Epstein files allege widespread election fraud, corruption during Karzai presidency
Newly leaked Epstein files allege widespread election fraud and structural corruption during former Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s administration, according to archive documents.
Newly leaked archive documents have surfaced allegations of widespread election fraud, structural corruption, and the influence of powerful networks during former Afghan president Hamid Karzai’s administration.
According to the documents, internal assessments by U.S. officials and international bodies cited organized vote-buying, manipulation of election processes, and money-driven political influence weakening Afghanistan’s post-2001 democratic system.
The files reference the 2009 presidential election, reporting widespread irregularities including ballot stuffing, ghost voting, voter intimidation, and tampering with vote counts across several provinces.
A UN-backed review reportedly found nearly one million votes cast in favor of Karzai were invalid, representing roughly a quarter of the total ballots counted at the time.
Despite awareness of fraud allegations, the documents suggest Washington supported Karzai’s continued leadership to prevent political instability, a move critics say damaged public trust in democratic institutions.
The documents also revisit the 2010 Kabul Bank crisis, describing it as one of Afghanistan’s largest financial scandals, involving fraudulent loans and alleged political connections within ruling circles.
For years, analysts argued that corruption, weak oversight, and political patronage networks undermined governance during the international community’s two-decade presence in Afghanistan, contributing to public dissatisfaction.
The disclosures have revived debate over accountability, governance failures, and the international community’s role in shaping Afghanistan’s political system, while former president Hamid Karzai has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
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