealers who sold to these nations and on behalf of them.”

“Gerald Bull may have been involved… And possibly Dr Herman Erben.”

• Gerald Bull – Canadian weapons designer, assassinated Brussels 1990, allegedly by Mossad for building Iraq “supergun”
• Dr. Herman Erben – Austrian Nazi spy, Errol Flynn associate, died 1985

5. Chinese Infiltration of HDI:

“What needs to be known is more about the PRC Chinese execs at Humpty.”

“A focus is PRC China involvement.”

6. Security Warning to Mark Epstein:

“When the #1 target was a risk factor to a certain already mentioned person and their allies, you were safe. Until he was out of the equation. Now they can work down the list.”

“Please do not be lulled into a false sense of such because you were left alone to parade your car etc in full view.”

7. Ghislaine Maxwell Warning:

“I am not sure if GM is on it or their ally, she thinks she is but allies have ways of falling out. Or falling down dark stairs, despite her power.”

8. HDI Congressional Connection:

“There is the presence of certain parties in this mix who are, including on the Humpty Dumpty charity, which you and he were part of, along with 29 Congressmen.”

“On that bipartisan list we find Hank Johnson, who calls Jews termites”

PART 2: The Humpty Dumpty Institute

Organization Details

• Founded: 1998
• EIN: 13-4028567
• Tax-Exempt Since: October 1999
• Address: 527 Hudson Street Suite 20061, New York, NY 10014
• Website: https://thehdi.org/
• Purpose: Sponsors Congressional delegations to the United Nations

Original Founders:

• Constance J. Milstein (Chairman and Founder)
• Michael W. Sonnenfeldt (Vice-Chairman and Founder)
• William J. Rouhana, Jr. (Vice-Chairman and Founder)

Board of Directors (2018 – Per IRS Form 990)

• Mark Epstein – Director, main financier
• Robert Hong Xiao – Director (CEO, Perfect World – China’s largest gaming company)
• Ruby Wang – Director (Senior VP, Perfect World – manages governmental relations)
• Benjamin A. Gilman
• Richard C. Holbrooke

IMPORTANT: Mark Epstein, Robert Hong Xiao, and Ruby Wang were removed from HDI website after Jeffrey Epstein’s death but remain on 2018 IRS filings

Financial Summary (2024):

• Revenue: $2,214,703
• Expenses: $1,915,858
• Total Assets: $411,999

The China Connection

Perfect World Entertainment:

• Description: China’s largest gaming company
• Exports to: 100+ countries
• Subsidiaries: 10+ in Europe, Asia, North America

Robert Hong Xiao:

• CEO of Perfect World
• HDI Board Director (listed on 2018 Form 990)
• Removed from HDI website post-Epstein death

Ruby Wang:

• Senior Vice President, Perfect World
• Official Spokesperson
• Manages: Brand construction, strategic cooperation, global affairs, governmental relations, public relations
• HDI Board Director (listed on 2018 Form 990)
• Removed from HDI website post-Epstein death

PART 3: Mark Epstein – Complete Dossier

Basic Information

• Full Name: Mark Lawrence Epstein
• Nickname: “Puggy”
• Born: July 14, 1954
• Relation: Younger brother of Jeffrey Epstein
• Email: izmo@mindspring.com
• Address: 30 Vandam Street, Penthouse, NYC 10013
• Category in DOJ Documents: “Core” (same as Jeffrey Epstein)

Document Presence in DOJ FOIA Release

Total Mentions: 64 documents

• Mark Epstein: 51 documents
• Mark L. Epstein: 11 documents

Business Empire

IZMO Family of Companies

• Founded: 1986
• Original Business: Silkscreen T-shirt printing
• Subsidiaries: IZMO (main), IZMO Marine (yacht deliveries NYC to Miami)
• Status: Majority dissolved by 2004
• Notable Asset: $1M luxury yacht “Izmo” (later donated to Marine Science Academy, Charleston)

Ossa Properties Inc.

• Type: Real estate investment company
• Holdings: 500+ renter-occupied apartments in 4 NYC co-op projects (as of 1993)
• Key Property: 301 East 66th Street, Manhattan – Alleged center of Jeffrey Epstein’s NYC trafficking operation
• Mark claims Jeffrey had no ownership, but Jeffrey was present at acquisition meet-and-greet

Connection to J. Epstein & Co.

• Mark was President of J. Epstein & Co. (Jeffrey’s investment firm)
• Shared executive: Jonathan Barrett served as both Ossa Properties VP/CFO AND J. Epstein & Co. asset manager (1992-1996)
• Harlem Link Charter School described Ossa as “an affiliated NYC real estate investment company” to J. Epstein & Co.
• Mark denies business ties despite documentation

The Day Jeffrey Died – August 10, 2019

FBI Document EFTA00037380

Mark Epstein called the FBI New York Office on August 10, 2019 – the day Jeffrey was found dead.

“NYOC received a phone call from 917-543-2432. The individual identified themselves as Mark Epstein and requested to be contacted regarding the death of his brother, Jeffrey.”

“Epstein was advised that the NYOC could not provide any information confirming or denying whether there was in fact an investigation into Jeffrey’s death.”

Security Investigation (August 2019)

Mark hired T&M Protection Resources to investigate Kohn’s emails as potential “harassment”:

“Attached is the zip file containing 3 emails from [Kohn] to Mark Epstein as well as the header info obtained from the emails. The header info only gives us that it is routing through the UK yahoo email servers.”

The Missing YouTube Video

T&M Protection noted Mark received a video from Jeffrey:

“Mark received an email from Jeff that had a YouTube link to a ‘mock interview’ between Jeff and Steve Bannon. Apparently there were some comments about Trump and their relationship that Mark thought were of interest.”

“Mark received this email from Jeff sometime this year, 3-4 months ago… When he went back a couple weeks later to view it, it was no longer available.”

Status: Video taken down, original email lost, Mark searching YouTube history

Harassment and Threats (2020)

Death Threats via LinkedIn (May 2020)

“We will kill one of your children in 48 hours. Stupid”

“Just answer, what is the boss’s name? If else We will kill your children”

Mark forwarded to FBI Squad C-19 for investigation.

Email Hacking (July 2020)

Someone hacked Mark’s email:

“This guy has hacked into my emails.”

Hacker’s message:

“Jeffrey’s girlfriend was arrested. The next person to be arrested is you.”

Iranian Threat (August 2020)

Threat claiming IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard) connection:

“One of my friends is the designer of the IRGC spy software, the same software that managed to hack the CIA site.”

“From now on, you and your friends and lawyers, beware of any messages, emails or software, your computer and mobile phone may be under my control.”

“I see the day you are in prison and all your property has been confiscated.”

Financial Red Flags

• Tax Liens: $190,000+ accumulated between 2006-2018
• Yacht Sale Attempt: Tried unsuccessfully to sell 80-foot yacht
• Mysterious Wealth: Both WSJ and Dow Jones called source of his wealth “mysterious”
• Refused Questions: Would not answer Wall Street Journal questions about wealth source

PART 4: The 38 Congressmen

Democrats (26 Members)

Adam Schiff (D-CA)

• Committee: Intelligence (former Chair)
• Pro-Israel PAC $: $6,233,039

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)

• Committee: Appropriations
• Pro-Israel PAC $: $1,036,534

Maxine Waters (D-CA)

• Committee: Financial Services (former Chair)
• Pro-Israel PAC $: $4,000

Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX)

• Committee: Judiciary, Homeland Security

Al Green (D-TX)

• Committee: Financial Services, Homeland Security

Bennie Thompson (D-MS)

• Committee: Homeland Security (Chair)
• Pro-Israel PAC $: $9,300

Jim Himes (D-CT)

• Committee: Intelligence, Financial Services

Frederica Wilson (D-FL)

• Committee: Education, Transportation

Hank Johnson (D-GA)

• Committee: Judiciary, Transportation
• Pro-Israel PAC $: $68,415
• Note: Named by Melvyn Kohn as “calling Jews termites”

Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY)

• Committee: Energy & Commerce, Homeland Security

Jim Clyburn (D-SC)

• Committee: House Majority Whip (former)

Judy Chu (D-CA)

• Committee: Ways & Means

Andre Carson (D-IN)

• Committee: Intelligence, Transportation

Robin Kelly (D-IL)

• Committee: Energy & Commerce

Betty McCollum (D-MN)

• Committee: Appropriations

Gregory Meeks (D-NY)

• Committee: Foreign Affairs (Chair)

Mark Pocan (D-WI)

• Committee: Appropriations

Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ)

• Committee: Natural Resources (Chair)

Barbara Lee (D-CA)

• Committee: Appropriations

Nita Lowey (D-NY)

• Committee: Appropriations (former Chair)

Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)

• Committee: Oversight (former Chair)

Grace Napolitano (D-CA)

• Committee: Transportation

Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)

• Committee: Science (former Chair)

Daniel T. Kildee (D-MI)

• Committee: Ways & Means

Marcia L. Fudge (D-OH)

• Committee: HUD Secretary (former)

Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)

• Committee: Armed Services

Republicans (12 Members)

Mark Meadows (R-NC)

• Committee: White House Chief of Staff (former)

Don Bacon (R-NE)

• Committee: Armed Services
• Pro-Israel PAC $: $1,287,408

Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)

• Committee: Energy & Commerce

Andy Harris (R-MD)

• Committee: Appropriations

Barry Moore (R-AL)

• Committee: Agriculture

August Pfluger (R-TX)

• Committee: Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security

Buddy Carter (R-GA)

• Committee: Energy & Commerce

Doug Lamborn (R-CO)

• Committee: Armed Services

Troy Nehls (R-TX)

• Committee: Judiciary

Tony Gonzales (R-TX)

• Committee: Appropriations

Pete Olson (R-TX)

• Committee: Energy & Commerce (former)

Garett Graves (R-LA)

• Committee: Transportation

PART 5: Voting Analysis

Pro-Israel PAC Contributions to HDI Members

Top Recipients (from Track AIPAC data):

• Adam Schiff (D-CA): $6,233,039 from AIPAC, UDP
• Don Bacon (R-NE): $1,287,408 from AIPAC, RJC, NORPAC
• Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): $1,036,534 from AIPAC, DMFI
• Hank Johnson (D-GA): $68,415 from AGG, COPAC, FIP, J Street, NORPAC
• Bennie Thompson (D-MS): $9,300 from J Street
• Maxine Waters (D-CA): $4,000 from various

Analysis:

• Adam Schiff received the highest pro-Israel lobby funding of any member ($6.2M)
• Don Bacon (Republican) received over $1.2M despite party typically receiving less AIPAC support
• Hank Johnson – mentioned by Melvyn Kohn as “calling Jews termites” – still received $68K from pro-Israel sources

Key Israel-Related Votes

Iron Dome Funding (H.R. 5323, 2021) – $1 billion supplemental

• Hank Johnson: Present (abstained)
• Most HDI Democrats: Yes
• All HDI Republicans: Yes

Israel Security Supplemental (H.R. 8034, April 2024) – $17 billion

HDI Members Who Voted NO:

• Hank Johnson (D-GA)
• Maxine Waters (D-CA)
• Judy Chu (D-CA)

HDI Members Who Voted YES:

• Adam Schiff (D-CA)
• Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
• Don Bacon (R-NE)
• Most other HDI members

Anti-BDS Resolution (H.Res. 246, 2019) – Passed 398-17

Most HDI members voted YES including Adam Schiff, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Don Bacon

Statistical Summary

Pro-Israel Voting by HDI Affiliation (estimated):

• HDI Republicans: ~95%
• HDI Democrats (pro-Israel wing): ~85%
• HDI Democrats (critical wing): ~40%
• Non-HDI Democrats (average): ~75%
• Non-HDI Republicans (average): ~95%

Key Observation:

HDI Democrats show a bimodal distribution – either strongly pro-Israel (Schiff, Wasserman Schultz) or notably critical (Johnson, Waters). This is more polarized than typical Democratic caucus.

PART 6: Concerning Patterns

1. Disproportionate PAC Funding

HDI members Schiff ($6.2M), Bacon ($1.2M), and Wasserman Schultz ($1M) received significantly more pro-Israel PAC money than average members.

2. The Hank Johnson Paradox

• Explicitly named by Melvyn Kohn as “calling Jews termites”
• Still received $68K from pro-Israel sources
• Voted against Israel multiple times
• Why was he on HDI board with pro-Israel members and Epstein?

3. China Executive Board Members

Robert Hong Xiao and Ruby Wang (Perfect World) served on HDI board alongside:

• Mark Epstein (Epstein family)
• Members of House Intelligence Committee (Schiff)
• Members of House Foreign Affairs Committee

4. Removal Pattern

Mark Epstein, Robert Hong Xiao, and Ruby Wang were all removed from HDI website after Jeffrey Epstein’s death, but remain on 2018 IRS filings.

5. Key Committee Access

HDI had advisory board members on:

• Intelligence Committee (Schiff – former Chair, Carson, Himes)
• Foreign Affairs Committee (Meeks – Chair)
• Homeland Security Committee (Thompson – Chair)
• Appropriations Committee (Lowey – former Chair)
• Armed Services Committee (Bacon, Lamborn)

PART 7: Timeline of Events

• 1998: Humpty Dumpty Institute founded
• 1999: HDI receives 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• 2005+: HDI begins congressional delegation programs
• 2018: Mark Epstein listed as Director/financier on Form 990
• 2018: Robert Hong Xiao, Ruby Wang listed as Directors
• Aug 10, 2019: Jeffrey Epstein found dead
• Aug 10, 2019: Mark Epstein calls FBI requesting contact
• Aug 12, 2019: Melvyn Kohn first contacts Mark
• Aug 12, 2019: Mark asks Kohn: “Do you know Jumas, from the Knesset?”
• Aug 15, 2019: Kohn sends intelligence warning to Mark
• Aug 16, 2019: T&M Protection investigates Kohn emails
• Aug 19, 2019: Kohn confirms “focus is PRC China involvement”
• Aug 20, 2019: Emails forwarded to William Weller via Stacey Richman
• Dec 2020: Mark Epstein still listed on HDI website
• Post-2020: Epstein, Xiao, Wang removed from HDI website
• May 2020: Death threats to Mark via LinkedIn
• Jul 2020: Mark’s email hacked
• Aug 2020: Iranian/IRGC threat received

PART 8: Key Questions

1. Why was Mark Epstein a Director and main financier of an organization with Congressional access?
2. Why were Chinese gaming company executives on the board of a nonprofit sponsoring Congressional UN visits?
3. Why were Mark Epstein, Robert Hong Xiao, and Ruby Wang all removed from the HDI website after Jeffrey Epstein’s death?
4. What was the nature of Jeffrey Epstein’s “exposure to North Korean/Chinese agents”?
5. Who are the “certain parties” in HDI that Kohn claims are foreign intelligence?
6. Why did a self-described US military intel operative contact Mark Epstein days after Jeffrey’s death?
7. What information does Mark Epstein have that would show he and Jeffrey “are not Mossad”?
8. What was the content of the Jeffrey Epstein / Steve Bannon “mock interview” video that was taken down?
9. Who is threatening Mark with death threats and Iranian hacking capabilities?
10. What is the true source of Mark’s wealth given his tax lien history?

Sources

DOJ FOIA Documents:

• EFTA00037218 (Melvyn Kohn email)
• EFTA00037238 (Melvyn Kohn email)
• EFTA00037239-37241 (Melvyn Kohn email)
• EFTA00037236 (T&M Protection investigation)
• EFTA00037380 (FBI call Aug 10, 2019)
• EFTA00037243 (LinkedIn death threats)
• EFTA00037245 (FBI contact info)
• EFTA00037250 (Estate mail forwarding)
• EFTA00037256 (Email hacking)
• EFTA00037261 (IRGC threat)

External Sources:

• HDI Congressional Advisory Board
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer – HDI
• Track AIPAC
• Congress.gov
• OpenSecrets
• LittleSis – Mark Epstein Interlocks
• Daily Beast – Mark Epstein Profile
• Daily Caller – Epstein Brother Think Tank
• National File – HDI Investigation

Analysis compiled December 2025 from DOJ FOIA DataSet 8 and public records

Edit: For those asking – yes, this is all from publicly available DOJ FOIA documents. The Melvyn Kohn emails are real documents from the Epstein FOIA release. The HDI board membership comes from their IRS Form 990 filings which are public record.

Here is what perplexity has to say about HDI.

Recent Form 990 data lists a small group of officers and directors, but the exact “current” lineup can shift year to year, so it is best to treat this as a snapshot of the last reported filings.[projects.propublica]​

Officers and key executives (recent filings)

From the most recent ProPublica/IRS Form 990 data, the following people appear as key employees or officers for Humpty Dumpty Institute Inc. (EIN 13‑4028567):[projects.propublica]​

• Ralph Cwerman – President, CEO, and Director (listed as a compensated key employee in earlier years, with compensation reported such as about 100,000 dollars in one filing).[projects.propublica]​

• John Sandy – Chairman or Director (appears as “Chairman” in the latest officer/compensation listing; previously shown as Director).denicolafamilyfoundation+1

• Dr. Al Khalafalla – Board Chair/Director (identified as Board Chairman in multiple HDI communications, and as a Director in officer tables).thehdi+1

• Joseph Merante – Executive Director (described as Executive Director of HDI on his professional profile, managing strategic relations with the U.S. government and the UN).linkedin+1

Board of directors (non‑staff directors)

Across the recent Form 990 officer tables, these individuals appear as board members (mostly uncompensated):[projects.propublica]​

• Dr. Al Khalafalla – Chairman / Director.thehdi+1

• John Sandy – Chairman or Director.denicolafamilyfoundation+1

• Cosmo Denicola – Director.[projects.propublica]​

• Jennifer Diamond – Director.thehdi+1

• Deborah Landey – Director.[projects.propublica]​

• Venerable Hsin Ting – Director.[projects.propublica]​

• Amir Dossal – Director.[projects.propublica]​

• Walter Arbib – Director.[projects.propublica]​

• Islam Mustafa – Associate Director (non‑voting) on some filings.thehdi+1

• Morgan De Nicola – Associate Director (non‑voting) in at least one year.[projects.propublica]​

Earlier years’ 990s and GuideStar’s older board snapshot also show long‑time directors and emeritus roles, such as:guidestar+1

• William J. Rouhana Jr. – Chairman.guidestar+1

• Constance Milstein – Chairman Emeritus.[projects.propublica]​

• Michael W. Sonnenfeldt – Chairman Emeritus.guidestar+1

• Benjamin Gilman – Director.[projects.propublica]​

• Mark Epstein – Director.thehdi+1

• Christopher Mitchell, Richard Sneider – Directors in certain earlier years.[projects.propublica]​

Quick reference table (recent names)

Role type	Individuals (examples from recent 990s and HDI materials)
Key executives	Ralph Cwerman (President/CEO/Director), Joseph Merante (Executive Director) projects.propublica+1
Board leadership	Dr. Al Khalafalla (Chair/Director), John Sandy (Chairman/Director) projects.propublica+2
Other directors	Cosmo Denicola, Jennifer Diamond, Deborah Landey, Venerable Hsin Ting, Amir Dossal, Walter Arbib, Islam Mustafa (Associate Director), Morgan De Nicola (Associate Director) projects.propublica+2
Emeritus/earlier	William J. Rouhana Jr. (Chairman), Constance Milstein (Chairman Emeritus), Michael W. Sonnenfeldt (Chairman Emeritus), Benjamin Gilman, Mark Epstein, Christopher Mitchell, Richard Sneider guidestar+2

If you need the exact officer and director list for a specific tax year (e.g., 2022 vs. 2024) I can pull that year’s 990 and enumerate the names exactly as filed.