Names of Epstein associates to be released on court order

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
20 Dec 2023 09:14
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A court in the Southern District of New York will release on January 1 the names of over 150 individuals mentioned in the lawsuit.

Audrey Strauss, acting US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell during a news conference, in New York, July 2, 2020. (AP)

Dozens of individuals connected to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein could soon see their names splashed across headlines as a trove of sealed court documents prepares for release.

Judge Loretta Preska of the Southern District of New York ordered the unsealing of these documents on Monday, potentially shedding light on a web of associates implicated in Epstein's crimes.

These documents stem from a 2017 civil lawsuit settled between Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre and Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in facilitating Epstein's trafficking and sexual abuse of teenage girls. While Maxwell's conviction was sought by many as bringing some measure of justice, questions have lingered about the broader network allegedly involved.

In 2008, Epstein pleaded guilty to state charges on one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18, and another count of soliciting prostitution.

While he was sentenced to 18 months in jail, he reached a secret arrangement that would not only make the US attorney's office agree to not take the case to a federal court but also allow him to serve his sentence through a work-release program.

In 2019, Epstein was charged with trafficking underage girls for sexual exploitation. He was later found dead in his jail cell with fatal neck injuries. It was reported that his death was a suicide.

150 associates

The unsealing, effective January 1, 2024, will expose the names of over 150 individuals mentioned in the lawsuit. This list could encompass a range of figures, including potential co-conspirators, former employees, and even unwitting associates drawn into Epstein's orbit.

The court has granted individuals named in the documents the right to appeal for anonymity, but Judge Preska noted that public statements made by some have already compromised their privacy.

This move represents a significant development in the Epstein saga, potentially offering new leads and fueling public scrutiny of those implicated. The potential revelation on January 1 promises to send shockwaves through various circles, potentially exposing previously untouchable figures and prompting further investigations.

The impact of this disclosure remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the veil surrounding Epstein's network is about to be lifted, and the consequences could be far-reaching.

A long list of associates

Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) revealed prominent names who associated themselves with Epstein, based on a document including thousands of pages acquired by the newspaper.

Among the names was William Burns, who became the director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 2021. According to the journal, Burns had three meetings scheduled with Epstein in 2014, while the former was serving as Deputy Secretary of State under then-President Barack Obama.

It was also found that White House counsel under Obama, Kathryn Ruemmler, conducted dozens of meetings with Epstein, and was invited to join the convicted sex offender on a trip to Paris in 2015 and a trip to his private Caribbean Island in 2017. Ruemmler became in 2020 a top lawyer at Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

As part of Epstein's public relations approach, he had also connected Ruemmler with Ariane de Rothschild, who currently serves as CEO of the Edmond de Rothschild Group. According to emails seen by the newspaper, Epstein had sought Rothschild's help with certain staffing and furniture endeavors. Moreover, the two discussed a number of business deals.

Joshua Ramo, Ariane de Rothschild

Among other regular guests, Epstein met with Joshua Cooper Ramo, then co-chief executive of Henry Kissinger’s corporate consulting firm. He even introduced Ramo to Rothschild during one of their gatherings, according to WSJ.

The documents also revealed that Ramo also once met another of Epstein's regular guests, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The ex-premier confirmed that he "often met with Epstein on trips to New York" and explained that Epstein "often brought other interesting persons, from art or culture, law or science, finance, diplomacy or philanthropy.”

American and German financial giants, JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank, also came under fire for ties with Epstein.

In July, JPMorgan was accused of facilitating Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking by the US Virgin Islands, which demanded the bank pay a $190 million compensation for the damage. According to court documents released in 2022, Epstein was a JPMorgan client from roughly 2000 to 2013 and a Deutsche Bank client from 2013 to 2018.

Meanwhile, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $75 million to settle a class-action lawsuit by an anonymous woman, also on accusations that the bank facilitated the sex trafficking carried out by Epstein.