The Epstein Files: Corrupt Reporters

Corrupt reporters allowed Epstein to prosper and become powerful, and played a major role in his staying powerful. An ecosystem of withholding information by corrupt reporters for a future book or some power leverage is a systemic problem that degrades the media’s role in our democratic system. Reporters find a neat, embarrassing nugget of information, and refrain from reporting it to advocate for the person they are supposed to exposing or to sell a future book.

This problem is systemic and is not limited to the Epstein matter. The corruptibility of writers who are trusted with truth-telling is a feature of modern political reporting. It is that feature which Epstein, and others, have used to maintain operations and to deceive the public.

It is written to and from two people who didn’t need clarification on “knew about the girls” - and neither does anyone else these days. They were discussing Epstein’s and Maxwell’s practice of luring girls into sex work. So Wolff knew. And gave Epstein media advice.

Landon Thomas, Jr.

Thomas wrote for the New York Times, and in that role communicated with Epstein about Donald Trump. Long after Epstein had been convicted of a sex crime, Thomas gave him a warning about a possible tell-all book.

But wait - there’s more! Thomas asked Epstein for money for a charity. You know, the guy that he was supposed to hold to account and roast when warranted. That trick got him fired from the New York Times, especially after “confessing” he has become friends with Epstein.

Michael Wolff

You can always rely on your friends in times of need. If you are facing media attention, a reporter pal can give useful tips and advice. In this case, writer Michael Wolff advised Epstein (did we mention he was a sex offender?) on how to handle the media and to help him write a response Trump could use if asked about Epstein during the presidential debate. From AP:

After being confronted, Wolff explained that it was all part of his kind of journalism. No apologies. Only excuses. It is understandable that Epstein was one of his “valuable sources.” That’s plausible. What is harder to believe is that Trump’s close relationship with Epstein wasn’t newsworthy enough to be put in one of his four books on Trump. He and Epstein believed Trump might be asked about their relationship during a presidential debate. Just the possibility of that happening means the topic is important enough to include in a political book.

But it doesn’t end there. Another email exchange implies that Wolff knew and understood about Epstein’s trafficking activities. Read the last sentence: “of course he knew about the girls as he asked ghislaine to stop.” It is written to and from two people who didn’t need clarification on “knew about the girls” - and neither does anyone else these days. They were discussing Epstein’s and Maxwell’s practice of luring girls into sex work. So Wolff knew. And gave Epstein media advice.

Olivia Nuzzi

Imagine writing an article for a major news outlet about a noted sex and heroin addict from a prominent political family who is running for President. You somehow start an affair online which is best characterized as lopsided and humiliating. In trying to stay useful, and therefore worthy of a phone call, you hide huge political news about this candidate dumping a dead bear cub in Central Park. You write a plan of action for him when he is excluded from the presidential debates. You strategize together to parlay his assets into a position in the Trump administration.

It doesn’t work. He dumps you anyway and tells everyone you are a sex-crazed stalker.

Time to write a book! In it, you reveal that this candidate is abusing prescription drugs, and not sober in AA like he presents to the world. Of course this fact, like the dead bear cub in Central Park, is something you were paid to tell America months before, but allowed your sexual relationship - such that it was - to lure you into advocacy for that deranged politico.

When Olivia Nuzzi was outed as having a relationship with the subject of a profile she was writing at the time, she was fired. Rightfully so. The problem, systemically speaking, is that a corrupt reporter held back very relevant information from the public contrary to her role’s obligations. See the trend?

“Journalistic Ethics”

These stories of compromised loyalties are the center of modern media rot. Writers seeking personal gain withhold very relevant information from the nation and whatever publication that is hiring them. These corrupt reporters sway decisions of the electorate by hiding reality, hoping to cash in with a book, or in Nuzzi’s case, to have RFK, Jr.’s baby. (I know). They gather factoids and barter them for favors, even if the person is a moral toad.

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The depth of journalistic corruption can be measured by the willingness to flatter and protect a sex offender or a married sex addict who demands submissiveness. They were willing to engage with living repulsiveness, become friends with it, embrace it. Honestly, there seems to be no bottom to the people they would find common ground with to advance their own interests.

So now the media turns to academic outlets about “journalistic ethics.” Amidst the cluck-clucking, nothing changes. From the Northeastern Global News:

Ethics is no longer enough.

All journalistic entities need a written commitment by reporters that all conflicts of interest are disclosed and that no information will be withheld from reporting that later finds its way into a book or leaked emails. And there needs to be a penalty for violations.

This would not be a violation of the First Amendment, as it would be part of the job description of a reporter.

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