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How Epstein used luxury goods to curry favour

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An email from Jeffrey Epstein instructing a redacted recipient to purchase a black Prada handbag as a gift.

An email from Jeffrey Epstein instructing a redacted recipient to purchase a black Prada handbag as a gift.

PHOTO: US DOJ/NYTIMES

Jacob Gallagher

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NEW YORK - An XXL cashmere sweater for Mr Noam Chomsky. A Goyard purse for Ms Peggy Siegal. A Rolex for a redacted recipient.

Contained within the millions of files that the Justice Department has released related to wealthy sex offender Jeffrey Epstein are hundreds of references to luxury labels. Epstein, it seems, had pointed opinions about style and how to deploy it. The many mentions of fashion form a textual trail on how Epstein, who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019, used gifts to ingratiate himself with famous friends and reward those in his orbit.

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