When legendary editor Tina Brown—who transformed Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, and founded The Daily Beast—weighs in on Jeffery Epstein and the records related to his case, I want to know what she has to say.
- Background: Tina Brown and her editor, Randall Lane, recruited me to cover the 2009 murders of Bud and Melanie Billings. A year later, I became their Gulf Coast investigative reporter on the BP Oil Disaster. Their confidence in my reporting propelled my newspaper and me to an international level.
On July 11, The Free Press published Brown’s provocative column “MAGA Is Right About Jeffrey Epstein,” and it exemplifies the fearless journalism that cuts through partisan noise to expose uncomfortable truths.
Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier who became infamous for orchestrating a vast network of sexual abuse and trafficking of underage girls, some as young as 14, over several decades.
- His crimes first came to light in 2005, when police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating reports that he had sexually abused a minor. The investigation uncovered dozens of victims and evidence of a broader pattern of abuse, including recruitment and grooming of girls by associates.
Plea Deal: In 2008, Epstein avoided federal charges through a controversial plea deal, pleading guilty to state charges of soliciting prostitution from a minor and serving 13 months in jail with extensive work release privileges. The deal granted him and unnamed associates immunity from further federal prosecution, a decision later criticized as unjust and secretive.
- Epstein was arrested again in July 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges in New York and Florida, after new evidence and victim testimony emerged. He was denied bail and found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019.
The death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging, though it fueled widespread conspiracy theories due to Epstein’s connections to prominent political, business, and royal figures.
- Investigations by the Department of Justice and FBI have concluded there is no evidence of a “client list” or blackmail operation, and no evidence that Epstein was murdered.
The Daily Beast Broke the Story First
Brown doesn’t comment from the sidelines—she was there from the beginning. In 2010, under her leadership, The Daily Beast became the first major outlet to expose Epstein’s scandalous 2008 plea deal. While others overlooked the story, Brown committed to a six-part investigation revealing how a predator with over 1,000 victims received essentially a slap on the wrist.
This wasn’t just good journalism—it was prescient reporting that anticipated the reckoning nearly a decade later.
Brown offers something unavailable in typical coverage: perspective from someone intimately involved in the original reporting. She witnessed firsthand how Epstein’s wealth and connections created a protective shield.
Her analysis of how “Epstein’s crack team of all-star lawyers discredited the young victims” provides context for understanding how powerful predators manipulate the system.
Why This Matters Now
With recent DOJ releases and ongoing transparency questions, Brown’s column arrives at a critical moment. She asks questions transcending party politics: Why haven’t all files been released? What really happened in that prison cell?
These aren’t conspiracy theories—they’re legitimate concerns from a seasoned journalist who understands how elite circles operate.
Read Tina Brown’s full column and discover why her unflinching examination is generating widespread discussion. In a media landscape full of partisan spin, Brown offers something increasingly rare: journalism that prioritizes truth over tribe and accountability over comfortable narratives.
What’s Next
Axios’ Marc Caputo thinks the White House has three options to quell the mounting pressure from President Trump’s MAGA base that wants more information released on Epstein.
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- Appoint a special counsel to review the Epstein case thoroughly and produce a report.
- Remove the redactions made to the documents that have already been released.
- Petition the courts to unseal any remaining Epstein-related records.
Check out “Economy and Epstein: Gen Z MAGA wants results.”
Featured Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash