Micah Jonah
February 9, 2026
Newly released documents from the United States Department of Justice show that disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein attempted to influence media coverage of sexual abuse allegations against him by pressuring a billionaire newspaper owner with whom he had close personal, financial ties.
The documents reveal that Epstein leveraged his relationship with Canadian American media mogul Mortimer Zuckerman, then owner of the New York Daily News, in a bid to shape or limit reporting on allegations that followed Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.
According to the files, Epstein contacted Zuckerman directly after a journalist from the Daily News sought comment on allegations involving Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The paper initially delayed publication of the story and later removed specific details that Epstein had requested be excluded.
Emails dated October 2009 show Epstein sending Zuckerman a proposed response to questions from the newspaper, disputing the allegations and urging that Maxwell be excluded from the report. Zuckerman replied that the paper was carrying out major edits despite objections and indicated he would share the revised copy.
The Daily News eventually published an article in December 2009 reporting that Epstein had reached a financial settlement with an accuser. While the article noted that Epstein was facing multiple civil lawsuits, it did not mention Maxwell or outline the full scope of the allegations.
Former Daily News journalist George Rush later confirmed that Epstein had attempted to influence the paper through Zuckerman, describing the effort as an attempt to delay or soften coverage. Rush said he objected to the interference but noted that the story was ultimately published, albeit later than planned.
Zuckerman has never been accused of involvement in Epstein’s crimes. Requests for comment sent to his representatives and affiliated organizations were not answered.
The documents also shed light on the depth of Epstein’s long standing relationship with Zuckerman, which spanned more than two decades. They worked together on media projects and exchanged frequent correspondence, with Epstein providing financial advice to Zuckerman on estate planning and wealth management.
Records show Epstein proposed advisory agreements worth tens of millions of dollars and reviewed sensitive financial documents belonging to Zuckerman, including his will and asset evaluations. The files do not confirm whether any such agreement was finalised.
Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges, maintained regular personal contact with Zuckerman, arranging meetings and social engagements over several years.
The latest document release is part of a broader disclosure from Epstein related case files, offering new insight into how the financier used wealth and influence to seek protection from scrutiny.
