The trove of documents from a House investigation dumped online Wednesday reveal explosive new details about how the late, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein wielded influence with prominent and powerful people across the political spectrum.

Epstein’s influential friends, however, weren’t all household names. The documents also reveal details of Epstein’s unusually close relationships with scientists, academics, and philanthropists — and how he had a cozy arrangement with members of the media who got juicy tips from Epstein and did little critical work about him.

One reporter with whom Epstein connected frequently was Landon Thomas Jr., a financial journalist at the New York Times. Thomas exchanged dozens of emails with Epstein between 2015 and 2018, years after the financier’s conviction for soliciting a minor.

In the emails, Thomas tipped off Epstein about inquiries by other reporters and claimed to have vouched for Epstein, whom he said he called “one hell of a guy.” In one exchange, Thomas coached Epstein on how to repair his reputation.

The relationship was a two-way street. Epstein, who died in a Manhattan federal jail in 2019 awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, was reportedly a valued source for Thomas. In the emails released Wednesday, one of the topics Epstein fed information to Thomas was about Donald Trump’s allegedly lecherous behavior. In the exchanges — through his trademark style of lowercase letters and abundant typos — Epstein alludes to Trump’s predilection for young women.

“read the [BuzzFeed story] re my airplane logs and hawain tropic contest,” Epstein wrote in one email on December 8, 2015, alluding the Trump’s frequent travel on the financier’s private plane. “have them ask my houseman about donad almost walking through the door leaving his nose print on the glass as young women were swimming in the pool and he was so focused he walked straight into the door.”

No reply or follow-up from Thomas appeared in the documents released Wednesday.

On one occasion, Thomas attempted to convince Epstein to speak out about Trump. Thomas had reportedly told his editors he solicited information from Epstein but would not write about Epstein himself. In the newly released email exchange, Thomas offered Epstein to pass any information about Trump to other journalists.

“I am serious man — for the good of the nation why not try to get some of this out there,” Landon wrote in an exchange the same day. “I would not do it myself, but would pass on to a political reporter.”

Epstein deflected, sending a link to a story about a Norwegian heiress.

“my 20 year old girlfriend in 93„ that after two years i gave to donald,” Epstein replied.

“Amazing!” Thomas wrote back. “When did you last talk to him?”

Like the other exchange, the message is cryptic and no follow-up was recorded in the files released Wednesday to provide context. The Norwegian heiress has previously been linked to both

© The Intercept