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Former Epstein Bodyguard Warns Journalist: 'Don't Put Yourself in Trouble'

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A former bodyguard for millionaire Jeffrey Epstein warned a journalist not to ask too many questions, but not before revealing the financier’s mysterious death may be more than it seems.

Igor Zinoviev, a Soviet Russia-born MMA fighter, met Epstein through a mutual friend. Soon, the 6’1″ Russian fighter became the driver and personal bodyguard for Epstein.

In a recent cagey interview with New York Magazine, Zinoviev explained what his work with Epstein looked like. Most of it sounds like basic hired muscle work: protection, escorts and basic self-defense lessons.

But as the interview crossed over into covering recent events, Zinoviev seemed to clam up.

Possibly worried that this hulking man was afraid of repercussions, the journalist calmed him, reminding him that Epstein is no longer alive and that he had nothing to fear.

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“I’m not afraid,” Zinoviev said. “Beyond that just he is dead. I don’t want anything to be uncorrect. There’s too much s— in here, you know, already.”

When asked about his thoughts surrounding Epstein’s mysterious prison cell suicide, the bodyguard dropped a bombshell.

“Somebody helped him to do that,” he said.

When pressed on this answer, Zinoviev refused to say anything further, only that the line of questioning was going “too deep.” This wasn’t the only warning the Russian would give.

Is this bodyguard right to be afraid?

It took answers from an old interview for the former MMA fighter to issue his most dire warning of the conversation, however.

“OK, one thing you told me is he got a heads up when the authorities were going to come to his house the night before,” the interviewer asked.

“You told me he would get phone calls the night before and eight o’clock the police are going to come. He would get a heads up from local police. You told me that, Igor. Want me to read the quote?”

Zinoviev’s answer would give chills to even the most seasoned detective.

“Well, you can read whatever you want right now,” he said. “Don’t just — you can put yourself in big trouble.”

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Pressure from the journalist was met with even more hostility from Zinoviev.

After stressing the seriousness of the matter and how it should simply be left alone, the Russian native quickly cut off the interview.

With Epstein’s death, we may never know the depths of what truly happened in his sphere. Even close associates like his bodyguard are still seemingly too terrified to speak out. For Zinoniev, the only way through this appears to be playing it safe.

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Jared has written more than 200 articles and assigned hundreds more since he joined The Western Journal in February 2017. He was an infantryman in the Arkansas and Georgia National Guard and is a husband, dad and aspiring farmer.
Jared has written more than 200 articles and assigned hundreds more since he joined The Western Journal in February 2017. He is a husband, dad, and aspiring farmer. He was an infantryman in the Arkansas and Georgia National Guard. If he's not with his wife and son, then he's either shooting guns or working on his motorcycle.
Location
Arkansas
Languages Spoken
English
Topics of Expertise
Military, firearms, history




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