George Rush joins Joanna Coles to revisit the moment he began digging into Jeffrey Epstein after the financier’s Palm Beach sweetheart deal, uncovering testimony from Virginia Giuffre, allegations involving Ghislaine Maxwell, and mounting fears Epstein was still recruiting girls. Rush, the famed New York gossip columnist, describes how his reporting triggered pressure from the newspaper’s owner after Epstein intervened—before landing a rare phone interview in which Epstein blamed victims, minimized the charges, and tried to steer coverage toward their lawyer. With hindsight, Rush reflects on Epstein’s manipulation tactics, his push to keep Maxwell out of print, and the explosive tape that nearly sent the reporter to jail when attorneys fought to obtain it.

00:00 - Epstein's Disregard For His Victims

03:47 - How Rush First Investigated Epstein

07:34 - Epstein Calls Owner To Kill Story

11:21 - First Audio: Epstein Tries To Charm Press

15:08 - Epstein Pushes Lawyer Conspiracy Theory

18:55 - Confronting Epstein On Guilty Plea

22:42 - Epstein Blames Victims In Interview

26:29 - “They Want To Get Paid Again” Clip

30:16 - Protecting Ghislaine Maxwell From Story

34:03 - Publisher Pressure And What Got Cut

37:50 - Why The Story Barely Made Waves

41:37 - Epstein Plays Victim Again On Tape

45:24 - Red Flags Rush Missed At The Time

49:11 - Looking Back At The Epstein Interview

#epsteinfiles #news #podcast

📖 Title: The Sinister Truth About My Interview With Epstein

👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast

📺 Episode: 669

🎧 Format: Full Podcast

📅 Date: March 25, 2026

👨‍💼 Guest: George Rush

🎙️ Host: Joanna Coles

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