Miami Herald's 2018 Epstein Investigation Prompted Bank Account Closures

Investigative journalist Julie K. Brown has highlighted a significant omission in recent New York Times reporting on Jeffrey Epstein's financial activities, pointing to the direct impact of the Miami Herald's 2018 "Perversion of Justice" series on the disgraced financier's banking relationships. Brown asserts that the Herald's groundbreaking work led to immediate financial repercussions for Epstein, including bank account freezes.

The Miami Herald's five-part series, published in November 2018, meticulously detailed the lenient 2008 plea deal Epstein received and brought renewed scrutiny to his activities. "Epstein, after my series ran in 2018, made at least two large $ transfers which led to a panic with the banks. They froze the accounts as a result," Brown stated in a tweet. This claim is supported by federal authorities' announcements that Epstein wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to potential accomplices shortly after the Herald's series began. Notably, Deutsche Bank confirmed it notified Epstein in December 2018 that it would be closing his accounts, directly following the renewed public interest sparked by the Miami Herald's investigation.

The New York Times has recently published extensive investigations into Epstein's financial network, focusing on how major institutions like JPMorgan Chase enabled his operations. These reports often detail suspicious activity reports (SARs) filed by banks, primarily after Epstein's 2019 arrest, and highlight Senator Ron Wyden's ongoing probe into over $1.5 billion in transactions flagged by banks. The Times' reporting aims to uncover the broader financial infrastructure that supported Epstein's illicit activities.

However, Brown's critique centers on the Times' failure to acknowledge the Miami Herald's pivotal role in triggering these financial actions. "The Times is doing great work following Epstein’s money. But its omissions recognizing the Herald’s role in investigating his crimes — especially when relevant as in this case — is mind boggling," she tweeted. The New York Times' own ethical guidelines emphasize the importance of crediting other news organizations for major scoops or exclusives, even when the information has been independently confirmed.

The Miami Herald's 2018 series is widely credited with re-opening the federal investigation into Epstein, which ultimately led to his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges. The subsequent bank actions in late 2018, directly linked to the Herald's reporting, underscore the immediate and tangible impact of Brown's investigative journalism on Epstein's ability to move funds and maintain his financial operations.