| Notes |
A female executive at the top of the modelling industry had a close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein and introduced him to women on the agency’s books, a Guardian investigation has found.
Links between Kates and the late sex offender have previously been reported, but analysis of documents published by the US Department of Justice reveals a much deeper relationship than previously known, with emails showing Kates secretly took business advice from Epstein and discussed multimillion-dollar loans.
Kates appears to have met Epstein regularly, including on one occasion with the then Prince Andrew at a New York department store in December 2010, the week of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s now infamous visit to the city to supposedly call off his friendship with the financier.
Kates, 68, offered her support and “unconditional” friendship after Epstein was first convicted for soliciting a child for prostitution in 2009. She was still sending friendly emails weeks before he was arrested again in 2019.
More troubling is that across their nearly 40-year relationship it seems Kates connected a number of her models with Epstein, raising serious questions for the woman who has been responsible for the careers – and ultimately the welfare – of thousands of young women. There is no evidence to suggest Kates was aware of Epstein’s offending prior to his 2009 conviction. |