On Wednesday, a long-awaited collection of confidential court documents pertaining to Jeffrey Epstein was revealed, providing additional insights into the victims of the s*x trafficker and the notable individuals associated with him.
The disclosure stemmed from a decision made by federal Judge Loretta Preska on December 18, 2023. She ruled that previously sealed records from Virginia Giuffre’s defamation lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015 would be made public, with the potential release date set for January 1, 2024. Ultimately, a total of forty-five documents were unveiled on the evening of January 3, shedding light on the intricate details of the case.
Donald Trump and Prince Andrew’s Name Included
In what is anticipated to be a series of disclosures unfolding in the coming weeks, the identities of former presidents and numerous others were exposed on Wednesday as associates of the convicted s*x trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
The revelation, encompassing over 180 individuals detailed in 943 pages of unsealed court documents, temporarily crashed the federal court website. Notably among those named were Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, along with frequent mentions of Britain’s Prince Andrew, a connection that was not that surprising. You can read them here.
Larry Visoski, the pilot who served Epstein from 1991 to 2019, testified that he typically received advance notice when high-profile passengers like Clinton were scheduled to fly. During questioning by Maxwell’s defense attorney, Visoski provided a detailed list of celebrities who purportedly traveled on Epstein’s private plane.
In one document, Trump’s name is mentioned in a context where Epstein expresses intentions to invite the then-real estate mogul to accompany him to a casino. Another document features a witness stating that she was never solicited for s*xual relations with Trump.
Also Read: Donald Trump, Jonathan Majors Not the Only Celebs Who Were Arrested in 2023
Per the indictment, “over the course of many years, Jeffrey Epstein, the defendant, sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes in Manhattan, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida, among other locations.“
Meanwhile, it is crucial to note that the inclusion of someone’s name in the documents doesn’t automatically imply their involvement as a client of Epstein’s.
Who Was Jeffrey Epstein?
Jeffrey Epstein, a millionaire who was known for his links with celebrities, politicians, billionaires, and academic stars, was initially arrested in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2005 after he was accused of paying a 14-year-old girl for s*x.
He started his career in New York City as a math teacher at the elite Dalton School, but in the 1970s, he went to work at the investment bank Bear Stearns before founding his own firm, J. Epstein and Co., in 1982.
“I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy,” Donald Trump told New York magazine on Epstein in 2002.
“He’s a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.”
In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to a felony charge of solicitation of prostitution which involved a minor, and was sentenced to 18 months in jail; he served 13 and was granted work release, which allowed him to commute to an office outside the jail six days a week.
Epstein was arrested on 6 July 2019 for sex trafficking. He was found dead in his jail cell on 10 August of that year; authorities determined that he hanged himself.
