Emails Reveal NYT Reporter Offered Epstein a Chance to Shape His Own Story
There’s a story making waves right now that raises serious questions about journalism, ethics, and access to power. Newly revealed emails show that a New York Times reporter once pitched a deeply controversial interview idea to Jeffrey Epstein, offering him the chance to tell his story “on your terms” at a time when he was facing mounting allegations of sexually abusing minors.
According to the emails, the exchange happened in September 2007, just months before Epstein’s 2008 conviction. After a damaging article about Epstein appeared elsewhere, then–New York Times journalist Landon Thomas Jr. reached out and suggested that Epstein should act quickly to get ahead of what was described as an inevitable flood of negative media coverage. It was suggested that other major outlets would soon pile on, and that public perception could harden if Epstein stayed silent.
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Thomas also reminded Epstein of a 2002 profile he had written for New York Magazine, which had portrayed Epstein as a mysterious yet brilliant financier surrounded by powerful and admiring figures. That earlier article, written before Epstein’s first arrest, had been widely read and largely flattering. In the emails, it was implied that a similar defining piece could be produced again, this time through the Times, if Epstein agreed to speak on the record and provide documents and evidence.
It remains unclear how Epstein responded to these messages. What is known is that The New York Times later published an article by Thomas in 2008, shortly after Epstein entered a guilty plea. That piece drew on interviews conducted with Epstein, including conversations held at his private island. Years later, colleagues reportedly reacted with shock when the article was reviewed again in light of everything that became known.
These emails have resurfaced alongside other correspondence revealed by lawmakers and whistleblower groups, adding to a growing body of material that shows how Epstein maintained relationships with media figures long after his crimes were known. The New York Times has since stated that Thomas left the paper in 2019 after editors discovered he had violated ethical standards, closing a troubling chapter that continues to spark debate about accountability in the press.
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