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American billionaire Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in prison after being accused of sexually exploiting minors
January 3, 2024
Updated 2 hours ago
A New York federal judge ordered the files released as part of a lawsuit related to Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for grooming girls for Epstein.
The BBC analyzes the 943 pages of documents published on Wednesday evening (January 3).
Some of the people named are accused of wrongdoing, others on the list are making allegations or are potential witnesses.
In ordering the list made public, New York Judge Loretta Preska said many of the people named in the lawsuit had already been identified in the media or in Maxwell's criminal case.
She added that many others had not objected to the publication of the documents.
The files contain references to Johanna Sjoberg, who claimed that Prince Andrew groped her breast as she sat on a couch in Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2001.
Buckingham Palace previously said his allegations were “categorically false.”
In a statement, Sjoberg claimed that Prince Andrew placed his hand on her breast to pose for a photo with Virginia Giuffre, another woman who accused the prince.
In 2022, the British royals paid millions to Giuffre to settle a lawsuit she filed alleging that Andrew sexually abused her when she was 17.
Prince Andrew claims he has never met Giuffre and denied her allegations.
Former US President Bill Clinton is also mentioned in the court documents, although there is no suggestion of illegality.
When reached for comment, his representatives referred to a 2019 statement from him in which he said he knew “nothing” about Epstein's crimes.
According to the filing, Sjoberg testified that Epstein once told her that Clinton “liked her young,” referring to young girls. When Clinton was President of the United States, he had an affair with a 22yearold White House intern.
The files contain statements from Maxwell confirming that Clinton traveled aboard Epstein's private jet, but she does not know how often.
Clinton used Epstein's plane on trips to Africa in the early 2000s and praised Epstein at the time as a “dedicated philanthropist,” although she said she later cut ties with him.
Clinton's 2019 statement said he was accompanied on his travels aboard Epstein's jet by employees and supporters of his charity, the Clinton Foundation.
It is hoped that the release of these names will increase understanding of the sex trafficking network operated by Epstein and Maxwell.
The couple's social circle included prominent figures from the world of politics, business and even the British royal family.
In court documents classified under court secrecy, 187 different people are named, all with the nickname “J Doe” (an English term for an unknown person).
Now most of them will reveal their real names.
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Trump is one of the names mentioned in the trial, although he is not accused of any crime
The document also includes a statement from Sjoberg that Epstein told him he would contact former US President Donald Trump on the way to one of his casinos in New Jersey.
“Jeffrey said, 'Great, let's call Trump,'” she testified after the pilots informed her that their plane could not land in New York and would have to land in the city of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The documents do not contain any allegations against Trump. At one point during the testimony, Sjoberg was asked if she had ever given Trump a massage, and she replied, “No.”
Alfredo Rodriguez, a domestic worker in charge of Epstein's security, referred to Maxwell as “boss” in his deposition, according to court documents.
Rodriguez, who died in 2015, was ordered to carry cash to give to high school girls and other girls who helped recruit Epstein, the documents say.
Why are these names published?
The names are being revealed as part of a court case against Maxwell, the daughter of a British media mogul.
The defamation suit was filed by Virginia Giuffre, one of Maxwell's accusers and the names were kept secret at the time as part of courtordered confidentiality.
In December, a New York judge ruled that they could now be disclosed.
Why is Bill Clinton on Epstein's list?
According to American broadcaster ABC News, former US President Bill Clinton is mentioned more than 50 times in court documents.
However, there is no indication of illegality.
He traveled on Epstein's plane on humanitarian trips to Africa in the early 2000s and praised Epstein at the time as a committed philanthropist.
Clinton's team had previously said he had cut ties with Epstein before the financier was investigated.
The former president claims he had no knowledge of Epstein's crimes.
According to ABC, many of the mentions in these court filings stem from Giuffre's unsuccessful attempts to get the former president to testify about his relationship with Epstein.
Who was Jeffrey Epstein?
Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier who died in prison in 2019.
His death while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges was described as a suicide by medical examiners, but remains controversial with several conspiracy theories circulating online.
Epstein was accused of running a “vast network” of sexual exploitation of minors.
He has always declared himself innocent.
A decade earlier, Epstein was convicted of recruiting minors into prostitution.