ABC's Epstein Story Didn't Kill Itself

[Judi Lynn]

by Alan MacLeod

New York: Jeffrey Epstein: International Moneyman of Mystery
New York (10/28/02) hyped Jeffrey Epstein as a "relentless brain" with a "keen eye for the ladies."

Multimillionaire predator Jeffrey Epstein died in suspicious circumstances at a Manhattan correctional facility on August 10. The wealthy and powerful New York financier, a convicted sex offender, stands accused by dozens of women and girls of trafficking, rape and sexual abuse. He was an enormously influential and well-connected man who counted as friends billionaire business owners, Hollywood stars, British royals, and even top media figures like Katie Couric and Charlie Rose—with some of his associates falling under suspicion of condoning or even participating in a pedophile ring.

“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” said fellow tycoon Donald Trump (New York, 10/28/02), adding: “It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.” Former President Bill Clinton was also close with Epstein.

Epstein’s crimes shocked the public, and his arrest, trial and mysterious death were major stories for much of 2019. But last month, leaked footage emerged showing that corporate media knew much about these crimes years previously. Discussing one of his accusers, ABC News anchor Amy Robach was caught on camera lambasting executives at her network for killing her investigations into the sex offender because of Epstein’s connections. The clip was originally leaked to infamous right-wing troll James O’Keefe, who has a long history of producing bogus stories (FAIR.org, 4/1/10, 3/14/11, 12/12/15, 10/21/16), but ABC employees, including Robach herself, have confirmed its authenticity. In the video, Robach complains:

I've had the story for three years. I've had this interview with [Epstein complainant] Virginia Roberts. We would not put it on the air. First of all I was told, “Who is Jeffrey Epstein? No one knows who that is. This is a stupid story.” Then the palace found out that we had her whole allegations about Prince Andrew, and threatened us in a million different ways. We were so afraid we wouldn’t be able to interview Kate and Will that it also quashed the story. And then Alan Dershowitz was also implicated in it because of the planes.

More:
https://us20.campaign-archive.com/?e=1bfaee7bea&u=e6457f9552de19bc603e65b9c&id=d933470c7f

[lunatica]

1. They could make a movie out of this

But it would be blocked even more than Trump’s crimes do.

[UpInArms]

2. This 'graph seems oddly familiar

Perhaps even more worryingly, corporate media rivals have largely not touched the story. Neither Robach’s revelation nor Bianco’s termination have been reported on by MSNBC, CNN, CBS or the New York Times, nearly a month after the video first leaked. Thus the story of a major media outlet covering up the crimes of a monster, with the only person to face any sanction being the alleged whistleblower, whom two outlets combined to punish, appears not to qualify as a newsworthy event to much of the press.

A mirror in a dark place ....

[BeckyDem]

3. They said that. "This is a stupid story."

SICKENING!

[CaptYossarian]

4. From an infotainment perspective, it's a stupid story. Network journalism is dead.

A) It had substance. #MeToo was still in its embryonic stages yet.

B) It wasn't about a celebrity that Joe Six-pack had heard of.

C) ABC was elated when CBS' Charlie Rose and Les Moonves, plus NBC legend Bill Cosby and that Today guy with the Chia pet stubble were the story. (ABC would have its own unique issue with Roseanne.)

D) Epstein had friends in high places. This involved families of both 2016 Presidential candidates and a Royal (Oh, the horrors!).

All of the above is why when ABC's "Good Morning Hollywood" comes on, I turn to Match Game reruns.

[lagomorph777]

5. B) is not accurate

American tabloids track all the royals, and a royal was involved.

[CaptYossarian]

7. I meant they hadn't heard of Epstein.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

6. It's this simple

POWERFUL men wanted this story gone, and it was buried.

POWERFUL men wanted Epstein gone, and now he, too, is buried.