[GRADE A1 — EFTA00698652 (DOJ-released email confirming $4M wire)]
On December 24, 2014, Joi Ito emailed Epstein with subject "Re: Leon Black Gift": "Do you know if they sent the gift letter?" Marissa Wozniak confirmed: "I am happy to confirm that we have received the $4m gift from Leon Black via wire transfer. I am still waiting on the gift letter" (EFTA00698652).
A separate email shows Ito forwarding to Epstein a "Signed Leon D. Black agreement" (EFTA00674125), confirming the gift was formalized through legal documentation that Epstein managed. This establishes Epstein as the channel through which Black's $4 million reached MIT Media Lab — consistent with the broader pattern of Epstein directing gifts from wealthy contacts to academic institutions where he sought influence.
WHAT THIS SHOWS AND DOES NOT SHOW: The DOJ-released email chain (Grade A1) confirms the $4M flowed from Black through Epstein's coordination to MIT Media Lab. Epstein managed the gift agreement and tracked confirmation of the wire. It does NOT establish that the gift was improper per se — charitable giving through intermediaries is legal. However, the routing through Epstein rather than direct from Black to MIT suggests Epstein wanted to maintain control over the relationship. Joi Ito resigned from MIT in 2019 after his Epstein connections were exposed.