Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?
[{"sender": "Rebecca Watson", "recipients": ["Lawrence Krauss"], "timestamp": "Apr 6, 2011, at 9:41 AM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily east?", "body": "Dear Professor Krauss,\n\nWe met briefly after your talk in Ithaca a few months ago — I'm the girl on The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe podcast. I've really enjoyed your talks and books, but I was surprised to see you quoted in the Daily Beast recently defending Jeffrey Epstein:\n\nhttp://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-04-01/bill-clinton-katie-couric-woody-allen-jeffrey-\nepsteins-society-friends-close-ranks/2/\n\nCan you confirm if the following quote is accurate?\n\n\"If anything, the unfortunate period he suffered has caused him to really think about what he wants to do \nwith his money and his time, and support knowledge,\" says Krauss. \"Jeffrey has surrounded himself with \nbeautiful women and young women but they're not as young as the ones that were claimed. As a scientist I \nalways judge things on empirical evidence and he always has women ages 19 to 23 around him, but I've \nnever seen anything else, so as a scientist, my presumption is that whatever the problems were I would \nbelieve him over other people.\" Though colleagues have criticized him over his relationship with Epstein, \nKrauss insists, \"I don't feel tarnished in any way by my relationship with Jeffrey; I feel raised by it.\"\n\nThanks,\nRebecca Watson"}, {"sender": "Lawrence Krauss", "recipients": ["Rebecca Watson"], "timestamp": "Apr 6, 2011 at 12:50 PM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "yes it is.. Based on my direct experience with Jeffrey, which is all I can base my assessment on, he is a \nthoughtful, kind, considerate man who is generous to his friends, and all of the women I have known who \nhave been associated with Jeffrey speak glowingly in the same words..\n\nwhy are you asking?"}, {"sender": "Rebecca Watson", "recipients": ["Lawrence Krauss"], "timestamp": "Apr 6, 2011, at 9:57 AM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "Thanks for getting back to me. I was asking because I found the quote shocking . . . the evidence against \nEpstein is overwhelming and he's even pled guilty to paying for sex with a minor. It's in no way scientific or \nrational to assume that because you never saw him with an underage girl he must actually be innocent. It is \npossible for a person to be kind and generous with his friends but still a criminal paying for sex with \nunderage girls in his private life.\n\nI'm going to write about the topic on Skepchick, and I'll include any additional statement you'd like if you \nwant to provide more context or if you've changed your mind.\n\n-R"}, {"sender": "Lawrence Krauss", "recipients": ["Rebecca Watson"], "timestamp": "Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 1:15 PM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "jeffrey apparently paid for massages with sex... I believe him when he told me he had no idea the girls were \nunderage, and I doubt that people normally are asked for or present a driver's license under such \ncircumstances... Moreover, I also believe that Jeffrey is an easy target for those who want to take advantage \nof him... Moreover, I can say with great honesty that Jeffrey's time in prison led him to seriously examine \nhis life in very positive ways and I don't believe in blanket condemnations of people. He served time for \nsomething that was determined was inappropriate. I honestly don't know who was the victim in this case. I \nfully expect that these masseuses knew what they were doing, and were not swayed to do anything with \nJeffrey that they were not already doing. That is not to approve of the whole behavior, but lots of peopleI \nknow and like have behavior I don't entirely approve of. I know it is not politically correct to say that, \nbecause in general this is a very sensitive issue and all other things being equal one should take the side of \nthe young women. But all things are not equal in this case, from my point of view. It is a judgement call, \nand I will not turn my back on a good friend so easily."}, {"sender": "Rebecca Watson", "recipients": ["Lawrence Krauss"], "timestamp": "Apr 6, 2011 at 10:18 AM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "Okay, thanks for this statement . . . I'll print it in full along with the article, probably today. I very, very \nstrongly disagree with your position and hope you eventually reconsider, but I do appreciate you taking the \ntime to respond.\n\n-R"}, {"sender": "Lawrence Krauss", "recipients": ["Rebecca Watson"], "timestamp": "Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 1:27 PM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "ok.. I just sent an additional email which moderates this.. everyone was a victim, including Jeffrey here.. \nand there was no happy resolution.. please add.. \"probably everyone was a victim, with no happy resolution \nor consequences of these activities\", after \"was the victim in this case.\"."}, {"sender": "Rebecca Watson", "recipients": ["Lawrence Krauss"], "timestamp": "April 6, 2011 10:28:36 AM MST", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily east?", "body": "Okay, will do."}, {"sender": "Lawrence Krauss", "recipients": ["Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation@gmail.com>"], "timestamp": "Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 11:31 PM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "just so you know.. you can read from bottom up.. you may be mad that I was blunt... haven't heard from \nyou.. hope all is well.."}, {"sender": "Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation@gmail.com>", "recipients": ["Lawrence Krauss"], "timestamp": "Apr 6, 2011, at 3:15 PM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "no it was appreciated. thanks"}, {"sender": "Lawrence Krauss", "recipients": ["Jeffrey Epstein"], "timestamp": "Thu, Apr 7, 2011 at 12:18 AM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "Beyond anything else, you are my friend. I hope we can both always remember that, no matter what. \n\nAre you coming this weekend at all?\n\nLawrence Krauss"}, {"sender": "Jeffrey Epstein", "recipients": ["Lawrence Krauss"], "timestamp": "Apr 6, 2011, at 3:56 PM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "what evidence? no real sex.. where is she getting her so called facts"}, {"sender": "Lawrence Krauss", "recipients": ["Jeffrey Epstein <jeevacation@gmail.com>"], "timestamp": "4/7/2011 2:05:28 AM", "subject": "Re: Statement in the Daily Beast?", "body": "PS. I have decided that Feynman would have done what I did.. and I am therefore content.. no matter what.. :)"}]