Emails Reveal NYT Reporter Warned Epstein About Investigative Journalist

Back in the spring of 2016, a financial reporter for the New York Times tipped off Jeffrey Epstein about an investigative journalist looking into his controversial lifestyle. This information emerged from emails released by the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

Landon Thomas Jr. sent a warning to Epstein after John Connolly, a former police officer who transitioned to reporting, reached out regarding his book, which, according to the emails, had made him quite wealthy. On June 1, 2016, Thomas wrote to Epstein, stating he had received notifications from Connolly, who was keen on discussing Epstein’s ties to the media. “I told him you’re one hell of a guy,” he added in a light tone.

He also mentioned in a follow-up email that while he thought Connolly was a solid reporter, he was unsure of the journalist’s position on their ongoing discussion. “Have you talked to him?” Thomas asked, implying that perhaps more communication would be beneficial.

Interestingly, Thomas noted that Connolly was asking about a past article of his where Donald Trump was quoted praising Epstein. “It seems he got word that those words from Trump in the New York Magazine piece were fabricated,” Thomas wrote, expressing disbelief but recognizing that reporters were indeed contacting him about Epstein frequently.

In a previous exchange, Thomas mentioned that people were approaching him because they believed he had useful insights regarding both Epstein and Trump. This was notably about a magazine article where Trump had said things like, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. He’s a great guy,” as well as comments about their appreciation for beautiful women, mentioning that some might be younger.

Connolly, who passed away in January 2022, was the co-author of “Filthy Rich: The Shocking True Story of Jeffrey Epstein,” published in October 2016. This book is what inspired a Netflix documentary that was released in May 2020, following Epstein’s death in a Manhattan jail cell.

A year after the book came out, Thomas sent another email to Epstein mentioning that Connolly was initiating another investigation. It seemed he was digging into Trump-related stories. “Anyway, it’s worth noting…” he added, perhaps suggesting that this was becoming a big deal.

The emails also shed light on Thomas’ longstanding relationship with Epstein, including conversations about potential stories that involved both Epstein and wider political contexts, like Saudi Arabia. Throughout the correspondence, Thomas expressed his concerns over Trump’s electoral chances against Hillary Clinton in 2016, reflecting a personal layer to the exchanges.

By early 2019, Thomas had left the Times after telling editors about a $30,000 contribution he sought from Epstein for a Harlem cultural center. This prompted the publication to reassess his past articles, including a suggestive profile of Epstein from 2008, just before Epstein began serving time under a controversial plea deal.

As of now, Thomas has not been employed by the Times since early 2019, after the newspaper concluded he hadn’t met their ethical standards, as stated by a spokesperson. Attempts to reach out to Thomas for further comments were unsuccessful.