Sarah Ferguson Sought Epstein's Advice on Charity While He Was in Jail

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Newly released emails indicate that Sarah Ferguson, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew, sought advice from convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein about how to promote a children's charity while he was in jail for solicitation of prostitution, including with a minor. The emails were revealed in the latest tranche of Epstein files released by the U.S. Department of Justice on January 30.

Why it matters

This revelation adds to the growing controversy surrounding Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew's ties to Epstein, which have already led to Andrew's arrest and removal from public life. The emails raise further questions about the judgment and ethics of those in the royal family's inner circle.

The details

In the email exchange, Epstein, who was in jail in Palm Beach, Florida at the time, suggested Ferguson envision a "movie trailer" modeled after the U.S. Army's "Be All You Can Be" slogan, with "photos of mothers, not soldiers, breast feeding' not shooting, reading to a child, not teaching them to shoot a rifle." Ferguson responded, "Has anyone told you, you are a genius." The emails were part of a larger tranche of Epstein files released by the DOJ that revealed an extensive friendship between Ferguson and the convicted sex offender.

• On July 4, 2009, Amr A. Al-Dabbagh of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority sent an email to a redacted recipient, discussing the work of the Stars Foundation.
• On July 5, 2009, the redacted recipient forwarded the email, and a sender identified as Jeffrey Epstein wrote back about 25 minutes later.
• Epstein was in jail in Palm Beach, Florida at the time, after pleading guilty to one count of soliciting prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under age 18. He was released on probation on July 22, 2009, after serving 13 months of an 18-month sentence.

What they’re saying