In February 2011, Jeffrey Epstein was in need of an assistant. He asked his friend Barry Josephson, a producer of the Fox show “Bones,” if he knew of any “amazing women” in their early 20s who would be available in New York.
“I have ‘the’ girl,” Josephson wrote back. “Young, attractive, insane rack.”
He added that the woman was “smart, although not a genius, but very efficient, will do anything, and tight lipped period end of story.”
Epstein had by that point already pleaded guilty and served time for child prostitution. But he maintained a wide circle of powerful friends, as revealed in a massive trove of records released by the Justice Department on Jan. 30.
In Hollywood, he was especially close with Josephson, a former Columbia Pictures executive who has produced several films and TV shows, including 2025’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
According to emails that are now public, the two men continued to see each other as late as 2018, just a year before Epstein died in prison while facing federal trafficking charges.
“I knew nothing about him,” Josephson said in a brief interview with Variety on Feb. 2. “You learn more and you distance yourself completely.”
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The messages show that Josephson was certainly aware of many of the allegations by 2016 — when James Patterson published an exposé titled “Filthy Rich” — and that he did not believe them. Asked when he had distanced himself, Josephson said, “I don’t want to talk about it really at all” and hung up.
According to the messages, Epstein and Josephson relied on each other for favors and advice. Josephson would arrange set visits for young women in Epstein’s circle, and would sometimes try to help with auditions. Epstein provided Josephson with personal loans. In 2011, Epstein lent him $120,000, which was repaid. Two years later, he helped Josephson cover a $215,000 tax bill.
“I am overwhelmed by your friendship,” wrote Josephson after paying back the second loan.
The subject of young women was a constant theme in their correspondence. In February 2013, Epstein asked if Josephson knew of any actresses who wanted to ride on his jet to Los Angeles with a “bunch of Hollywood types.” “I’ll check :)” was the reply. When Epstein arrived in L.A., Josephson said he was “casting girls for my pilot on Monday if he wants to stop by my office :)”
Epstein insisted on getting certain young women cast in projects and was frustrated when Josephson couldn’t deliver. The producer had to explain that it wasn’t that easy.
“The whole auditioning process is brutal, it’s harsh, it’s filled with disappointment,” he wrote, explaining that it was an uphill fight to cast his own wife in a small part on “Bones.” He apologized profusely that he could not do more, saying he would “do anything to make amends.”
Josephson envied Epstein — “I want one week a year of your life!” — and sought at times to leverage the connection into a studio job.
Josephson also offered Epstein a sympathetic ear. After getting out of prison in 2009, Epstein still faced civil litigation from his victims. In 2015, he came to Josephson with an idea for a movie — “a fictionalized account of what happens to people falsely accused,” which would be inspired by the Bill Cosby and Duke rape cases.
“Few willing to stand up and say these girls are liars,” Epstein wrote, adding that the film could be shot on jets, yachts and islands, and feature “beut girls” among the “one percent.”
Josephson offered to make the film through his company, and suggested Epstein’s investment could be kept secret. He recommended that Epstein watch “Absence of Malice,” a film about journalistic corruption.
Epstein wrote back that he was willing to fund the project. He saw it as “a fun idea” — with fake detectives and “hidden videos of girls (scheming) to get rich – the blair bitch project.”
“Certainly the side of the coin NOT covered by news outlets,” Josephson replied.
A year later, Patterson published his 400-page book, subtitled “A Powerful Billionaire, the Sex Scandal That Undid Him, and All the Justice That Money Can Buy.”
“All of these authors are ‘whores for headlines’!” Josephson told Epstein. “You should hire one to write the tell all deception and distortion of the legal system and the girl who lied and deceived to make a quick buck.”
Epstein replied that he was considering it. A few days later, Josephson wrote: “Fuck that book!” and inquired, “You ok?”
From Variety US