Epstein ‘needed Sarah Ferguson to launch assertion saying he wasn’t a paedo’, recordsdata present

The exchanges were revealed in three million documents newly released by the US Department of Justice and appear to show Epstein asking Fergie to say she’d been duped into believe false allegations

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Convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein wanted Sarah Ferguson to release a statement saying that he was “not a paedo”, newly released emails appear to show.

Among the trove of documents relating to the disgraced financier released by US lawmakers on Friday were exchanges with someone referred to just as “Sarah”, whose email address is redacted, as well as discussions with others about “Fergie”.

And they appeared to show he wanted the former Duchess of York to say she had been “duped” into believing false allegations about him after she told a newspaper she wanted “nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again”.

The emails reveal that in March 2011, Epstein asked publicist Mike Sitrick to “draft a statement that in an ideal world Fergie would put out” days after Sarah told the Evening Standard she had “deep regret” over her ties with Epstein.

He wrote to Mr Sitrick saying: “I think that Fergie can now say, I am not a pedo [sic].. She was DUPED into believing false stories, by Civil Plaintiffs Attorneys from Florida.

“They represented themselves as law enforcement, and she was told horrible things and she reacted. She now knows that what she was told was based on false hoods, and fabrications designed to enhance their civil suit.

“She should out the newspapers on the offering of money for stories.”

Mr Sitrick replies: “Agree, quite frankly whatever her excuse she needs to say she was mistaken, she apologizes, feels terrible. Jeffrey is not a pedophile.

“The you woman who was the source of the conviction for solicitation of prostitutions for someone under 18 was 17-3/4 and she is very sorry.

“We need all those components. She created this problem. She needs to fix It and as I know everyone knows time is of the essence here.” Epstein responds saying that they “cannot depend on her doing as we would wish… We need an alternative”, adding “Fergie and Hope is not sufficient.”

The following month, “Sarah” emailed Epstein saying she “did not” and “would not” call him a “P” and that she had acted to “protect my own brand”. Epstein told others “Fergie said she could organise tea in Buckingham Palace apts.. or Windsor Castle” in 2009.

These exchanges came days after the former duchess gave an interview with the then-editor of the Evening Standard Geordie Greig, where she apologised for accepting £15,000 from Epstein, saying: “I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children.”

In the interview on March 7 2011, she said she had made a “terrible, terrible error of judgement”, adding: “Whenever I can, I will repay the money and have nothing ever to do with Jeffrey Epstein ever again.”

The emails also reveal that after he was released from prison, Epstein asked “Sarah” if there was “any chance of your daughters saying hello” to an unnamed person while they were in London in July 2010.

“Sarah” replied saying: “Beatrice is in London with her father. Eugie is away with a cool boyfriend.”

In August 2009, “Sarah” thanked Epstein for “being the brother I have always wished for” and she has “never been more touched by a friends kindness”.

In April 2009, “Sarah” emailed Epstein calling him “my dear spectacular and special friend Jeffrey” and a “legend,” adding that she is “so proud” of him. The exchanges are all dated after Epstein was convicted in 2008 for prostituting minors.

The documents also show Epstein received and sent multiple news articles related to the former duchess regarding her divorce from the King’s brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, and her finances.

Andrew has faced allegations that he sexually assaulted a teenage Virginia Giuffre after she was trafficked by Epstein. He strenuously denies the claims and claims to have never met Virginia, but paid millions to settle a civil sexual assault claim in 2022.

Andrew stepped down from royal duties in 2019 after an interview on BBC Newsnight but the publication of Virginia’s posthumous memoir, and the release of documents from Epstein’s estate, brought more scrutiny over his relationship with the financier.

It led to the King officially stripping his disgraced brother of both his HRH style and his prince title.

The loss of Andrew’s titles meant Sarah reverted back to her maiden name of Sarah Ferguson, with the former duchess also criticised for writing to Epstein after his conviction calling him a “supreme friend”, despite publicly disowning him in the media.

Andrew and Sarah share two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. Last year, several charities severed ties with Sarah after it emerged she apologised to the sex offender in April 2011 after publicly disowning him in the media.

The former duchess has been contacted for comment.

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