NEW YORK — A New York judge on Wednesday began to unseal the identities of people linked in court documents to Jeffrey Epstein, the US financier who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes.
Notably included in the unsealed documents, which comprise almost 1,000 pages of depositions and statements, were former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, neither of whom has been accused of any wrongdoing in the case.
The list of approximately 150 people includes a host of Epstein associates previously identified as John or Jane Does in a lawsuit brought against Epstein’s former mistress, Ghislaine Maxwell. The list carries no allegation of complicity in Epstein’s crimes.
The disclosure is part of a defamation proceeding between Maxwell, who was sentenced in 2022 to 20 years in prison, and a plaintiff against the duo, Virginia Giuffre.
Last month, a judge listed in a 50-page document some 180 cases — under pseudonyms — ordering that their identities be made public within 14 days of the order.
Accomplices in sex crimes
According to British media, Giuffre’s defamation claim against Maxwell, aged 62, dates back to 2016 and was settled the following year. However, the Miami Herald then took legal action to access the file and investigate the Epstein network.
Several documents in the case were made public in 2019, days before Epstein hanged himself in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
Maxwell and Epstein were a couple in the early 1990s before becoming professional collaborators and accomplices in sex crimes for almost three decades. Epstein, a financier with a powerful network in the United States and abroad, was himself accused of raping young girls, but his suicide by hanging in a New York prison in August 2019 halted his prosecution.
Fabricated lists and doctored photos of Epstein have circulated in conspiratorial internet circles for years, fueling speculation about the financier’s potential associates.
The anticipated release of names from court documents reignited that frenzy.
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel threatened Aaron Rodgers with legal action after the American football star suggested the late-night host could be on the list. It was a baseless allegation echoed across platforms such as X, where numerous posts also drew actor Tom Hanks into the fold.
At A Glance Unsealing of Epstein-Linked Identities: A New York judge starts unsealing identities linked to Jeffrey Epstein, a financier who died in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex crimes. Inclusion of High-Profile Figures: Documents reveal connections to former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, with no accusations of wrongdoing against them. 150 People Listed: The unsealed list includes approximately 150 individuals, previously anonymized in a lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former mistress. No Allegations of Complicity: The disclosed list carries no implication of involvement in Epstein’s criminal activities. Defamation Case Revelation: Part of a defamation lawsuit between Maxwell, now serving a 20-year sentence, and plaintiff Virginia Giuffre. Privacy Concerns Voiced: Some individuals, such as 'Doe 107', express concerns about potential victimization in their home countries due to the disclosure. Giuffre vs. Maxwell Lawsuit: Giuffre’s defamation claim against Maxwell dates back to 2016, with the Miami Herald later seeking access to investigate the Epstein network. Maxwell-Epstein Collaboration: Maxwell and Epstein were a couple before becoming collaborators in alleged sex crimes for nearly three decades. Epstein's Untimely Death: Epstein's suicide in 2019 interrupted his trial on sex trafficking charges. Speculation and Conspiracies: Fabricated lists and doctored photos have fueled speculation about Epstein's associates. Celebrities Caught in Rumor Mill: Comedian Jimmy Kimmel and actor Tom Hanks among those baselessly alleged to be connected to Epstein.