Filthy Rich

EPILOGUE

When John Connolly, Tim Malloy, and I began work on this book, I had hoped to interview Jeffrey Epstein myself: to look directly into the eyes of the man we’d be writing about. Epstein declined to sit for an interview. Many of his friends and associates did speak with us on the condition that they not be quoted. Several of them still liked Epstein and made a point of telling us what a loyal friend he was-although, like Icarus, he seemed to have a fatal flaw.

If Epstein had agreed to an interview, these are the questions I would have asked him:

•You pleaded guilty to a single felony count of soliciting prostitution from a minor. Do you believe in your heart that you were guilty?

•In 2011 you told the New York Post, “I’m not a sexual predator, I’m an ‘offender.’ It’s the difference between a murderer and a person who steals a bagel.” Do you stand by that statement today?

•Do you feel you were treated fairly by the criminal justice system?

•What effect did your conviction have on your business?

•Do you believe that you’ve done psychological harm to the women-especially the underage girls-you’ve been involved with?

•Are you still in touch with Ghislaine Maxwell?

•Are you in touch with Prince Andrew?

•You’ve spent time with Bill Clinton as well as Donald Trump. How would you characterize the two men?

•Several people have described you as a very loyal friend. Is that a fair characterization?

•I’ve heard that Leslie Wexner removed all photographs of you from his home. Given how close you once were, have you reconciled or tried to repair the relationship?

•Did the thirteen months you spent in jail change you in any way?

•After your stay in prison, have you continued to seek the company of very underage women?

•You were ordered to undergo psychological treatment as part of your sentence. Are you under treatment today?

•Do you regard yourself as having a sex addiction, and, if so, have you been treated for it?

•What is your greatest regret?

•What do you look for in a woman?

•Last question. How well do you sleep at night?