A highly regarded theoretical physicist is stepping away from the Ontario institute he helped found, after his ties to the late American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein were revealed in recently released files.
Lee Smolin, an American Canadian professor of physics and philosophy, has “agreed to pause his working relationship” with the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ont., according to an email on Thursday from Perimeter’s executive director, Marcela Carena.
Smolin was a founding faculty member of the independent research centre, which is known around the world for pioneering work in quantum theory and got much of its initial funding from BlackBerry co-founder Mike Lazaridis.
Smolin was working at the Perimeter Institute part time and also has academic appointments at the University of Waterloo and University of Toronto.
His correspondence with Epstein was part of more than three million new pages of files released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Jan. 30.
Nothing CBC News has seen suggests Smolin did anything illegal or participated in any of Epstein’s illicit activities, and appearing in the files is not an indication in itself of any wrongdoing. However, questions have emerged after the documents revealed his relationship with the financier continued for years after Epstein’s conviction for sex offences.
The files show that Smolin continued to correspond with Epstein, and the two made repeated efforts to talk by phone and meet up, until at least 2013 — five years after the latter pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor and another criminal count. The paper trail appears to contradict Smolin’s own account of his relationship with Epstein.
Smolin did not reply to emails and phone messages from CBC asking for comment on apparent inconsistencies between what he had previously said about his relationship and what is in the records, and on why he continued to associate with Epstein for years after seemingly becoming aware of his criminal convictions.
He is one of several prominent Canadians under scrutiny as their ongoing relationships with Epstein are revealed in documents.
Files appear to belie Smolin’s account
On Thursday afternoon, in response to questions from CBC News, Perimeter Institute executive director Marcela Carena said in an email, “At Perimeter’s request, Prof. Smolin has agreed to pause his working relationship with us as we undertake a careful review of the situation, and we will address this matter accordingly.”
Smolin is one of many accomplished scientists who received research grants from Epstein over the years. He told the Globe and Mail in November 2025 that the funding ran from around 1999 to 2001, five years before Epstein was first criminally charged.
Documents confirm Jeffrey Epstein travelled to Vancouver in 2014, despite his 2008 conviction on two prostitution charges, including soliciting prostitution from a minor. The conviction should have made him inadmissible. Federal officials have not yet responded.
He also reportedly told the Globe he could not recall the exact date of their last communication, but mentioned crossing paths with him at a TED conference in 2003.
Previously, Smolin told the Verge in 2019 that he had “not seen Mr. Epstein since a scientific conference in 2007, and I’ve had no contact with him since 2008” — the year Epstein pleaded guilty to two sex crimes. Earlier this week, he told the Waterloo Record, “My entire relationship with Epstein preceded my moving to Canada and beginning my position with pi [Perimeter Institute] in 2001.”
The latest Epstein files appear to contradict these timelines, however, with emails found by CBC News suggesting that contact between Epstein and Smolin lasted until at least 2013.
Smolin calls Epstein a friend in messages
In one of the earliest messages, from April 2009, Smolin said Epstein “will be missed” at a May 2009 Perimeter Institute conference about the economic crisis. That exchange occurred while Epstein was still in jail for his Florida crimes. (He was routinely allowed out during the day to work from his office.)
In September 2009, Smolin emailed Epstein, at the time on post-jail probation and under house arrest, saying, “I hear that you are out and living there at home. Hope all is well, would love to see you and catch up at some point.” Epstein responded that he “would gladly fly [you] to Florida for a weekend with your family,” to which Smolin replied, “That’s a very nice invitation. Thank you. Let me speak with [his wife] about when would be possible.”
Then in February 2010, Epstein messaged, “Any luck in visiting?” Smolin replied five days later, “I would love to visit.… I will come, sorry to have delayed it.” The pair appeared to have set a phone date to catch up four days later.
They corresponded again that summer, with Smolin detailing his latest research. He expressed hope for a phone chat and ended with, “I do look forward to seeing you sometime soon.” In November 2010, Smolin told Epstein he had been “too much out of touch” and that he was “sorry for missing friends including you.”
In January 2011, Smolin and Epstein appeared to confirm plans to meet in New York City, and Smolin twice asked Epstein if he was available to meet the month after, as well.
Their correspondence often waded into Smolin’s scientific pursuits. In April 2011, he reached out to Epstein with his latest paper on quantum theory, which he called “probably the wildest idea I’ve ever had,” and expressed interest in hearing Epstein’s comments.
“Look forward to having the chance one of these days to sit down and catch up with you,” he concluded.
In what seems to be the last exchange between the two included in the files, Smolin told Epstein he was coming to New York City in March and April 2013 and wondered if they might get together. Finally, in July 2013, it looks like Smolin accepted Epstein’s invitation to connect on LinkedIn.
Smolin wrote a message in Epstein’s 50th birthday book that included a photo of himself and another with his colleagues, as well as some diagrams he has said were part of his research at the time. The book became a hot topic last year when it was revealed that it appeared to include a suggestive message from Donald Trump.
