EKU student paper uncovers campus connection in Epstein files - Spectrum News

RICHMOND, Ky. — A group of dedicated student journalists at Eastern Kentucky University has uncovered Kentucky ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

What You Need To Know

• EKU student journalists found an alumnus named in the Epstein files

• The alumnus, David Rodgers, was Epstein’s personal pilot

• Students reviewed DOJ records to clarify Eastern Kentucky University’s role

• The Eastern Progress staff said the story was a major team effort

The effort began after an alumnus of the school was found buried under the 3.5 million Epstein files the Department of Justice released last month, discovered by EKU students.

"We found some emails where he had asked off for Eastern Kentucky University homecoming, and we just kind of looked into that," said Kaleigh Adams, news co-editor of the Eastern Progress, EKU's longtime student newspaper.

The emails, released on Jan. 30, were between Epstein and his pilot Larry Visoski and referred to David Rodgers, also a pilot for Epstein and a 1975 EKU alumnus.

It's one of a series of findings that Kaleigh Adams, editor-in-chief Emily Kessler and editors Aubrey Kimble and Caleb Wells reported after discovering Rodgers was formerly linked to Epstein. It all started with a lead from the school's student government assocation, which Kessler received.

“He was like, 'Yeah, Eastern Kentucky University as a whole is in the DOJ files,'" Kessler said. "And I was like, 'Whoa; like, what?' They kind of explained it further to me that Eastern Kentucky University was mentioned because of David Rodgers, who was a personal pilot."

Their report revealed that Rodgers was recommended as a pilot to Epstein by billionaire Les Wexner in 1991.

“If you hear that Eastern Kentucky University is in the Epstein files, you're going to assume the worst," Kessler said. "It actually really wasn't the worst. He was just Epstein's personal pilot. We had to take the time, all of us, to research him, to look into the files, to read the files and understand, is he actually doing anything wrong?”

Rodgers would later be subpoenaed by the FBI to testify against Epstein in 2016 but was not charged with any crimes himself.

Wells and Kimble said it's imperative to stay up to date on any changes.

“Just want to keep tabs on ... is the subject of our story, David Rodgers, attached to any more files that are coming out?" Wells said. "I'm just trying to stay current and relevant with the information as it comes out."

“I think one of the biggest things for us was Eastern Kentucky University was named by name in the files because of this guy," Kimble said. "It's one of those things where we felt like we had to say something because we're the school newspaper."

The process was about accuracy and awareness, Adams said, as all hands were on deck.

“We had a group chat," Adams said. "We were texting the whole time. We were all excited about it because it felt so big, and it turned out to be a lot bigger than we thought it was going to be."

“I'm proud of my team," Kessler said. "I'm proud of us. I'm proud of the progress. It was something we weren't expecting to happen on a Wednesday in the middle of the week. And we did it."

Kessler said they wouldn’t trade away this opportunity to do real journalism, affecting their school and community. The full story is online.