EFTA00283136.pdf
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Richardson
—CENTER
October 17, 2016
To:
Jeffrey Epstein
From: Governor Bill Richardson
Re:
Proposal to Support the Richardson Center
Dear Jeff,
Here is proposal we discussed. I have emphasized the wildlife components as you
requested. Since we met last, please see the North Korea work we did per the New York
Times two weeks ago (Please find attached).
I will be in New York in the next two weeks if you want to visit In the meantime Mickey
and Lesley are in touch with each other.
Sincerely,
ita
OBJECTIVE:
The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, leveraging Governor Richardson's stature
and diplomatic experience, is requesting your support to allow us to continue and expand
on our work. Specifically, your support will allow us to boost our efforts aimed at securing
a safe and secure future of threatened African elephant populations, and care for
Chimpanzees previously used for medical tests.
ABOUT THE RICHARDSON CENTER:
The Richardson Center promotes global peace and dialogue by identifying and working on
areas of opportunity for engagement and citizen diplomacy with countries and
communities not usually open to more formal diplomatic channels. The Center fulfills this
mission by promoting communication between countries with strained diplomatic
relations, through diplomacy, cultural and business exchanges and activities; by securing
the release and return of political prisoners in hostile countries; and by providing training
and institutional advice to governments and non-governmental organizations seeking to
protect their environment and wildlife resources; as well as providing logistical support in
securing and delivering humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in natural disaster
areas.
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Throughout a distinguished career as Congressman, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary and
Governor, Richardson has developed an exceptional international reputation, an extensive
network of personal contacts and enormous global experience. He has successfully
completed sensitive diplomatic missions in countries such as North Korea, Iraq,
Afghanistan, Sudan, Cuba, Burma, Congo and Colombia. The Richardson Center has already
implemented successful programs in Cuba, Myanmar, the Middle East, North Korea and
Africa.
REPORT OF PAST ACTIVITIES IN WILDLIFE PROTECTION:
I. Hiring . Training. and Protection of Park Rangers and Managers
In August 2013, the Richardson Center commenced its "Poacher-to-Protector" program
at the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Congo. The program took in 61 poachers. In
return for the poachers surrendering their weapons and providing intelligence to the
local authority, they were offered amnesty, training in protection, and jobs at the local
park. The program included a selection period, to assess credibility and skills.
Beyond turning 61 poachers into rangers and confiscating their arms, the intelligence
gathered from these poachers led to the arrest of several regional king-pins, disrupting
the regional poaching infrastructure. The effectiveness of the program led to increase
threats on the park, a fact that required updating and increasing security measures and
some restructuring.
The program concluded with the establishment of a permanent training school to
sustain such programs. The training school was built and is managed by Africa Parks.
As reference, please find attached an Environment News Service write up about the
poacher-to-protector program.
II. Integration of New Technologies into Conservation Efforts
On October 31st 2013, the Richardson Center, together with the World Wildlife Fund US,
convened a forum on: "Protecting Threatened Wildlife in Africa with Technology and
Training". The forum brought together over 40 companies and organizations for the
first ever discussion and analysis of technological tools in the service of wildlife
protection between technology industry leaders and protection agencies and
organizations from the field.
During the proceedings, cutting edge technologies were present, challenged and
assessed by conservation organizations and activists. From drones to DNA
backtracking, this forum enabled research, customization and smart purchasing of
technological tools to be served in the field for the protection of wildlife.
As reference, please find attached a write-up by WWF US about our partnership and
work with them.
III. Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Regime
In 2013, the Richardson Center commissioned a white paper on the use of the asset
forfeiture remedy to attack the financial underpinnings of the lucrative traffic in ivory
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and rhino horns. The paper was used to develop a comprehensive financially oriented
training program for investigators and prosecutors.
The asset forfeiture and financial investigation training is the first of its kind, and was
uniquely developed out of the program envisioned in 2013. Thus, it took significant
time and resources to develop the research, model, and curriculum.
The week of September 10 2016, a pilot training in Kenya showcased the model
training curriculum's two core instructional modules--investigation and prosecution.
Participants came in from Kenya, Gabon, Congo, Uganda and Tanzania.
To support the two modules, the Richardson Center's expert instructors prepared
reference material based on Kenya's money laundering and asset forfeiture laws, and
crafted a Case Study to prompt the participants to draw on innovative investigative and
prosecutive techniques from classroom lectures, in carrying forward an anti-poaching
financial investigation culminating in both criminal prosecution for money laundering
offenses and eventual forfeiture of assets derived from ivory poaching.
Results: participants became actively engaged in the classroom exercise of building a
financially oriented anti-poaching case from its inception, and eventually handing it off
to projectors working cooperatively with them. The Richardson Center received a
number of compliments from the participants and requests for follow up training and
assistance in implementation in the field.
As reference, please find attached the report from the pilot training in Kenya,
September 2016.
IV. Protection and Care of Chimpanzees
The Richardson Center engaged in the protection and care of Chimpanzees. More than
60 chimpanzees abandoned in Liberia by the New York Blood Center are on a path to
living at a suitable long-term sanctuary thanks to this effort
The Richardson Center together with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)
are now working alongside the government of Liberia to ensure proper long-term care
and well-being of the chimpanzees after the New York Blood Center (NYBC) forced
them to suffer in captivity, endure painful research experiments and then left them to
die of starvation and dehydration.
In addition to supporting efforts on the ground in Liberia, the Richardson Center and
HSUS are collaborating to increase pressure on the NYBC to reinstate funding and live
up to its responsibility and public promise to provide lifetime care of the animals.
As reference, please find attached:
- Washington Post article covering our Chimpanzees work
- Announcement of our partnership with the Humane Society US
- A video of the Governor's visit with the Jane Goodall Foundation at the Chimpanzees
sanctuary in the Congo
In addition to the programs detailed above, Governor Richardson established, together
with Robert Redford the Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife. The foundation
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has formalized an agreement with the Navajo Nation to develop a comprehensive and
humane program to manage the thousands of free-roaming horses on the reservation.
The ultimate goal of the agreement is to develop alternatives to transporting the horses
to slaughter facilities.
NEXT STEPS:
Based on the success of our programs to-date, the Richardson Center is seeking your
support in moving forward and expanding elements of our existing programs.
Specifically, the Richardson Center would like to:
1. Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Regime -
• Provide technical assistance to at least one nation that attended the Kenya pilot
training, so that their first anti-poaching forfeiture case can be investigated and
prosecuted.
• Share the successful Kenya training with other NGOs and US agencies with the goal
of institutionalizing the Richardson Center asset forfeiture curriculum.
2. Poacher-to-Protector -
• Replicate the successful Congo program in at least one more location/country,
creating momentum for the proliferation of the module and conversion of more
poachers into protectors.
3. Protection and Care of Chimpanzees -
• Expand our work with the Chimpanzees in Liberia, establishing a permanent, legal
and sustainable sanctuary for them.
• Push to provide other Chimpanzee communities, previously used for medical tests,
with sanctuary solutions.
Estimated cost for these programs (which may vary based on pressing programs and
priorities):
- Asset Forfeiture training and assistance: $115,000
- Poacher-to-Protector program: $75,000
- Protection of Chimpanzees: $110,000
- Staff travel: $100,000
- Support for Center's operations: $100,000
- TOTAL COST: $500.000
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Directions for Payment:
Via Wire Transfer
Account Name:
The Richardson Center for Global Engagement
Bank Name:
First National Santa Fe
Bank Address:
62 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Account Number.
ABA/Routing:
Via Check
Subject Line:
Mail to:
Richardson Center for Global Engagement
The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, 216 Washington Ave,
Suite #1, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA
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| Filename | EFTA00283136.pdf |
| File Size | 335.0 KB |
| OCR Confidence | 85.0% |
| Has Readable Text | Yes |
| Text Length | 9,772 characters |
| Indexed | 2026-02-11T12:48:49.797659 |