On Wednesday, hundreds of pages of previously sealed documents related to a lawsuit involving the accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein were made public. This marks the initial release of documents following a court order from December 18, with expectations of more disclosures in the coming weeks.
The extensive collection of documents, which is anticipated to feature nearly 200 names, encompasses Epstein's accusers, influential business figures, politicians, and potentially more individuals. While the first batch didn't reveal any groundbreaking information, it represents the first legal release of documents previously available through media reports and other court proceedings.
In response to the unsealing, attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell reiterated her consistent denial of guilt, stating, "She has consistently and vehemently maintained her innocence."
The released documents include excerpts from depositions of Maxwell and Virginia Roberts Giuffre, along with a deposition from Johanna Sjoberg, who recounted an incident involving Prince Andrew playfully touching her breast during a photo session. This revelation is the first public unveiling of Sjoberg's deposition, detailing her encounters while working for Epstein.
It's noteworthy that Prince Andrew and Virginia Giuffre had previously reached an out-of-court settlement in her sexual abuse lawsuit against him. Despite the settlement, Andrew has denied the accusations.
The deposition transcripts also mention several prominent figures, including Prince Andrew and former US President Bill Clinton. Sjoberg recalled Epstein mentioning that Clinton had a preference for younger individuals, though Clinton's spokesman reiterated a 2019 denial, emphasizing the former president's lack of knowledge about Epstein's "terrible crimes."
Sjoberg's deposition also highlighted an incident where Epstein suggested contacting Donald Trump when their plane needed to land in Atlantic City. Trump is not accused of any wrongdoing related to Epstein in the documents.
Giuffre alleged in her deposition that Maxwell directed her to engage in sexual contact with various individuals, including Prince Andrew, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, tech guru Marvin Minsky, French modeling scout Jean-Luc Brunel, and American investor Glenn Dubin. The unsealed records still have three unnamed individuals and redacted names, emphasizing the sensitive nature of the crimes.
While Epstein faced federal charges in 2019, he died by suicide in jail before trial. Maxwell was indicted on sex trafficking charges in New York and was convicted in 2021. The unsealed documents stem from a settled case brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who accused Epstein and Maxwell of sexual abuse during her adolescence.