PR advisors told convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to “studiously avoid any involvement whatsoever” with then-Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in a bid to rehabilitate his public image
The late billionaire Jeffrey Epstein was warned to avoid a “disastrous” relationship with then-Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson in order to rebuild his reputation.
Documents deep within the recently-released Epstein files include a message from a PR firm that advised the paedophile following his 2008 guilty plea to child sex trafficking offences. Advisors from Osborne & Partners LLP aimed to restore Epstein’s reputation by touting the convicted paedophile’s “philanthropic interests,” support for science and, chiefly, avoiding being seen with Andrew Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
The document warned of UK coverage of the “Prince Andrew/ Sarah Ferguson. Bill Clinton Axis” and suggested association with them had become a “distraction” and that avoiding them would make it easier to restore his profile. The message made no mention of specific allegations involving Andrew, which he has repeatedly and strongly denied.
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Making claims about some UK newspapers, the email stated: “Since it is an unambiguous objective of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday to take down Prince Andrew, it is disastrous for you to be seen in any way to facilitate his lifestyle, or to help with his well documented issues,” the 2011 document said. “Their sole interest in you and Ghislaine is as a means to attack Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.
“You need to studiously avoid any involvement whatsoever with the couple, which will lessen the interest and we can establish a constructive relationship on your behalf with them. In the fullness of time, it will be possible to run a positive piece about your philanthropy.”
The message revealed a detailed plan to rehabilitate Epstein’s public image, including a “clean up” of Google where first page results referred to Epstein’s paedophilia charges and “unflattering stories” as well as then-Prince Andrew. The firm also aimed to hire experts from Israel and flattering profiles by columnists and editors in a bid to sway coverage about him.
Reputation advisors added Epstein’s “passion and commitment” for supporting science and tech research was “extremely helpful” to his rehabilitation efforts. They also considered setting a long term targets, such as the then Gates Foundation aim to eradicate malaria by 2015.
Epstein was ultimately charged in Manhattan over further child sex trafficking offences in July 2019. He later died by suicide in his jail cell while awaiting trial that same year, investigators said.
Andrew and Fergie were further embroiled in the Epstein scandal more recently when it emerged they had been in correspondence with him after they claimed to have cut ties with him. Fergie penned an email where she described Epstein as a “supreme friend” and appeared to regret having said negative things about him in public following his 2008 conviction.
The pair have since been ordered to leave the Royal Lodge and move into other accommodation. Andrew has suffered the humiliating blow of being stripped of his titles while Fergie has been dropped by a number of charities over the scandal.
