In January 2015, AI researcher Ben Goertzel wrote one of the most damning emails in the entire Jeffrey Epstein file release. He commiserated with Epstein over the "spate of utterly idiotic negative publicity," floated the theory that Epstein's victims (children) were "reasonably mature people who mutually consented," and then, in the very next paragraph, asked for another $25,000 to be funneled through his 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Humanity+.

In this episode of Feral America, we examine the full mechanism.

This is not a story about a scientist who had a bad funder. It is a story about the conversion mechanism. The pass through. The five percent fee Goertzel openly charged for his nonprofit's role as a financial conduit, in writing, in an email with the actual subject line "Funneling money."

In this 30 minute investigation, you will learn:

How Epstein's $100,000 fellowship at the University of New Mexico in 2001 launched Goertzel's career

The exact structure of the laundering pipeline

The IRS statutes that were violated

The receipts: emails from the Epstein files

Goertzel's "I was social engineered" defense in his February 2026 Substack

How a male professional culture of benefit of the doubt continues to protect powerful men accused of horrible things

Why I filed an IRS Whistleblower complaint

PRIMARY SOURCES AND FURTHER READING

My full Substack investigation: https://sueselle.substack.com

South China Morning Post original report (February 16, 2026): https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3299896

Ben Goertzel's "Goertzel vs Epstein" Substack response: https://bengoertzel.substack.com/p/goertzel-vs-epstein

Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A., No. 1:22 cv 10904 (S.D.N.Y. 2022)

Vashon Maury Island Beachcomber coverage: https://www.vashonbeachcomber.com/2026/02/27/islander-bankrolled-by-epstein-on-and-off-for-nearly-two-decades/

Business Insider on Goertzel and Epstein: https://www.businessinsider.com (search Goertzel Epstein)

IRS Whistleblower Office and Form 211: https://www.irs.gov/compliance/whistleblower-office

IRS guidance on Inurement and Private Benefit for 501(c)(3) charities: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/inurement-private-benefit-charitable-organizations

Epstein Files searchable database: https://epsteinexposed.com

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