Epstein, a registered intercourse offender who killed himself in a Manhattan jail in 2019 whereas awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking expenses, was accused by prosecutors and dozens of ladies of getting operated a yearslong sex-trafficking ring during which he sexually abused underage ladies.
The entire males related to Epstein have denied taking part in his exploits. Clinton mentioned in 2019 that he was unaware of Epstein’s “horrible crimes.” Within the wake of the costs towards Epstein, Trump mentioned he wasn’t “a fan” and hadn’t spoken to him in 15 years.
The paperwork unsealed Wednesday had been a part of a settled civil lawsuit introduced by Virginia Giuffre, one in all Epstein’s alleged victims, towards Ghislane Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend who was convicted in 2021 for her function in serving to recruit ladies to Epstein’s operation.
The fabric was made public Wednesday after a federal decide ordered it unsealed. In her order, U.S. District Choose Loretta Preska famous that in lots of instances the references to particular individuals are “not salacious.” For instance, the decide mentioned, an individual’s identify could have arisen in a deposition query that was by no means answered. In different instances, she mentioned, sure people’ associations with Epstein had been already made public, both by way of media reviews or as a result of their names got here up throughout Maxwell’s prison trial.
A few of the males in Epstein’s circle — most notably Prince Andrew — had been themselves accused of taking part in Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring. In 2022, Prince Andrew settled a lawsuit introduced by Giuffre during which she accused him of sexual abuse. The New York federal prosecutors who introduced expenses towards Epstein sought to query Prince Andrew after Epstein’s loss of life, however their efforts by no means resulted in an interview.
Whereas the paperwork unsealed Wednesday contained no bombshells, they did reveal a bit extra fodder for individuals who have watched the Epstein saga unfold.
In a single 2016 deposition, Johanna Sjoberg — who mentioned she was employed to offer massages to Epstein when she was in faculty — answered questions on Clinton.
“Did Jeffrey ever speak to you about Invoice Clinton?” a lawyer requested Sjoberg.
“He mentioned one time that Clinton likes them younger, referring to ladies,” she replied, whereas additionally saying she by no means met the previous president.
In her deposition, Sjoberg additionally denied any sexual interactions with a number of different high-profile individuals, together with Trump, filmmaker George Lucas and Dershowitz.
One other superstar encounter at Epstein’s home: Michael Jackson, though Sjoberg mentioned she didn’t give the pop icon a therapeutic massage.
Olivia Alafriz, Paul Demko and Craig Howie contributed to this report.