Ex Daily Beast editor Tina Brown has highlighted how Jeffrey Epstein and his publicist schemed to ‘neutralise’ her ahead of her publishing stories about his crimes over a decade ago
Princess Diana biographer and former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown has shared her run-ins with Jeffrey Epstein’s publicist Peggy Siegal after being mentioned in the Epstein Files, claiming that Siegal ‘schemed’ with Epstein to ‘neutralise’ her. Tina Brown, 72, was the founding editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast from 2008 until 2013, during which time she published “searing reports on Epstein’s predations”.
The Daily Beast covered Epstein’s 18-month sentence for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl, with the report revealing other underage victims. Writing on her Substack blog Fresh Hell, Tina recalled Epstein making a number of legal threats before publication before turning up to her office unannounced, ordering her to “just stop”.
She added that while the exposé failed to make an impact at the time and that Epstein failed to go through with his legal threats, the leaked Epstein emails proved that he was in a “deep panic” over the coverage.
“But thanks to the latest DOJ doc deluge, I now know that, after the Beast stories, Epstein was in a deep panic,” she wrote. “And so was Siegal, who had sworn to me on the phone that Epstein was ‘just a friend she helped out sometimes with his dinners.’ The files show the two of them were scheming about how to ‘neutralize’ me.”
An email from Siegal to Epstein dated 12 October 2010, featured in the blog, reads: “Why did you tell me to invite Tina Brown! She is sending me hysterical emails. Call me asap. I just spoke to her.”
While in February the following year, Siegal wrote to Epstein about a Newsweek story – where Tina was also editor – about him. “It’s all coming from Tina Brown and her fury about punishing you. How can you neutralise Tina?”
In November 2012, Epstein asked billionaire and publisher Mort Zuckerman to “ask tina brown to remove the sensationalist articles from the web that she had orchestrated”, with Zuckerman replying: “She would have the exact opposite reaction you would like alas.”
Tina also highlights Sarah Ferguson, with the then Duchess of York writing to PR exec James Henderson in May 2011: “Jeffrey tells me he is getting death threats and a 200 strong women’s forum lead by Tina Brown has done massive damage to him, and he has lost 50 million dollars.”
The ex magazine editor added that her “fake friend” Siegal also called to invite her to a dinner with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, Epstein, TV presenter Charlie Rose – who was later accused of sexual misconduct – and Woody Allen in 2010. “‘What the f**k is this, Peggy?’ I had screamed,” Tina wrote. “‘The paedophile’s ball?’ She backed off with high-pitched gibbering about ‘all that Epstein stuff being so overblown’.”
The Mirror has reached out to Sarah Ferguson for comment.
It comes after the US Justice Department released over three million documents, emails, photos and videos on Friday, giving insight into the sex offender’s crimes and the company he kept. It’s proven to be disastrous for Sarah Ferguson, who thanked Epstein for “being the brother [she] always wished for” and declared her love for him in the leaked emails.
Meanwhile, former prince Andrew appeared crouched over an unidentified woman in released photographs from Epstein’s files and told the convicted paedophile that he wanted to be his “pet” in a creepy unearthed email.
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