A third set of court documents pertaining to the lawsuit linked to the late disgraced American financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been revealed. This follows the release of two previous batches containing explosive information, including the names of prominent figures such as former US President Bill Clinton, Britain's Prince Andrew, and the late pop icon Michael Jackson.
The latest documents, unveiled on Friday, consist of over 1,300 pages and are part of a 2015 civil defamation case filed by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. Giuffre alleges that Epstein sexually abused her as a minor, with assistance from Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's former girlfriend, who is currently serving a 20-year jail term for her involvement.
The unsealing of these documents is a result of a December 18, 2023 court order responding to legal efforts by the media to make them public. The material, including yet-to-be-unsealed portions, is anticipated to feature nearly 200 names, encompassing Epstein's accusers, notable business figures, and politicians.
In a 2009 deposition disclosed on Friday, Juan Alessi, a former Epstein employee, detailed encounters with influential individuals associated with the sex offender. He mentioned having dinner with former President Donald Trump in Epstein's Palm Beach home's kitchen and meeting Clinton on Epstein's plane. Alessi also recounted interactions with Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson at the Palm Beach residence.
The newly unsealed documents further revealed magician David Copperfield's association with Epstein, as mentioned in a deposition by one of Epstein's former employees. Copperfield's name also appeared in a 2016 deposition from a woman who massaged Epstein in the early 2000s.
Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's name surfaced in a handwritten note left for Epstein in 2005, indicating Weinstein's attempt to call him. This note was among nearly 200 phone messages included in the files.
It's crucial to note that Trump and Clinton have not been accused of any crimes or wrongdoing related to Epstein. Other notable names that emerged in the earlier unsealed files include Steven Hawking, Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, Cameron Diaz, Bruce Willis, and Kevin Spacey.
Epstein faced federal charges in 2019 for operating a sex trafficking ring involving the sexual abuse of numerous underage girls. His death in jail that same year, while awaiting federal sex-trafficking charges, was ruled a suicide by the New York medical examiner.
(With Agency Inputs)
