THE
Richardson

CENTER

October 17, 2016

To: Jeffrey Epstein
From: Governor Bill Richardson

## <u>Re:  Proposal to Support the Richardson Center</u>

Dear Jeff,

Here is proposal we discussed. I have emphasized the wildlife components as you requested. Since we met last, please see the North Korea work we did per the New York Times two weeks ago (Please find attached).

I will be in New York in the next two weeks if you want to visit In the meantime Mickey and Lesley are in touch with each other.

Sincerely,
<signature>

<signature> Bill Richardson

## OBJECTIVE:

The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, leveraging Governor Richardson's stature and diplomatic experience, is requesting your support to allow us to continue and expand on our work. Specifically, your support will allow us to boost our efforts aimed at securing a safe and secure future of threatened African elephant populations, and care for Chimpanzees previously used for medical tests.

## ABOUT THE RICHARDSON CENTER:

The Richardson Center promotes global peace and dialogue by identifying and working on areas of opportunity for engagement and citizen diplomacy with countries and communities not usually open to more formal diplomatic channels. The Center fulfills this mission by promoting communication between countries with strained diplomatic relations, through diplomacy, cultural and business exchanges and activities; by securing the release and return of political prisoners in hostile countries; and by providing training and institutional advice to governments and non-governmental organizations seeking to protect their environment and wildlife resources; as well as providing logistical support in securing and delivering humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in natural disaster areas.

## ABOUT THE RICHARDSON CENTER: (cont.)

Throughout a distinguished career as Congressman, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary and Governor, Richardson has developed an exceptional international reputation, an extensive network of personal contacts and enormous global experience. He has successfully completed sensitive diplomatic missions in countries such as North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Cuba, Burma, Congo and Colombia. The Richardson Center has already implemented successful programs in Cuba, Myanmar, the Middle East, North Korea and Africa.

## REPORT OF PAST ACTIVITIES IN WILDLIFE PROTECTION:

## I. Hiring, Training, and Protection of Park Rangers and Managers

In August 2013, the Richardson Center commenced its "Poacher-to-Protector" program at the Odzala-Kokoua National Park in the Congo. The program took in 61 poachers. In return for the poachers surrendering their weapons and providing intelligence to the local authority, they were offered amnesty, training in protection, and jobs at the local park The program included a selection period, to assess credibility and skills.

Beyond turning 61 poachers into rangers and confiscating their arms, the intelligence gathered from these poachers led to the arrest of several regional king-pins, disrupting the regional poaching infrastructure. The effectiveness of the program led to increase threats on the park, a fact that required updating and increasing security measures and some restructuring.

The program concluded with the establishment of a permanent training school to sustain such programs. The training school was built and is managed by Africa Parks.

As reference, please find attached an Environment News Service write up about the poacher-to-protector program.

## IL <u>Integration of New Technologies</u> into Conservation Efforts

On October 31n 2013, the Richardson Center, together with the World Wildlife Fund US, convened a forum on: "Protecting Threatened Wildlife in Africa with Technology and Training". The forum brought together over 40 companies and organizations for the first ever discussion and analysis of technological tools in the service of wildlife protection between technology industry leaders and protection agencies and organizations from the field.

During the proceedings, cutting edge technologies were present, challenged and assessed by conservation organizations and activists. From drones to DNA backtracking, this forum enabled research, customization and smart purchasing of technological tools to be served in the field for the protection of wildlife.

As reference, please find attached a write-up by WWF US about our partnership and work with them.

## III. Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Regime

In 2013, the Richardson Center commissioned a white paper on the use of the asset forfeiture remedy to attack the financial underpinnings of the lucrative traffic in ivory

## III. Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Regime (cont.)

and rhino horns. The paper was used to develop a comprehensive financially oriented training program for investigators and prosecutors.

The asset forfeiture and financial investigation training is the first of its kind, and was uniquely developed out of the program envisioned in 2013. Thus, it took significant time and resources to develop the research, model, and curriculum.

The week of September 10 2016, a pilot training in Kenya showcased the model training curriculum's two core instructional modules--investigation and prosecution. Participants came in from Kenya, Gabon, Congo, Uganda and Tanzania.

To support the two modules, the Richardson Center's expert instructors prepared reference material based on Kenya's money laundering and asset forfeiture laws, and crafted a Case Study to prompt the participants to draw on innovative investigative and prosecutive techniques from classroom lectures, in carrying forward an anti-poaching financial investigation culminatinginboth criminal prosecution for money laundering offenses and eventual forfeiture of assets derived from ivory poaching.

Results: participants became actively engaged in the classroom exercise of building a financially oriented anti-poaching case from its inception, and eventually handing it off to projectors working cooperatively with them. The Richardson Center received a number of compliments from the participants and requests for follow up training and assistance in implementation in the field.

As reference, please find attached the report from the pilot training in Kenya, September 2016.

## IV. Protection and Care of Chimpanzees

The Richardson Center engaged in the protection and care of Chimpanzees. More than 60 chimpanzees abandoned in Liberia by the New York Blood Center are on a path to living at a suitable long-term sanctuary thanks to this effort.

The Richardson Center together with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) are now working alongside the government of Liberia to ensure proper long-term care and well-being of the chimpanzees after the New York Blood Center (NYBC) forced them to suffer in captivity, endure painful research experiments and then left them to die of starvation and dehydration.

In addition to supporting efforts on the ground in Liberia, the Richardson Center and HSUS are collaborating to increase pressure on the NYBC to reinstate funding and live up to its responsibility and public promise to provide lifetime care of the animals.

As reference, please find attached:

- Washington Post article covering our Chimpanzees work

- Announcement of our partnership with the Humane Society US

- A video of the Governor's visit with the Jane Goodall Foundation at the Chimpanzees sanctuary in the Congo

➢ In addition to the programs detailed above, Governor Richardson established, together with Robert Redford the Foundation to Protect New Mexico Wildlife.The foundation

## IV. Protection and Care of Chimpanzees (cont.)

has formalized an agreement with the Navajo Nation to develop a comprehensive and humane program to manage the thousands of free-roaming horses on the reservation. The ultimate goal of the agreement is to develop alternatives to transporting the horses to slaughter facilities.

## NEXT STEPS:

Based on the success of our programs to-date, the Richardson Center is seeking your support in moving forward and expanding elements of our existing programs. Specifically, the Richardson Center would like to:

## 1. Asset Forfeiture and Money LaunderingRegime -

• Provide technical assistance to at least one nation that attended the Kenya pilot training, so that their first anti-poaching forfeiture case can be investigated and prosecuted.

• Share the successful Kenya training with other NGOs and US agencies with the goal of institutionalizing the Richardson Center asset forfeiture curriculum.

## 2. Poacher-to-Protector -

• Replicate the successful Congo program in at least one more location/country, creating momentum for the proliferation of the module and conversion of more poachers into protectors.

## 3. Protection and Care of Chimpanzees -

• Expand our work with the Chimpanzees in Liberia, establishing a permanent, legal and sustainable sanctuary for them.

• Push to provide other Chimpanzee communities, previously used for medical tests, with sanctuary solutions.

Estimated cost for these programs (which may vary based on pressing programs and priorities):

- Asset Forfeiture training and assistance: $115,000

- Poacher-to-Protector program: $75,000

- Protection of Chimpanzees: $110,000

- Staff travel: $100,000

- Support for Center's operations: $100,000

	- TOTAL COST: $500,000

## 3. Protection and Care of Chimpanzees - (cont.)

## Directions for Payment:

## Via Wire Transfer

Account Name: 
Bank Name: 
Bank Address: 
Account Number: 
ABA/Routing:

The Richardson Center for Global Engagement
First National Santa Fe
62 Lincoln Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87501

## Via Check

Subject Line: Richardson Center for Global Engagement

Mail to: The Richardson Center for Global Engagement, 216 Washington Ave, Suite #1, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87501, USA