Judge orders release of names of more than 150 people mentioned in Jeffrey Epstein trial documents

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the identities of more than 150 people mentioned in a trove of court documents related to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein to be made public, saying most of the names were already public and many upon release. No objection was expressed.

Those whose names are to be disclosed include sexual abuse victims, trial witnesses, Epstein’s employees — and even some people with only minor connections to the scandal — have an order signed Monday by Judge Loretta A. There is time till January 1 to appeal against. Preska.

For several years, Preska has reviewed documents sought by the Miami Herald from a civil case filed by one of Epstein’s victims, which was ultimately settled.

Many of the records related to that lawsuit were released publicly in previous years, but on Monday the judge made the decision regarding parts of the records that were initially withheld on potential privacy grounds and some of the people mentioned in the records. About what can be made public.

In several instances, he noted that individuals had given media interviews or had their names previously surfaced publicly in various ways, including the trial of Epstein’s associate and former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, two years earlier.

Preska concluded that certain parts of the records should remain confidential, including identifying people who were children when Epstein sexually abused them, and tried to maintain their privacy.

The Epstein case has given rise to countless conspiracy theories about the possible involvement of the rich and powerful in sex trafficking.

However, three criminal cases brought by federal and state authorities focus on allegations of sexual abuse by Epstein and Maxwell themselves.

Epstein took his own life in August 2019 in a federal lockup in Manhattan as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. He was accused of luring several underage girls to his house on the pretext of giving them massage and then sexually exploiting them.

Maxwell, 61, is serving a 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in December 2021 to helping Epstein recruit and sexually exploit underage girls.

Copyright 2023 The associated Press, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.