The Hot Mic Recording
In November 2019, Project Veritas released a leaked recording in which ABC News anchor Amy Robach was caught on a hot mic saying:
“I’ve had this story for three years… I had everything. We had her [Virginia Roberts Giuffre] on tape. I had Prince Andrew. It was unbelievable what we had… And [ABC] quashed it.”
Robach described having:
- Video testimony from Virginia Roberts Giuffre
- Documentary evidence about Epstein’s crimes
- Information implicating Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton
- A complete investigative package ready to air
Why ABC Said It Killed the Story
ABC News executives gave conflicting explanations. The network initially said it “did not meet [their] standards” at the time. Later reporting indicated:
- Buckingham Palace pressure: The network feared losing royal family access following allegations against Prince Andrew
- Legal concerns: Epstein’s attorneys were reportedly aggressive about threatening defamation suits
- Source issues: Some witnesses allegedly recanted their cooperation
- Clinton connection: Political sensitivities about Bill Clinton’s flights on the Lolita Express
The Robach Aftermath
After the leak, Robach issued a statement partially walking back her hot mic comments. She remained at ABC until departing in 2023 amid other controversies. She maintained that the story ultimately was not ready in 2016 though she expressed frustration at the delay.
The Employee Leak
The insider who leaked the recording was identified as a production assistant named Ashley Bianco, who was subsequently fired by ABC and briefly pursued by CBS (which had hired her). Project Veritas did not confirm Bianco as the source; she denied leaking the tape.
Significance
The ABC suppression story:
- Demonstrated that mainstream media had information about Epstein years before the 2018 Miami Herald series that broke the story publicly
- Raised questions about institutional complicity in keeping Epstein’s crimes secret
- Illustrated the pressures that journalists faced when investigating powerful subjects