WASHINGTON – Newly released records show Dallas crisis consultant Merrie Spaeth kept contacting convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein years after his 2008 guilty plea, despite previously saying she had ended her work for him out of “discomfort.”
The documents include messages offering Epstein help and support, including a July 2011 note sent through his assistant.
“I just wanted to touch base and make sure you were feeling more secure,” Spaeth wrote. “After our last phone call, some weeks ago, I was concerned. You know you can always call on us.”
A 2015 message has the sender and recipient redacted, but appears to be directed to Epstein from her, saying: “We’re here if you want help. We think the world of you.”
Political Points
The messages are among millions of pages of Epstein-related documents the Justice Department released last week after Congress passed legislation mandating their disclosure.
Spaeth, 77, told The Dallas Morning News this week that follow-up work with defense counsel was part of her practice but she is now embarrassed by any involvement with Epstein.
She provided a statement reiterating her company was engaged in 2008 to “provide communications options” for Epstein and his legal team.
“Part of my communication practice has been to work with defense counsel, including follow up to individuals, companies and organizations,” Spaeth said. “In retrospect, given the now-known scope of Mr. Epstein’s egregious actions, I am embarrassed that I had any involvement whatsoever including our follow ups with him.”
Past links
One theme of the documents has been correspondence undermining assertions by public figures that they had limited contact with Epstein all along or walked away from him at some point.
Bloomberg News reported last year on a batch of emails that revealed Epstein’s lawyers were looking for help handling public relations in the 2008 case and turned to Spaeth, a well-known crisis communications expert.
Those emails indicated she helped draft potential public apologies and coached him on how to answer interview questions about preying on innocent young girls.
Spaeth, in response, confirmed Epstein’s legal counsel engaged her communications firm during that time period, but she said: “I ultimately terminated the engagement because of my discomfort with it.”
Contact maintained
The newly released documents show Spaeth did not cut off all contact with Epstein after the 2008 work.
She continued reaching out to him at various points over the years after he pleaded guilty to state charges, including procurement of a minor to engage in prostitution.
Epstein served less than 13 months in a minimum-security facility and was released in 2009.
Spaeth served as White House media relations director under President Ronald Reagan before moving to the Dallas area and starting her own PR firm.
She coached independent counsel Ken Starr on his congressional testimony about the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
She also worked with Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, which attacked Democratic Sen. John Kerry over his Vietnam War service record when he ran for president in 2004.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 and federally charged with sex trafficking of minors. He was found dead in his New York jail cell the next month.
The newly released records offer limited insight and raise additional questions for many of those named.
One document that appears to be a summation of Epstein’s legal bills around the 2009-2010 time period shows a figure of about $51,000 paid to Spaeth’s company.
After she reached out in mid-2011, a series of messages reference a planned call between Spaeth and Epstein, but it’s unclear if that call ultimately happened.
Other documents show Spaeth reaching out again in 2015 with a friendly message for Epstein to a redacted recipient.
“We worked for Jeffrey some time ago, and noted the recent continuing publicity,” Spaeth wrote. “If this is still a good email, could you let Jeffrey know that we’re here if he wants help — or just wants to talk about the news coverage. My email and cell phone remain the same.”
After the recipient responded they had forwarded the message to Epstein, Spaeth added: “Thank you so much. Jeffrey texted me that he would call. Just want him to know he has friends who are thinking of him.”