EFTA02352977

From: Kathy Ruemmler > Sent: Friday, March 18, To: Jeffrey E. Subject: Re: Patterson On the shuttle back to NYC. Abou= to take off. Sent from my iPhone On Mar 18, 20=6, at 11:41 AM, jeffrey E. [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> wrote: Forwarded messa=e From: Michael Wolff Date: Fri, Mar 18, 2016 at 11:39 AM Subject= Patterson To: Jeffrey Epstein <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]=m» A few thi=gs to think about: If the Patterson book is being p=blished in August, that presents some time frame issues. You would not be a=le to do a competing book or documentary before then. This is not to say th=t they shouldn't be pursued. In a sense, better that they know what Patters=n's position is and, a year from now say, be able to counter it. I have som= thoughts on book and doc to share at your convenience. That being said, you do need an immediate counter narrative to the boo=. I believe Trump offers an ideal opportunity. It's a chance to make the st=ry about something other than you, while, at the same time, letting you fra=e your own story. Also, becoming an anti-Trump voice gives you a certain po=itical cover which you decidedly don't have now. Still, this necessary invo=ves you going public. And so the most basic decision is about your willingn=ss to do that. My view is that in a couple of weeks you could master messag= and technical proficiency. I know a bunch of people who could be very help=ul here. This would involve something along the lines of you writing an op-=d, doing a high profile television interview (Charlie Rose, I'd say), and p=rhaps some social media efforts. Speaking of which= again, I think a strategic plan, involving your public identity, philanthr=pic activities and interests, and the development of media allies, ought fi=ally to be put in place. A big, comprehensive, expensive effort. =br> The alternative is to continue to keep head down and hope Pat=erson book is just more he-said she-said and Connolly getting lost in the r=eds (which, as an inveterate conspiracist, he always does). My worry is tha= Patterson can be counted on to produce a bestseller, and while he isn't re=arded as a serious writer, he'll surely be unloading a lot of tabloid copy.=Because this will be tied to the election, the Trump-Clinton angle will amp=up the attention 10-fold, in fact, possibly, a hundred fold. Possibly more t=an anything you've encountered before. Meanwhile--=/div> EFTA_R1_01333089 EFTA02352977 In a lawyer's letter, I'd suggest including the fo=lowing points--not necessarily legal, but a warning about how a press campa=gn might unfold (publishers are more worried about being caught in negative=media controversy than they are of legal threats): 2) The actual a=thor of the book, John Connolly, is someone other than the stated author, J=mes Patterson. Connolly is known to have developed an obsession with Epstei=, such that, his longtime employer, Vanity Fair, has refused to allow him t= write about Epstein for the magazine; 3) Sources h=ve confirmed for us that Patterson has had little more than a minimal consu=ting role in the book, and that Connolly has functioned in every material w=y as the book's researcher and writer. We believe Patterson's "authorship" o= the book will not stand up to scrutiny. And, indeed, that the entire notio= of an extension of the Patterson franchise into nonfiction, as it has been=used in fiction and children's book--effectively other authors writing unde= the Patterson name—presents a host of journalism ethical issues.</="iv> please note=br> The information contained in this communication is confidential,=may be attorney-client privileged, may constitute inside information, an= is intended only for the use of the addressee. It is the property of Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication or a=y part thereof is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have r=ceived this communication in error, please notify us immediately by r=turn e-mail or by e-mail to [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> , and destroy this communication and=all copies thereof, including all attachments. copyright -all rights res=rved 2 EFTA_R1_01333090 EFTA02352978