4chan Founder Denies Epstein Link to /pol/ Board Creation
▼ Summary
– The author states that Jeffrey Epstein had no involvement in the reintroduction of a politics board on 4chan.
– The decision to add the board was made weeks in advance and implemented nearly a day before a chance encounter with Epstein.
– The author’s only substantive contact was a single, unmemorable lunch meeting arranged by Epstein’s assistant after that encounter.
– This occurred during a period when the author was meeting hundreds of people monthly through tech event networking.
– The author expresses regret over the encounter and deep sympathy for Epstein’s victims, confirming no further contact was maintained.
The founder of the online forum 4chan has publicly clarified the timeline surrounding the creation of its controversial /pol/ board, explicitly denying any connection to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. Christopher Poole, known online as “moot,” stated that the decision to reintroduce a dedicated politics section was made independently and implemented nearly a full day before he first met Epstein by chance at a social gathering. This statement directly addresses long-standing speculation and conspiracy theories that have circulated online, aiming to separate the platform’s operational history from the notorious figure.
According to Poole, the encounter was brief and incidental. He explains that during a period of frequent public speaking and networking within the technology sector, he was meeting a large number of people each month. Following the initial social event, an assistant for Epstein reached out, which led to a single, subsequent lunch meeting. Poole characterizes that meeting as entirely “unmemorable” and emphasizes that no further contact or relationship was ever established.
The founder expressed clear remorse over the brief association, stating he regrets the encounter entirely. He extended his “deep sympathy for all of his victims,” acknowledging the gravity of Epstein’s crimes. The clarification seeks to put to rest narratives that have attempted to link the forum’s influential and often inflammatory politics board directly to Epstein’s circle, asserting the board’s creation was a pre-planned internal decision unrelated to that chance meeting. The statement underscores a desire to correct the record while recognizing the profound suffering caused by Epstein’s actions.
(Source: The Verge)
