Records Reveal Epstein's Campaign to Rebuild His Image Following Legal Admission
Freshly disclosed documents indicate that the convicted sex offender and his collaborators labored to minimize damaging press and rebuild his reputation in the time following his 2008 guilty plea to state charges of sex crime charges with a underage individual.
Organized Image Management Efforts
The files, part of numerous documents released by GOP representatives of the House oversight committee, contain emails and memos that depict a systematic strategy to influence digital visibility and journalists, and rebuild Epstein's public image.
Digital Image Manipulation Campaign
In December 2010, Epstein, who had been freed from custody in the summer of 2009, had a number of electronic messages with Al Seckel, identified as an peculiar collector who appeared to be helping oversee Epstein's internet image.
"Search results is poor," Epstein wrote on December 11. "Following sept when you told me you believed it would take around $20,000 to fix and with luck in time for Nov 1, then an additional ten thousand, and another $10,000 and your correspondence about how you are dedicated to results."
Seckel sent Epstein captures of the top results of search engine results for Epstein's identity, confirming the financier that a certain media story was gone from the rankings, and that "other ones, such as the powerful Huffington Post, are about to be pushed off."
Wikipedia Changes
Seckel further stated that "damaging auto-complete suggestions that popped up automated when you entered your identity" had similarly been taken down.
In the message, Seckel emphasized what he called an "important victory" when it came to Epstein's online encyclopedia page. "Article titles do not reference sex crime convict or sex criminal," he stated, "conversely, Foundation work, Epstein Foundation, Support of Science."
"online biography currently is fairly neutral," he stated, adding that "negative information has been muted" and relocated to the bottom. "We hacked the page to swap the booking photo and description, and currently features an completely new photo and description," he added. "This was a major achievement."
Journalistic Influence Efforts
The files further reveal collaborators making attempts to influence journalistic attention. In March 2011, a NYC publicist communicated to Epstein indicating that a journalist was researching a story about him, centered around Epstein's "reemergence in New York following your earlier difficulties."
"Should you hire me I believe that I can shape this feature on your behalf," the communications expert explained. "However, this isn't to say I can determine it completely or that they would reference past problems. Nevertheless, I can promise you that the feature will be objective and that your perspective will be presented appropriately."
The communications expert proposed setting up meetings with contacts who "were aware of the good things that you have accomplished in enterprise, technology, and charity."
Reputation Management Approach
A June 2011 memo from a public relations company, titled "Matters of Reputation", seems to have been put together for Epstein and outlines a plan to repair his image.
The report suggests limiting any references in the gossip media, restoring "your public image" in specific media, government and humanitarian networks, positioning "Epstein as a pioneering backer of science and innovation" and recommends organizing "an regular function which unites your professional and philanthropic activities."
Online Clean-up
The company further recommended a "optimization" of online visibility on "all leading search engines where your name is involved in a internet query", labeling it as an "immediate concern."
The firm also suggested interacting with "prominent publishers and journalists", especially "respected business and business writers."
Additional Image Repair Attempts
In July 2011, Epstein reached out to a well-known publicist encouraging her to contact a media executive to enlist a major media organization to examine issues related to one of Epstein's primary complainants.
In the correspondence, Epstein suggested that the media executive "ought to advocate the dangers of unfounded claims" and "send a journalist to examine" the accuser. "Royal circles would welcome it," he added.
The publicist answered that "should you edit your last email in better wording (and so I have a better understanding) I can cut and paste and transmit it." Epstein answered with a rewrite.
In a later statement, the communications expert informed journalists that she did not forwarded Epstein's modified email and had "no cause to contact" the influential figure.
"It was preposterous for him to assume that I would participate in his idiotic questionable matters and endanger my positive connection," the PR professional commented, adding that she had a professional relationship with the media executive.
The PR professional additionally portrayed Epstein as "completely unrealistic" and living in his "own fantasy of a situation that focused on him as he repeatedly believed he was the {