Sarah Ferguson visited Jeffrey Epstein twice while he was serving prison time for sex crimes, emails reveal
Emails obtained by the Telegraph reveal that Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, visited convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein twice at his Palm Beach office while he was serving a 13-month sentence for procuring a minor. The visits happened during a work-release programme allowing him to leave his cell up to 12 hours a day.
Email revelations
Newly published emails show that Sarah Ferguson, the former wife of Prince Andrew, maintained contact with Jeffrey Epstein well after he was convicted of a sex crime against a minor. The correspondence, obtained by the Daily Telegraph, details two in-person meetings at Epstein's office in Palm Beach, Florida, during his incarceration in 2009.
Epstein had been jailed in June 2008 for procuring a minor for prostitution. He served 13 months of an 18-month sentence, but was granted entry into a work-release programme that permitted him to spend up to 12 hours a day outside his cell. He used that allowance to operate from a front company called the Florida Science Foundation, which maintained an office near the detention centre.
The first meeting
The first visit occurred roughly nine months after Epstein's sentence began. On 4 April 2009, Ferguson emailed him to ask whether she could stop by for "a quick cup of tea" during a layover in Florida. She signed her message as "Sarah, the red head". Epstein replied within minutes with the office address, noting it was ten minutes from the airport.
My dear, spectacular and special friend Jeffrey. You are a legend and I am so proud of you. Thank you for taking such good care of me.
Ferguson sent those words in follow-up correspondence days later. At the time, Epstein had already faced years of allegations that he had paid underage girls for sexual acts.
- Epstein begins prison sentence for procuring a minor
- Ferguson emails Epstein asking to meet for tea during a Florida layover
- Epstein sends office address and says Ferguson looks great
- Ferguson tries to arrange a third meeting but fails due to travel
- Ferguson calls from UK to schedule the second visit
- Second meeting at Palm Beach office; Epstein coordinates with 11 people
The second meeting and a failed third
On 17 April 2009, Ferguson wrote again to ask whether she could "spend an hour" with Epstein in order to "brainstorm genius ideas". That meeting did not take place; she later explained that she could not make the flights. A call from the United Kingdom on 5 May 2009 led to arrangements for a second visit on 13 May. Epstein contacted 11 people to help coordinate the visit.
Ferguson asked to be collected by Epstein's driver: "Can your brilliant Yanoush pick me up, bring me to you, you great man!! And then bring me to Miami!??? Please with roses on top!" The meeting occurred at the Palm Beach office, and Ferguson was driven back to Miami afterwards.
Ferguson's response
A spokesperson for the former duchess told the BBC that Ferguson regrets her association with Epstein and that her thoughts are with his victims. The statement claimed she was deceived, like many others, and cut off all contact once the gravity of the charges became clear.
As soon as she learned the gravity of the accusations against him, she not only cut off all contact with him, but publicly condemned him, to the point that he threatened to sue her for defamation for linking him to paedophilia.
