The names of acquaintances and associates of wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein, including former U.S. presidents and British royalty, were revealed in court documents released as part of a 2015 defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell. These documents are the first of over 200 expected to be unsealed in the coming days.
The lawsuit was filed by victim Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who had accused Epstein and Maxwell of abuse. While some familiar names like Prince Andrew, Donald Trump, and Bill Clinton were mentioned, there was little new information beyond what was already known. The release of these documents follows U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska’s order in December, allowing until January 1 for individuals to appeal if they preferred their names not to be disclosed.
The documents provide limited details about the actions of individuals associated with Epstein. Notably, a 2016 deposition from victim Johanna Sjoberg mentions politicians and public figures in the U.S. and abroad.
Other well-known personalities, such as Bruce Willis, Cameron Diaz, Cate Blanchett, Kevin Spacey, Naomi Campbell, and Leonardo DiCaprio, were mentioned but not implicated in any wrongdoing.
The documents confirm the extensive scope of Epstein’s alleged sex-trafficking network and influential social connections. Prince Andrew, for instance, was named in the documents, accused of inappropriate touching by a witness. He had also faced previous allegations of rape by Giuffre, settling a lawsuit in 2022 by paying her an undisclosed sum.
Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, had evaded severe consequences for years. Initially investigated in 2005, he faced charges in 2008 but received a lenient plea deal. In 2018, new scrutiny led to his arrest in July 2019 on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy. Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail a month later, but the investigation continued, resulting in Ghislaine Maxwell’s conviction for sex crimes related to Epstein.
Other high-profile names mentioned in the released documents include Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Michael Jackson, Sarah Kellen (Epstein’s former assistant), Jean-Luc Brunel (French modeling agent), Bill Richardson (former governor of New Mexico), Leslie Wexner (founder of L Brands), Glenn Dubin (hedge fund manager), Eva Andersson-Dubin, Alan Dershowitz (Epstein’s lawyer), and Marvin Minsky (computer scientist). The documents contain various testimonies and accusations against these individuals, shedding light on their connections to Epstein’s activities.
