Jeffrey Epstein allegedly asked Sarah Ferguson to put out a statement denying he was a paedophile as part of his PR plot, new documents show.
The convicted sexual offender and financier had said the former royal had been ‘duped’ about him and wanted her to say she felt ‘terrible’ in a public apology, newly released emails show.
A person referred to as ‘Fergie’ is also identified in the latest batch of more than three million documents released on Friday by the US Department of Justice which contain disturbing images and communication between Epstein and powerful figures he associated with.
An email revealed that the disgraced financier had asked publisher Mike Sitrick to write up a statement ‘that in an ideal world Fergie would put out’.
Another message written by Epstein suggested that ‘Fergie’ had said she could organize ‘tea in Buckingham Palace apts.. or Windsor Castle’ in 2009.
There is no suggestion or evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Ms Ferguson.
In an email dated March 2011, Epstein wrote to Mr Sitrick: ‘I think that Fergie can now say, I am not a pedo.. She was DUPED into believeing false stories, by Civil Plaintiffs Attorneys from Florida.
‘They represented themselves as law enforcment (fisten) [sic], and she was told horrible things and she reacted.
‘She now knows that what she was told was based on false hoods, and fabrications desiened to enhance their civill suit. She should out the newspaperes on the offering of money for stories.’
Mr Sitrick replied that the Duchess should put out an apology saying she was ‘mistaken’ and ‘feels terrible’.
He added that if the former royal refused to comply, they should threaten her with legal action.
‘She created this problem. She needs to fix it and as I know everyone knows time is of the essence here’, he wrote.
But he also advised Epstein: ‘You really can’t worry about her, in my view, you need to worry about you.
‘She certainly isn’t concerned about your or your reputation.’
The following day Epstein instructed Mr Sitrick to draft a statement the former Duchess could put out, to which the publicist replied ‘with pleasure’.
Ms Ferguson herself thanked Epstein in 2009 for being the ‘brother I have always wished for’, adding she had ‘never been more touched’ by a friend’s kindness.
On August 3, 2009, the former royal shared details with Epstein about her ‘Sarah Ferguson brand’ including interest from Tommy Hilfiger, media executive Ben Silverman and NBC.
She wrote: ‘In just one week, after your lunch, it seems the energy has lifted.
‘I have never been more touched by a friends kindness than your compliment to me infront of my girls.
‘Thank you Jeffrey for being the brother I have always wished for.’
The exchanges are all dated after 2008, when Epstein was convicted for prostituting minors.
Ms Ferguson has maintained that her friendship with Epstein was a ‘a gigantic error of judgment.’
She said in a 2011 interview with The Telegraph: ‘I personally, on behalf of myself, deeply regret that Jeffrey Epstein became involved in any way with me.
‘I abhor paedophilia and any sexual abuse of children and know that this was a gigantic error of judgment on my behalf. I am just so contrite I cannot say.’
Other newly released files shed further light on Epstein’s relationship with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his family.
Epstein was shown to have been invited for ‘mysterious mischief’ at the now disgraced prince’s 50th birthday party in February 26, 2010.
The invitation, sent to the financier from the Duchess via Andrew’s deputy private secretary Amanda Thirsk, asks for ‘your presents, your presence and your humor’ at drinks and dinner in St James’s Palace.
Epstein replied that he was ‘not able’ to attend the bash after being chased up by Ms Thirsk in a follow-up email.
The latest batch of thousands of new files linked to the Epstein investigation included images of a man, believed to be Andrew, crouched on all fours over a woman, who is lying sprawled on the floor.
Andrew was stripped of his royal titles by his brother, the King, last year.
He is due to move out of his taxpayer-funded home at Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocate to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham Estate.
The former duke has always denied accusations of any wrongdoing.
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