A Florida journalist whose investigative reporting led to Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 arrest has signed a deal for a book about the disgraced financier, the Miami Herald reports.
HarperCollins imprint William Morrow will publish a book by Herald reporter Julie K. Brown about Epstein, the convicted sex criminal who committed suicide last month.
Brown wrote a series of articles in 2018 about Epstein’s 2008 plea deal with prosecutors on prostitution charges, which resulted in a 13-month sentence for the millionaire. The federal prosecutor who agreed to the deal, Alexander Acosta, went on to serve as President Trump’s labor secretary from 2017 to 2019.
News of the deal sparked outrage, and some speculate it led to Epstein’s 2019 arrest on charges of sexual trafficking of minors.
In a statement, HarperCollins said Brown’s book will be based on her investigation for the Herald. “The narrative will expose the inner workings of the sexual pyramid scheme Jeffrey Epstein forced the girls into, and will implicate powerful, wealthy and influential politicians, academics, businessmen and public figures,” the publisher said.
William Morrow Group publisher Liate Stehlik said that Brown’s reporting “mesmerized America and the world.”
“With this book, readers will finally have access to the whole truth behind this tragic scandal,” Stehlik said. “We are thrilled and proud to be working with Julie on what we think will be one of the major nonfiction books of our era.”
Brown’s book has no title or release date as of yet.
Michael Schaub is an Austin, Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
