A US court on Wednesday (January 3, 2024) publicly released a fresh batch of documents related to notorious sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, who committed suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial, dropping high profile names like Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, David Copperfield and Prince Andrew among others, media reports said.
A judge directed the disclosure of records in connection with a legal matter linked to Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Epstein, reported AP.
Epstein was known for associating with celebrities, politicians, billionaires and academic stars.
These records pertain to a resolved case brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, an American woman who alleged sexual abuse by Epstein when she was a minor, and that he was aided by Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend, as per CNN’s report.
According to CNN, attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell said in a statement on Wednesday: “She has consistently and vehemently maintained her innocence.”
The records include portions of depositions from both Maxwell and Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
The documents include a deposition from Johanna Sjoberg, who recounted an incident in which Prince Andrew, in a joking manner, touched her breast while taking photographs, according to the report.
The groping accusation included in the documents has been denied by Prince Andrew.
Former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are also named, though neither is accused of illegality.
“The inclusion of a name in this list does not mean that said associate has been accused of wrongdoing in relation to Epstein. Among the names are people mentioned in passing at legal proceedings,” reported The Guardian. Following his conviction, some well-known acquaintances distanced themselves from Epstein, including former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump.
However, many others did not sever ties. Epstein remained in social circles with prominent people for another decade, frequently engaging with the wealthy and famous, often through philanthropic endeavours, according to the AP report.
However, more documents in the case are expected to be released in the coming days.
Of more than 100 people named, some are accused of wrongdoing, while others in the court records are making allegations or are potential witnesses, reported BBC.
The legal documents underscore the influential social network associated with Epstein, who pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2009. These filings, the initial batch to be revealed following a December 18 court order, are expected to be followed by more in the upcoming weeks. It is noteworthy that the initial set does not seem to contain any bombshell revelations.
The first 40 documents, of around 250 expected to eventually be unsealed, largely mention figures whose names were already known, including high-profile friends of Epstein’s and accusers who have spoken publicly, AP reported.
A millionaire known for associating with celebrities, politicians, billionaires and academic stars, Epstein was initially arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2005 after he was accused of paying a 14-year-old girl for sex, according to the AP report.