The denial of paedophilia hinged on Epstein’s insistence that the crime he was initially punished for – having sex with a 16-year-old – would not have been illegal in the UK where the age of consent is 16. But in Florida, where some of his crimes took place, the age is 18.
In another email, on April 7, 2011, Epstein again insisted that Fergie ‘should affirmatively state that she was misquoted’ in the Standard.
He wrote to his British lawyer Paul Tweed saying: ‘[Fergie] took apartments in New York. She was the first to celebrate my release with her two daughters in tow. She visited me with [a] policeman sitting at my front desk. She has asked for help with her charities.’
He revealed he bought her the web address Mother’s Army, adding: ‘The fact that I bought it, if it were to be disclosed by her leaking staff, would be problematic.’
On April 25, Fergie revealed she had dragged her daughter into her sordid world. She told Epstein that immediately after her interview with the Standard, she had talked to Beatrice and then called editor Geordie Greig, who had conducted it, to tell him he should ‘NOT in any way… go down the P [paedophile] route’. She said she wanted to ‘make sure he understood the severity of NOT making a mistake’.
The emails offer more proof that Fergie continued to suck up to Epstein despite publicly disowning him. On August 1, 2011, Epstein wrote: ‘When you first got in trouble you said to me, ‘Jeffrey, I know that as I told everyone, you’re either on the team or off. I knew you were always on my team.’ That was right.’ The duchess responded: ‘I am on yours and you on mine. With great love and strength.’
Earlier emails show how close the pair were, despite Epstein having admitted to soliciting a minor for prostitution in a ‘sweetheart deal’ that led to 13 months in a low-security jail with day release.
He was let out in July 2009 and remained under house arrest until July 21, 2010. He exchanged a number of emails with Fergie in that time. In June 2010, Sarah told Epstein: ‘I will never forget your kindness and friendship at this time’ to which he replied: ‘A-team or no team. It’s your line.’
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On January 16, 2010, Sarah wrote: ‘Is there any chance I could borrow 50 or 100,000 US dollars to help get through the small bills that are pushing me over? Had to ask.’
Epstein was having his bank accounts monitored at the time and said he couldn’t help. Undeterred, Sarah told him to ‘ask Giuseppe… I would be so grateful.’ Epstein replied: ‘I could but it would be impolite. You need to address these issues. You are great.’
It is thought this is a reference to New York restaurant owner Giuseppe Cipriani, an old friend of the duchess. Tonight his representative declined to say whether Mr Cipriani gave Fergie money.
Epstein is known to have given Fergie £15,000 to repay a loan from her former personal assistant John O’Sullivan. On January 20, 2011, Epstein told Prince Andrew he had made a payment to O’Sullivan, writing: ‘JS done.’ Andrew responded ‘Fantastic!!! Thank you. Thank you.’ The emails suggest Mr O’Sullivan was seeking another $60,000 in unpaid wages. In an email to Andrew on February 28, 2011, Epstein wrote: ‘I don’t trust him at all and a payment from me… if disclosed to the press, would look like a payoff for the little s***’.
Andrew asked Epstein, ‘So I could get it paid by someone else?’ to which the financier replied, ‘Yes’.
It remains unclear whether this payment was made – and if so by whom. Mr O’Sullivan did not respond to a request for comment.
Several months later – and after the Standard interview – an impatient Epstein asked Fergie for the money back, saying: ‘There is little reason to have me questioned on this again and again.’
A source said tonight: ‘Andrew and Sarah were in it up to their necks with Epstein. It was always about the money. This was always going to be their downfall.’
Sarah Ferguson’s spokesman tonight declined to comment.
