In his newly released book Index, photographer Christopher Anderson details an encounter with Jeffrey Epstein in 2015, when the financier requested a meeting to discuss purchasing rights to portraits Anderson had taken for a New York magazine profile. Anderson, unaware at the time of Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor, described Epstein as “a rich and powerful man connected to rich and powerful men.” The meeting took place at Epstein’s New York home, which Anderson noted featured distinctive decor, including a stuffed tiger and a room prepared for a massage table with a young woman of Eastern European accent present.
Epstein later demanded the photographs and initiated email correspondence with Lesley Groff, his personal secretary, regarding the images. These exchanges, among the 3.5 million pages released by the U.S. Department of Justice, culminated in Epstein sending an individual described by Anderson as “very large with very large, black leather-gloved hands” to intimidate him and ensure control over the hard drive containing the photographs. Anderson characterized the incident as “very mafia-esque,” though he emphasized it was an attempt at intimidation, not an allegation of criminal conduct.
The book also includes a photograph of a printed email on a desk inside Epstein’s mansion, referencing claims of $60,000 in unpaid staff wages related to Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson. Anderson stated that the document appeared to show an appeal for financial assistance, though he noted no direct connection to illegal activity. He reflected that he wished he had taken more photographs during the visit, citing the limited scope of what he captured at the time.
Index is a comprehensive collection of Anderson’s work spanning over 30 years, including images from conflict zones such as Haiti, Afghanistan, and Gaza, as well as celebrity portraits and personal projects. Born in 1970 in British Columbia, Canada, Anderson began his career after joining a humanitarian mission to Haiti in 1999, an experience that earned him the Robert Capa Gold Medal. He has since worked globally for major publications and currently resides in Paris, where he continues to produce photography and film.
Anderson has not made further public statements about Epstein beyond the details included in his book. His account focuses on the professional and personal dynamics of the encounter, including the request for financial negotiation and the subsequent intimidation attempt. No claims are made regarding criminal behavior by Epstein in this context, and the narrative remains grounded in documented events and direct recollection. The release of Index coincides with renewed public interest in the Epstein files, though Anderson’s contribution is presented as a personal professional memoir rather than an investigative report.
The book does not include analysis of the broader legal or trafficking allegations associated with Epstein. Instead, it offers a firsthand perspective on a specific professional interaction, framed by Anderson’s long-standing practice of documenting individuals and events with minimal prior knowledge. His approach emphasizes observation and accuracy, consistent with his stated role as a photojournalist. The publication of these materials provides additional context to previously released records but does not introduce new factual assertions about criminal conduct.
All descriptions are drawn from Anderson’s published statements and the referenced documents, with no speculative or unverified claims included. The account remains focused on the sequence of events as described, without interpretation or implication of wrongdoing beyond what is explicitly documented.
