Sarah Ferguson Was Always 'Falling Out' With Epstein But He Saw Her as a 'Useful Idiot': Source
Sarah Ferguson's precarious financial situation made headlines long before her ties to Jeffrey Epstein resurfaced. The release of the Epstein files, however, has cast fresh light on the depth of their association, with emails showing the former Duchess of York pleading with the disgraced financier for money. A source now claims their relationship was frequently strained by disputes over unreturned cash, alleging Epstein viewed Ferguson less as a friend and more as a gateway to her ex-husband, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, the insider revealed that Epstein was reportedly furious when Ferguson made disparaging comments about him in an interview with The London Standard. "She [Ferguson] would borrow it from him [Epstein] and then say something stupid, which would make the papers and infuriate him. He wasn't that fond of her; she was more of a useful idiot to him." The source added of Epstein's alleged intentions, "She offered him a way into Andrew's good graces and, by default, the good graces of the royals."
New documents and emails from the Epstein file indeed show that the disgraced financier helped pay off around $60,000 worth of debts Ferguson reportedly owed to her former assistant.
In the past, the former Duchess has fessed up to accepting $20,500 from Epstein to settle her 2011 debts, describing it as a "gigantic error of judgment," following his 2008 conviction for indecent assault. However, newly released emails from the latest tranche suggest she remained in close contact with him, largely over financial matters. One correspondence released by the US Department of Justice suggested she was in a dire financial situation, telling Epstein she "desperately needs the money." After the late financier had reportedly helped pay off some of her debts, a 2010 email showed Ferguson write to him, "Just marry me," and "I'm at your service," while thanking him for his "generosity and kindness."
However, as insider accounts suggest, Epstein was reportedly very wary of Ferguson and her intentions with him. An email, dated August 20, 2009, showed him being informed by a redacted name that the "Fergie data collection remains slow," to which he asked the person to "keep on it." In another message, the person from the same hidden address said, "The message you sent said 'Ferg' only. Send again, please? or call me...Getting financials for Fergie is painful. Incredible mess. I'm on it..."