The high-flying son of former Australian prime minister Paul Keating has refuted suggestions he was associated with notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after the US government released a fresh tranche of documents.
Files newly released by the US Department of Justice show the former PM’s daughter, Katherine Keating, shared her banker brother Patrick’s email address with Epstein in May 2011.
Katherine has long been known as a former acquaintance of the late-financier and his accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, and was famously captured on video leaving one of Epstein’s properties in New York.
In the unearthed emails, dated May 2011, Epstein told his close associate Jes Staley, the now-former CEO of Barclays Bank: ‘The son of the former prime minister will take you for fun, I will send you his details.’
Hours later, Katherine forwarded Epstein her brother’s email address at UBS, a Swiss financial services firm where he worked at the time. A US government court exhibit, released as part of the Epstein files, suggested the two messages were connected.
When approached about the emails by the Daily Mail, Patrick Keating strongly denied ever meeting Epstein or Staley, let alone taking anyone ‘for fun’ at Epstein’s request.
‘I have never had any dealings with Jeffery Epstein or the other person mentioned, Jes Staley,’ Patrick said.
‘I have never met or communicated with either Epstein or Staley, either directly or indirectly.’
Patrick Keating (left) is the only son of former prime minister Paul Keating (right). Pictured during a Labor party event in 1993 with then-wife Anita and daughters Caroline, Alexandra and Katherine
Patrick Keating (pictured with sister Katherine during an event in Sydney’s Paddington in 2004) was referenced by Epstein in an email to an associate, Jes Staley
The Daily Mail does not suggest otherwise, nor is it suggested that Patrick Keating engaged in, or had any knowledge of, any improper or illegal conduct by Epstein or any of his associates.
Staley, a close friend of the disgraced financier, traded more than 1,000 emails with Epstein between 2008 and 2015, describing him as ‘family’ and a ‘cherished friend.’
Patrick, the only son of the former Labor PM, is a veteran international banker whose career has spanned Barclays, Citi, UBS and Savills Commercial.
He is now a partner at London boutique advisory firm Leander Capital Partners, working with ultra-high-net-worth clients and entrepreneurial families.
Patrick was once considered one of Australia’s most eligible bachelors. He was once married to model and property agent Amber McDonald from 2002, with whom he had two children before separating in 2012. She later married Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond, although it did not last.
He later dated Sydney celebrity stylist Penny Hunt and had one child, but the couple have since split.
Epstein was a convicted paedophile in 2011 when the emails were sent, having already served 13 months in prison on child sex charges in 2008.
The emails were released after the Epstein Files Transparency Act was signed into law on November 19 2025, compelling the US Department of Justice to release all unclassified Epstein records within 30 days.
The House Oversight Committee in November published thousands of emails from Epstein’s estate as part of its investigation into potential cover-ups and political links.
It is well documented that Epstein (pictured) had been in communication with Patrick’s sister Katherine
Katherine Keating (pictured) had previously dined with Epstein and former Prince Andrew
Former Barclays CEO Jes Staley was an associate of Epstein’s
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Emails between Katherine and Epstein were included in the November release, including an exchange that came nine months after Epstein had asked then-Prince Andrew to invite Katherine to dinner with filmmaker Woody Allen.
In an email dated February 16, 2011, Epstein asked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor: ‘Would you ask Katherine Keating if she would like to come for dinner with Woody Allen next week in New York?’
‘Will do,’ Andrew replied.
Two days later, on the eve of Andrew’s 51st birthday, Epstein wrote: ‘What will you do tomorrow? Sorry I cannot be there as you get older.’
Andrew responded: ‘Having a very quiet day. But a dinner party in the evening. On the Keating case.’
Katherine told the Daily Mail: ‘I did attend a February dinner at Andrew’s invitation, a large social event.
‘It was a large social event. A sizable chunk of NY society was there, including [American broadcasters] Barbara Walters, Charlie Rose and Katie Couric.’
‘At the time, I had only lived in NY about ten weeks and was happy to accept the odd social invitation.’
Patrick Keating is a veteran financier. Above he is seen in a recent company photo
The most famous interaction involving Epstein and Katherine Keating: Prince Andrew waves to Katherine at Epstein’s New York mansion in December 2010 in Mail on Sunday video
The emails were released as part of the Epstein Files Transparency Act. President Donald Trump (pictured with Epstein in 1997) with Ghislaine Maxwell and Melania Trump
In October 2011, Katherine emailed Epstein and others about a book by her father, Paul Keating.
‘Dear Friends, I wanted to share with you the foreword to my father’s new book After Words… He truly is an inspiration and so is his writing… I will be sure to send you a copy, it’s a brilliant read. I trust this email finds you well.’
She signed off: ‘Katherine X.’
Epstein replied: ‘Are you here?’
Katherine responded: ‘In NY. You?’
Epstein shot back: ‘Send me your phone number.’
The best known interaction between Katherine and Epstein was on December 10, 2010, when she was filmed leaving Epstein’s New York townhouse after a dinner party, with Andrew seen waving goodbye.
It is not suggested that Ms Keating or Jes Staley engaged in, or had any knowledge of, any improper or illegal conduct by Epstein or any of his associates. Katherine Keating was approached for comment.
