Jeffrey Epstein: Prince Andrew named in newly released court files
Newly released court documents have revealed the connections between sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and various high-profile figures, including Prince Andrew. These records were ordered to be released by a US judge as part of a lawsuit involving Epstein’s associate, Ghislaine Maxwell.
Among the legal papers is a previously reported claim of groping by Prince Andrew, which he has denied. Other notable names mentioned in the documents include Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, although neither of them is accused of any wrongdoing. While the much-anticipated release of these records did not uncover any groundbreaking revelations about Epstein, it is expected that more documents will be made public in the near future.
It is worth noting that out of the over 100 individuals named in the court records, some are accused of illegal activities, while others are either making allegations or potential witnesses. These legal filings shed light on the influential social circle surrounding Epstein, who had previously pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2009.
In the release of the files, Judge Loretta Preska of New York stated that many individuals mentioned in the documents had already been identified by the media or during Maxwell’s criminal trial. She further noted that several others did not object to the disclosure of the files. Additionally, Judge Preska ordered that certain names be redacted to protect the identities of sexual abuse victims.
Among the references in the files is Johanna Sjoberg, who has accused Prince Andrew of groping her breast while they were both seated on a couch inside Epstein’s Manhattan apartment in 2001. Buckingham Palace has previously denied these allegations, stating that they are unequivocally false.
One deposition, which has already been publicized, includes Ms. Sjoberg’s claim that Prince Andrew placed his hand on her breast while posing for a photo with another accuser, Virginia Giuffre, and a puppet labeled “Prince Andrew.” In 2022, the British royal reached a settlement with Ms. Giuffre, paying her millions of dollars to resolve a lawsuit in which she alleged he sexually abused her when she was 17 years old. Prince Andrew has consistently denied these allegations and stated that he has never met Ms. Giuffre.
Former US President Clinton is also named in the court documents, although there is no implication of any illegality. When contacted for comment, his representatives referred to a statement he issued in 2019 saying he “knows nothing” about Epstein’s crimes.
According to the records, Ms Sjoberg testified that Epstein once told her that Mr Clinton “likes them young”, referring to girls. Mr Clinton had an affair with a 22-year-old White House intern while he was US president.
The files include testimony from Maxwell confirming that Mr Clinton had travelled on board Epstein’s private jet, but she did not know how many times.
Mr Clinton travelled on Epstein’s plane on what were described as humanitarian trips to Africa in the early 2000s and at the time praised Epstein as a committed philanthropist, though said he later cut ties with him.
The former US president’s 2019 statement said he was accompanied on his trips aboard Epstein’s jet by staff and supporters from his charity, the Clinton Foundation.
According to court documents, Maxwell’s attorney has addressed a media report claiming that former President Clinton visited Epstein’s private island. The lawyer stated that between January 1, 2001, and January 1, 2003, Mr. Clinton did not travel to or stay on Little St James Island. Additionally, the attorney mentioned that if this allegation were accurate, Secret Service agents would have been obligated to provide travel records for the trip.
The document also contains a statement from Ms Sjoberg, who testified that Epstein informed her that he would reach out to Donald Trump while they were en route to one of his New Jersey casinos. According to her testimony, when the pilots informed them that their plane couldn’t land in New York and would need to make a stop in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Epstein said, “Great, we’ll call up Trump.”
It’s important to note that the documents do not allege any wrongdoing by Mr. Trump. During the deposition, Ms Sjoberg was asked if she had ever given Mr. Trump a massage, to which she replied, “No.” Additionally, she testified that she had met musician Michael Jackson and magician David Copperfield through Epstein, but did not make any accusations of wrongdoing against them.
Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting federal sex-trafficking charges. The New York medical examiner ruled his death as a suicide. Maxwell, the daughter of publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her involvement as a recruiter for Epstein. Her legal team is appealing against the sentence. In a statement reported by CNN on Wednesday, Maxwell’s attorneys stated, “She has consistently and vehemently maintained her innocence.”