Dr. Mehmet Oz, former Trump administration official, invited convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to a Valentine’s Day party in 2016, raising questions about their relationship amid ongoing scrutiny of Epstein’s connections.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, who served as the administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Donald Trump, extended an invitation to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein for a Valentine’s Day party in 2016, according to documents released by the U.S. Justice Department.
The email, dated February 1, 2016, was addressed directly to Epstein and included a digital invitation for a celebration hosted by Dr. Oz and his wife, Liza Oz. The subject line of the email read: “Mehmet and Liza Oz’s Valentine’s Day Celebration.”
This correspondence is part of a larger release of millions of pages of documents related to Epstein, which were made public due to legislative requirements and court proceedings stemming from his criminal convictions. Within these files, Dr. Oz’s name appears multiple times, alongside various emails and communications involving prominent figures. However, it is important to clarify that there are no allegations of criminal conduct against Dr. Oz in relation to Epstein or his illegal activities, and the implications of their interaction remain open to interpretation.
Dr. Oz sent the invitation nearly a decade after Epstein’s first sex crime charges became public in July 2006. Epstein, a financier, died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking.
The revelation of this email has garnered public attention, particularly given Oz’s prominent role in federal health policy and his previous celebrity status. While analysts note that the email does not inherently suggest any wrongdoing, the broader implications of Oz’s connections or communications with Epstein are uncertain. The evolving nature of public perception and potential impacts on policy discussions surrounding these revelations continue to be a topic of interest.
Dr. Mehmet Oz is a Turkish-American cardiothoracic surgeon, author, and media personality, widely recognized for his contributions to medicine and public health communication. Born in 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio, he earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania and completed his residency and fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center. Oz specializes in heart surgery and minimally invasive procedures, but he gained international fame through his television career.
He co-hosted “The Dr. Oz Show,” a daytime program that blended medical advice, wellness tips, and lifestyle guidance, which ran for over a decade and earned multiple Emmy Awards. In addition to his television work, Oz has authored numerous books on health and nutrition and has made frequent appearances on shows like “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” enhancing his reputation as a trusted, albeit sometimes controversial, public health commentator.
In addition to his media career, Oz ventured into politics and, as of 2026, serves as the administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) under President Trump. This high-level federal role involves overseeing significant health programs, although the exact extent of his influence on policy decisions remains a matter of interpretation.
The implications of Dr. Oz’s past interactions with Epstein are still unfolding, as public scrutiny continues to mount over the connections between high-profile individuals and the late financier. As more information becomes available, the discourse surrounding these relationships and their potential impact on public health policy will likely intensify.
According to The American Bazaar, the ongoing examination of Epstein’s connections has prompted a broader discussion about accountability and the influence of personal relationships in the realm of public service.