Lawrence Krauss defends Jeffrey Epstein in email exchange with Rebecca Watson (April 2011)

know and like have behavior I don't entirely approve of.. I know it is not politically correct to say that, because in general this is a very sensitive issue and all other things being equal one should take the side of the young women. But all things are not equal in this case, from my point of view. It is a judgement call, and I will not turn my back on a good friend so easily. On Apr 6, 2011, at 9:57 AM, Rebecca Watson wrote: Thanks for getting back to me. I was asking because I found the quote shocking . . . the evidence against Epstein is overwhelming and he's even pled guilty to paying for sex with a minor. It's in no way scientific or rational to assume that because you never saw him with an underage girl he must actually be innocent. It is possible for a person to be kind and generous with his friends but still a criminal paying for sex with underage girls in his private life. I'm going to write about the topic on Skepchick, and I'll include any additional statement you'd like if you want to provide more context or if you've changed your mind. -R On Wed, Apr 6, 2011 at 12:50 PM, Lawrence Krauss rote: yes it is.. Based on my direct experience with Jeffrey, which is all I can base my assessment on, he is a thoughtful, kind, considerate man who is generous to his friends, and all of the women I have known who have been associated with Jeffrey speak glowingly in the same words.. why are you asking? On Apr 6, 2011, at 9:41 AM, Rebecca Watson wrote: Dear Professor Krauss, We 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: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-04-01/bill-clinton-katie-couric-woody-allen-jeffrey- epsteins-society-friends-close-ranks/2/ Can you confirm if the following quote is accurate? "If anything, the unfortunate period he suffered has caused him to really think about what he wants to do with his money and his time, and support knowledge,” says Krauss. "Jeffrey has surrounded himself with beautiful women and young women but they're not as young as the ones that were claimed. As a scientist I always judge things on empirical evidence and he always has women ages 19 to 23 around him, but I've never seen anything else, so as a scientist, my presumption is that whatever the problems were I would believe him over other people." Though colleagues have criticized him over his relationship with Epstein, Krauss insists, "I don't feel tarnished in any way by my relationship with Jeffrey; I feel raised by it.” Thanks, Rebecca Watson HOUSE_OVERSIGHT_031023