New York Times reporter asked Epstein for interview ‘on your terms’
A New York Times reporter has told late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the months leading up to his 2008 conviction to do an interview with him in order to start again with a clean slate.
Media reports citing newly uncovered emails revealed on Sunday that then-New York Times journalist Landon Thomas Jr. told Epstein that he could write an article that would create an image of the financier on his own terms as he faced charges in court over sexually abusing minors.
The NYT journalist told Epstein in an email dated September 20, 2007, that a positive interview with him would defuse the negative publicity spreading in news about him.
He advised the disgraced financier to “get ahead” of more bad publicity by doing an interview that would redefine the scandalous story “on your terms.”
The interview will prevent the “popular tabloid perception” about you from hardening, Thomas told Epstein as he was pitching the interview with him.
Thomas even expressed sympathy with Epstein over the legal troubles he had.
“I know this is tough and hard for you, but remember jail may [be] bad, but it is not forever,” Thomas wrote in the newly revealed email.
Thomas reminded Epstein about the 2002 profile he had written about him for New York Magazine, titled Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery.
The article, which was written before Epstein’s first arrest in 2006, portrayed Epstein as a highly successful, yet mysterious, businessman with an intellectual capacity comparable to “Nobel Prize-winning scientists.”
It said Epstein’s many high-profile associates all approved of him, always praising him for being “very smart”, “amazing”, “extraordinary”, and “talented.”
“Remember how for a while my NY Mag piece was the defining piece on you? That is no longer the case after all this,” Thomas wrote to Epstein.
“But I think if we did a piece for the Times, with the documents and evidence that you mention, plus you speaking for the record, we can again have a story that becomes the last public word on Jeffrey Epstein.”
Thomas warned Epstein to be prepared as the floodgates opened. “I just read the Post. Now the floodgates will open — you can expect Vanity Fair and NYMag to pile on,” referring to the magazines Vanity Fair and New York Magazine.
US lawmakers release more photos from Epstein estate featuring high-profile figures, including Trump
Explainer: Why is America losing its young generation to mental health epidemic
Revealed: Former Israeli soldiers work for ICE amid US agency's violence against migrants
Israeli forces kill Palestinian teenager in Gaza amid truce violations
Talk of Israeli attack on Hezbollah in line with Israel’s agenda: Lebanese MP
Scrutiny grows over Trump’s health after drowsy public appearances
VIDEO | Press TV's news headlines
Dollar no longer safe haven, US economic fragilities erode trust in it: Economist
NYT reporter pitched ‘on your terms’ interview to Epstein
VIDEO | Paris activists denounce 'climate sabotage' ten years after agreement
VIDEO | Immigrants protest stricter immigration rules in Quebec
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
