Harvey Weinstein and Sarah Ferguson named in latest Epstein files release
A newly released batch of documents has named even more people connected to disgraced paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, including Prince Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson.
It's the fifth batch of documents to be released after a New York judge ruled that court documents could be unsealed relating to a lawsuit brought about by Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell - the late financier's former girlfriend. The latest round of documents were released just hours after a third and fourth were also made public on Friday.
In this latest round, almost 100 more files were released, naming convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein, Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson and others. More documents are expected to be released in the coming days and weeks, giving a glimpse into the life of Epstein and his long-running campaign of abuse of young girls.
READ MORE: Model named in Epstein files killed herself 2 years after visiting 'paedo island' aged 18
Epstein committed suicide before he could face trial in 2019 while Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
A number of famous names have appeared in documents so far, including Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Cameron Diaz and David Copperfield. However, the naming of individuals in these documents does not necessarily indicate any wrongdoing or implicate them in Epstein's crimes.
The latest round of documents included excerpts of testimony from those who worked for Epstein, along with copies of phone messages he received, including one from Harvey Weinstein, and a number of legal memos from lawyers discussing who could have potentially been called as a witness if the lawsuit went to trial.
The records released relate to a defamation lawsuit Ms Giuffre filed in 2015 against Maxwell, who was accused by multiple women of helping Epstein to recruit underage women and girls who would be taken to his homes in New York, Florida, and on his private island in the US Virgin Islands, where they were sexually abused. Ms Giuffre sued Maxwell after she branded Ms Giuffre a liar over her claims she had been sexually abused as a minor.
Epstein with his girlfriend, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell who has been sentenced for her part int he sex trafficking conspiracy (US District Court for the Southe)The suit between Ms Giuffre and Maxwell was settled in 2017, with Maxwell later being prosecuted for her part in the sex trafficking conspiracy and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Maxwell released a statement on Wednesday night after the first batches of documents were unsealed. In it, she continued to protest her innocence with her attorneys Arthur Aidala and Diana Fabi Samson vowing to carry on at full steam with her appeal.
"Ghislaine Maxwell took no position on the Court's recent decision to unseal documents in Giuffre v Maxwell as these disclosures have no bearing on her or her pending appeal," said her lawyers in a statement. "Ghislaine's focus is on the upcoming appellate argument asking for her entire case to [be] dismissed. She is confident that she will obtain justice in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She has consistently and vehemently maintained her innocence."
One name that has repeatedly cropped up in relation to the documents is the Duke of York, Prince Andrew. Epstein's former housekeeper has claimed the Duke spent "weeks" at Epstein's Palm Beach, Florida, home, court documents have revealed.
Juan Alessi said both Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, were friends with both Epstein and Maxwell. A videotaped interview of Mr Alessi under oath in 2009 was released on Friday in the latest wave of documents.
During his interview, Mr Alessi was questioned on the relationship between the Duke and Duchess and Maxwell and Epstein. In it, he claimed Sarah Ferguson was "friends" with Epstein, and visited once for a "short time".
One of Epstein's former housekeepers said under oath he believed Sarah Ferguson had visited once for a short time (AFP via Getty Images)"I think Sarah was there only once and for a short time," Mr Alessi said in the video. "I don't think she slept in there. I cannot remember. I think she was visiting Wellington and she came to the house and we met her."
Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex
Among the records unsealed on Friday were copies of phone messages received by Epstein, handwritten by staffers, in 2004 - a year before police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating allegations the millionaire was paying underage girls for sex. While the phone messages didn't appear to contain any huge bombshells, they did give an insight into Epstein's associations with big names in both politics and Hollywood.
At the time of the calls, Epstein was associating with the rich and powerful, offering free rides on his private jet, later dubbed the 'Lolita Express' to names including former President Bill Clinton and actor Kevin Spacey. One message regarding a missed call said Harvey Weinstein had been on the phone trying to contact Epstein.
Weinstein, at that time a force in Hollywood, was- once part of a media investment group that included Epstein. Weinstein's spokesman, Juda Engelmayer, said: "At the time, Epstein was seen as a wealthy power broker with access to many people of various industries and for many reasons.
Disgraced Hollywood tycoon Harvey Weinstein, jailed for sex crimes, was listed in the documents as having called Epstein (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)"It wasn't uncommon for people of that calibre to talk, as we see from the lists that have been coming out. There was and remains nothing more to that."
Years later, Weinstein was involved in his own sex scandal and ultimately ended up being charged with raping and sexually assaulting women in the entertainment business. He is currently serving lengthy prison terms after being convicted in both New York and Los Angeles.
Epstein also had several messages regarding missed calls from Jean-Luc Brunel, a French modelling agent who was close to Epstein. Brunel was awaiting trial on charges of raping underage girls when he killed himself in a Paris jail in 2022.
Independent presidential hopeful Robert F Kennedy Jr has said in recent months that he had flown on Epstein's plane, but said he was not concerned that information from the unsealed documents would impact his public image. Speaking on NewsNation's Dan Ambrams Live on Wednesday night, he said: "I like what's happening today.
A spokesperson for Weinstein said it was common for people of Weinstein and Epstein's calibre to be in contact (Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
The movie mogul is serving a sentence after being convicted of sex crimes in Los Angeles and New York (AFP via Getty Images)"I like the fact that all these papers are being released. I've been an advocate for transparency. I think the government keeps too many secrets. I think it's important for the American public to know whether Jeffrey Epstein had some kind of corrupt influence on public officials or any public figure."
During an appearance on Fox News in September, Mr Kennedy revealed he had flown on Epstein's private jet on two occasions. Giving more information on Wednesday, he clarified the first plane ride took place in 1993, when he visited his mother in Palm Beach. He added: "Remember, nobody knew anything about Jeffrey Epstein's nefarious activities 'til 2006.
"My wife knew his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and they offered us a ride when we were going to see my mother. I was with two children and my wife on the plane at that time, I knew nothing about Jeffrey Epstein."
Epstein's criminal activities finally came to light in the mid-200s (New York State Sex Offender Regi)
As a high level financier, Epstein ran in some rich and powerful circles (Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)Mr Kennedy said he accepted a second plane ride a year or two later when he took his children fossil hunting on the pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He said: "I hope everything that is known about Jeffrey Epstein comes out.
"I think it's odd that they have not - that Congress has not been able to subpoena and I've been an advocate for making sure that the government is transparent about everything, including every document, everything that is known about Jeffrey Epstein."
Epstein was jailed in July 2019, killing himself a month later in August before his federal trial began. The people listed in the Epstein files were those named as associates of Epstein and there is no suggestion those listed either knew about his crimes or participated in any criminal behaviour.
Prince Andrew has been named dozens of times in the files. The documents – part of a case against Epstein’s girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell – have thrust Andrew back into the spotlight. They do not reveal any new allegations about Prince Andrew, Epstein or his associates.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
