Brad Karp, longtime chairman of elite law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, resigned his leadership role on February 4, 2026, after newly released Jeffrey Epstein files revealed his communications with Epstein, including a 2016 request for help securing his son a role in a Woody Allen film production and ties via client Leon Black.
Social media amplified the story, with one post calling Karp a “Democrat bundler” and an influential corporate lawyer. In response to the scandal, the firm appointed Scott Barshay as successor, praising his expertise. Refusing to accept responsibility, Karp stated that resignation stemmed from “recent reporting” that created a distraction not in the firm’s best interests.
Barshay lauded Karp’s more than four decades of supposed contributions and transformative leadership. Karp remains a partner. Harsh social media responses labeled him a “pedophilic fascistically capitulatory scumbag,” while others wished that he would face accountability.
Breaking the story, one popular post on social media read, “Democrat bundler & leader of Paul Weiss, Brad Karp, resigned over new revelations about his association with Jeffrey Epstein! Karp is an influential lawyer in corporate circles, who advised boards of directors and business leaders, including Apollo co-founder Leon Black.”
“Newly released Epstein files showed that Karp communicated with Epstein about Black, one of his top clients,” the same source added. That source then went on to say, “Emails from 2016 show Karp asking Epstein to find a role for his son on a coming Woody Allen film.”
“Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP announced today that Scott Barshay has been appointed Chairman of the firm, effective immediately, following Brad Karp’s decision to resign as Chairman,” the firm stated. Adding more context, the firm’s release revealed, “Mr. Barshay was previously Chair of the Paul, Weiss Corporate Department. He is widely recognized as one of the world’s most preeminent lawyers and has spent over 30 years advising Boards of Directors and management teams on some of the most complex and highest profile legal matters.”
Reacting to the dramatic resignation, Mr. Barshay, Chairman of Paul, Weiss, said, “I step into this role with great confidence in Paul, Weiss’ continued success. Our strength lies in the talent and dedication of our people and trusted client relationships. Clients come to Paul, Weiss because we deliver excellence, and our firm is unified in our commitment to continuing to provide the highest standards of client service.”
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“Brad has made immense contributions to Paul, Weiss over his more than four decades with the firm,” he added, “As Chairman of the firm, he transformed Paul, Weiss in an unprecedented way to the great benefit of our clients. We are grateful to him for his extraordinary dedication and service over his many years as Chairman.”
Refusing to accept any responsibility, Mr. Karp declared, “Leading Paul, Weiss for the past 18 years has been the honor of my professional life. Recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests of the firm.”
Reacting on social media, one user said, “Brad Karp is stepping down as chair of Paul Weiss after revelations about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein came to light. There is nobody alive that I have more disdain for than this un-American pedophilic fascistically capitulatory scumbag. I wish he could end up broke.”
Watch a Democratic Senator Go Ballistic as Pam Bondi reveals his Epstein ties:
Featured image: Ghislaine maxwell pic By Ghislaine Maxwell – I. Maxwell, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15965324