The Secrets Behind “The Talented Mr. Epstein”

More To The Story: In 2002, journalist Vicky Ward—then a writer for Vanity Fair magazine—was assigned to investigate a mysterious New York City financier named Jeffrey Epstein. During her reporting, she stumbled upon sexual abuse allegations against Epstein by Maria and Annie Farmer whose account was ultimately cut from Ward’s piece, titled “The Talented Mr. Epstein.” That decision sparked recriminations between Ward and then-Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter that have continued for more than a decade.

On this week’s episode, Ward looks back at the editorial decisions surrounding her 2003 Vanity Fair profile of Epstein, the role Ghislaine Maxwell played in Epstein’s crimes, and shares what she thinks about the circumstances surrounding the convicted sex offender’s death.

Following our interview with Ward, we reached out to Maria and Annie Farmer for comment. Portions of their response appear in this week's episode, and their full comment can be read here. We also reached back out to Vicky Ward. Her response to the Farmer sisters’ statement can be found in full here. 

RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE

Producer: Josh Sanburn with help from Ashley Cleek | Editor: Kara McGuirk-Allison | Theme music: Fernando Arruda and Jim Briggs | Copy editor: Daniel King | Digital producer: Artis Curiskis | Deputy executive producer: Taki Telonidis | Executive producer: Brett Myers | Executive editor: James West | Host: Al Letson

Read: I Analyzed 1,500 “Pizza” Mentions in the Epstein Files. Here’s What I Found. (Mother Jones)

Listen: Inside America’s Race to Hide the World’s Money (Reveal)

Read: The Talented Mr. Epstein (Vanity Fair)

Listen: Chasing Ghislaine (Audible Original)

Read: Why Didn’t Vanity Fair Break the Jeffrey Epstein Story? (The New Yorker)

Read: Graydon Carter on Vanity Fair, Jeffrey Epstein and an editor’s power (The New York Times Magazine)

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