A pastor from Missouri has been suspended from her position after her affair with a girlfriend came to light, but she insists that her time working for Jeffrey Epstein, despite his notorious background, was a matter of following her faith. The Rev. Stephanie L. Remington, 50, was found to have appeared over 1,800 times in recently released Epstein-related files from the Justice Department, leading to her suspension from the United Methodist Church of Missouri.
So far, Remington hasn’t faced any criminal charges. The references to her in Epstein’s documents seem mostly related to her communications while overseeing Epstein’s Little St. James Island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Her employment on the island lasted from August 2018 until May 2019, just weeks before Epstein’s arrest and subsequent death in July 2019. Remington claims she never observed any suspicious activities during her tenure there. She told UM News, “I didn’t see anything. I knew him for the last nine months of his life, long after he served time in prison.”
However, it’s clear Remington was aware of Epstein’s criminal past, which included a 2008 conviction for procuring minors for prostitution. In a personal blog post, she reflected on her Christian faith as she considered taking the position, stating she couldn’t turn away from someone because of their past mistakes.
“If I withheld a relationship with this man because of his past, I would be turning my back on every message of hope I’ve ever preached,” she expressed in her writing.
Following her suspension, she continued to explore her faith’s teachings. “Jesus faced scrutiny for the company he kept, yet he didn’t shy away from embracing others,” she noted, arguing for compassion even toward those with dark histories. She recalled how Epstein had been kind to her during her father’s illness as another reason for her continued support.
Emails between Epstein and his staff, now revealed, included discussions about logistics for work at Little St. James, a site central to many of Epstein’s alleged crimes. The island became infamous for its association with various powerful individuals, with Remington noting that Epstein frequently mentioned his connections to both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. “Half of America wants to link him to the Clintons while the other half wants to tie him to Trump,” she said, reflecting on how Epstein took pride in having access to key political figures.
As investigations into Remington’s conduct continue within the United Methodist Church, they will assess whether she complied with protocols about informing church leaders regarding her employment. She hasn’t publicly commented on her situation.
