Epstein documents unsealed: Clinton, Stephen Hawking, Prince Andrew appear
What's the story
Almost 200 names, previously redacted from court documents in a case against sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's former lover Ghislaine Maxwell, are now being made public. A New York judge ordered the public disclosure in December.
Only about 40 of the documents were made public on Wednesday. More will be made available in the coming days.
The list of Maxwell's associates in the court documents includes big heavyweights like former US President Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and several others.
Context
Why does this story matter?
The documents are part of a now-settled defamation suit filed against Maxwell in 2015 by one of Epstein's victims, Virginia Giuffre. She alleged that Epstein sexually abused her as a minor and that Maxwell aided in the abuse.
Several of the alleged victims and associates have given public interviews and have been identified in the media already.
It is worth noting that the appearance of the names in the court documents is not evidence of wrongdoing.
What Next?
Role of Johanna Sjoberg, her claims against Prince Andrew
Among the documents is a deposition from Johanna Sjoberg, who claimed that Prince Andrew touched her breast jokingly while taking photos.
While Sjoberg's claims have been public, this is the first time her deposition has been unsealed. It's learned that Sjoberg sometimes worked for Epstein and alleged that he pressured her to go past her comfort zone in giving sexualized massages.
Details
Sexual abuse lawsuit against Prince Andrew
The Duke of York and Giuffre reached an out-of-court settlement in her sexual abuse lawsuit against him in February 2022.
The same year, Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal patronages and military titles.
In the suit, Giuffre claimed Epstein trafficked her and forced her to have sexual intercourse with his friends, including Prince Andrew. Giuffre also claimed that Andrew was aware that she was underage in the US at the time. However, Andrew denied the claims leveled against him.
Insights
Clinton's links to Epstein
In her 2016 deposition, Sjoberg recounted Epstein telling her about Clinton, saying, "He said one time that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls."
In 2019, a spokesperson for Clinton said that he had flown on Epstein's private plane, but the former president knew nothing about his "terrible crimes."
Notably, Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing or crimes related to Epstein.
Former President Donald Trump has also been mentioned, but he hasn't been accused of any wrongdoing either.
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Stephen Hawking's connection to Epstein
In 2015, an email from Epstein to Maxwell revealed that he had asked her to "issue a reward" to any of Giuffre's friends to counter her claims of Professor Stephen Hawking participating in an underage orgy.
"You can issue a reward to any of Virginia's friends, acquaints, family that come forward and help prove her allegations are false," the email said, as per Irish News.
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Giuffre's claims against Glenn Dubin
American investor Glenn Dubin's name has also been revealed as being on the infamous Epstein list.
The 66-year-old US billionaire is well known for his role as a hedge fund manager and is married to Eva Andersson-Dubin, one of Epstein's ex-girlfriends and close supporters.
In her deposition, Giuffre claimed she had sex with Dubin and other personalities like ex-New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former Senator George Mitchell.
Jackson
Michael Jackson, others named in court documents
The newly unsealed documents also name pop superstar Michael Jackson.
Sjoberg claimed in her 2016 deposition that she met Jackson at Epstein's residence in Palm Beach, Florida. The documents, however, make no indication of any illegal activity.
Other noteworthy names mentioned in the court documents are Dubin's former private chef Rinaldo Rizzo, Tony Figueroa, magician David Copperfield, Limited Brands founder and former Victoria's Secret CEO Lex Wexner, and Epstein accusers like Annie Farmer and Sjoberg.
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Miami Herald renewed interest in the scandal
Giuffre's suit against Maxwell was settled in 2017. However, the Miami Herald went to court to gain access to court papers that were previously filed under seal, including transcripts of interviews lawyers conducted with potential witnesses.
About 2,000 pages were unsealed in 2019, and more in 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Epstein was arrested in 2019 for sex trafficking after previously being jailed in 2005 for paying a minor for sex. He was found dead in his cell in August 2019.