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Vicky WardVanity Fair; Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell

RealizedLayer 2IMAGES-011-HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_030478_txt_9470_EVT_006
20%

Event Description

Vicky Ward published a piece in Vanity Fair in 2003 titled 'The Talented Mr. Epstein' that focused on Epstein's mysterious exit from Bear Stearns in 1981, his relationships with Jimmy Cayne, Les Wexner, and Steven Jude Hoffenberg. The piece alluded to Epstein's friendship with Maxwell and how she introduced him to young women with whom he had sexual relationships, but focused primarily on how Epstein and Maxwell made their money.

Quoted Evidence

I wrote a piece for Vanity Fair in 2003 called 'The Talented Mr. Epstein.' It was largely a business piece that focused on his mysterious exit from Bear Stearns in 1981, his close relationships with Jimmy Cayne, Les Wexner, the chairman of Limited Brands, and above all, the man who claimed to be his mentor, Steven Jude Hoffenberg... The piece alluded to Epstein's great friendship with Maxwell, and how she introduced him to young women with whom he had sexual relationships.

Trafficking Assessment

Likelihood

20%

Confidence

82%

Thread Prior

78%

Reasoning

Ward's 2003 Vanity Fair article itself is journalism; however, it documents that she held back allegations of abuse ('I did hear stories about the girls') in favor of a financial mystery narrative. This editorial choice is not trafficking, but the underlying allegations she knew about and later publishes are.