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How Jeffrey Epstein’s charity burnished his image

On paper, Jeffrey Epstein’s foundation looked like a charitable powerhouse. But it wasn’t officially a charity for much of its existence, allowing Mr. Epstein to exaggerate his giving, report Steve Eder and Matthew Goldstein in the NYT.

The organization lost its tax-exempt status in 2008, the same year Mr. Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor, according to a review of tax documents, government records and information provided by federal officials.

This worked to his advantage. “Mr. Epstein was unshackled from the rigorous financial disclosures that charities are supposed to file every year with the government — allowing him to exaggerate his philanthropy as he sought to rebuild his reputation,” write Mr. Eder and Mr. Goldstein.