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Julie K Brown has reportedly left her Viking deal in the US to re-shop her book on billionaire Jeffrey Epstein and has parted ways with literary agency ICM Partners.
The Miami Herald reporter, whose articles on Epstein helped prompt federal sex trafficking charges against him, had sold her book on the case to Viking before his July arrest, according to Page Six. But in the wake of Epstein's arrest, Brown has reportedly left the deal.
Epstein, 66, was arrested on 6th July. He is accused of paying girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his mansions in Manhattan and Florida between 2002 and 2005. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and faces up to 45 years in prison if convicted. He avoided similar charges in a secret plea deal in 2008.
As a journalist Brown's reporting on Epstein included tracking down around 80 alleged victims and behind the scenes detail of the controversial 2008 plea deal.
The Page Six source said following renewed interest in Brown's reports after Epstein's July arrest, Brown reconsidered the Viking deal and “hired a new agent to shop it again”. The source added: “It’s very unusual in publishing.”
It is unclear how far along the deal was and was believed to be more than an initial deal memo. A source told Page Six: “In publishing when you make a deal, you have a deal.”
ICM Partners told The Bookseller Brown is no longer their client, but declined to comment further. Brown is now being represented by Laurie Liss of New York agency Sterling Lord Literistic.
Brown and Viking declined to comment on the matter. The Bookseller has contacted Sterling Lord Literistic for comment.