Sat Dec 13 00:45:44 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the provided text, followed by its rewrite as a news article:

Summary:

Newly uncovered emails reveal that a New York Times reporter, Landon Thomas Jr., advised Jeffrey Epstein to proactively manage his public image in the face of mounting sex abuse allegations in 2007. Thomas suggested Epstein give an interview to the NYT to “define the story” on his own terms, fearing negative portrayals from other publications. He even offered to reach out to Epstein’s high-profile associates to highlight his business and philanthropic endeavors. This occurred before Epstein’s 2008 conviction. The emails also show Thomas discussed Epstein’s legal case with the prosecutor. The New York Times stated Thomas no longer works at the publication and was let go due to ethical breaches.
News Article:

Emails Show NYT Reporter Advised Epstein on PR Strategy Amid Abuse Allegations

New York, NY – Newly released emails reveal that a former New York Times reporter, Landon Thomas Jr., actively advised disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on how to manage his public image as he faced allegations of sexually abusing minors. The emails, dating back to 2007, show Thomas encouraging Epstein to “get ahead” of negative publicity by granting an interview to The New York Times, allowing him to “define the story” on his own terms.

“I Just read the Post. Now the floodgates will open — you can expect Vanity Fair and NYMag to pile on,” Thomas wrote in an email to Epstein on September 20, 2007, according to the disclosed communication. “My view is that the quicker you get out ahead of this and define the story and who you are on your terms in the NYT, the better it will be for you.”

Following a negative article about Epstein, Thomas urged the financier to act quickly to prevent a damaging “popular tabloid perception” from taking hold. He even offered to contact prominent figures like former Harvard President Larry Summers and then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to highlight Epstein’s business, scientific, and philanthropic activities.

The emails, part of a trove obtained by Al Jazeera from Distributed Denial of Secrets, also raise questions about Thomas’s potential conflicts of interest. One document suggests Thomas discussed the legal case against Epstein with then-Florida prosecutor David Weinstein. Weinstein has acknowledged speaking with Thomas, but denies discussing the specifics of Epstein’s case.

Thomas wrote an article about Epstein in 2008. A 2019 report by NPR said colleagues of Thomas at the Times had been “appalled” by the article when they reviewed it years later, following the journalist’s admission that he had solicited a $30,000 donation from Epstein for a cultural centre.

In a statement, The New York Times confirmed that Thomas is no longer employed by the newspaper, having left in early 2019 “after editors discovered his failure to abide by our ethical standards.” They did not provide further details. Thomas has not responded to requests for comment.

The revelations come after previous disclosures of emails between Thomas and Epstein, raising further concerns about the journalist’s relationship with the convicted sex offender.

Read More