Epstein Associate Unmasking Begins Despite Jane Doe Appeal

Clear Facts

• Over 150 associates of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein are set to be unsealed, despite an appeal from a woman seeking to keep her identity private.
• The unsealing process will begin today, according to Ed Friedland, the district executive for the Southern District of New York. A judge’s order to delay the release of the woman’s name, known as Jane Doe, applies only to her and not to the other names on the list.
• The names will appear in the case Giuffre v. Maxwell in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The exact time of the release and the number of names in the first batch of unsealed documents are not yet known.

The names of more than 150 associates of the late financier Jeffrey Epstein are scheduled to be unveiled. This comes despite an appeal from a woman, known as Jane Doe, who wishes to keep her identity hidden from the public.

“The unsealing is expected to begin today,” Ed Friedland, the district executive for the Southern District of New York, informed the Washington Examiner. He clarified that a judge’s order to delay the release of Jane Doe’s name is specific to her and does not apply to the other names on the list.

Documents containing the names of Epstein’s associates will start appearing on the docket in the case Giuffre v. Maxwell in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. A judge granted a 30-day extension to Jane Doe to contemplate her appeal to remain confidential, as per a Dec. 21, 2023, court document that was not made public until Tuesday. The precise time the names will be listed on the court’s docket or the number of names in the first batch of unsealed documents is not immediately known.

Jane Doe, No. 107 on the list, contended that she could face physical harm if the list of names is released. Her attorney, Richard Levitt, explained that she resides in a “culturally conservative country and lives in fear of her name being released.” District Judge Loretta Preska issued an order for the names to be released starting Monday, December 18, 2023, although the court was closed due to New Year’s Day.

The appeal by Jane Doe originates from a settled civil lawsuit that Virginia Giuffre filed against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015. The Miami Herald has been attempting to unseal documents related to the names since 2018, which Preska finally agreed to in her order late last month. Giuffre alleges that Epstein and Maxwell pressured her as a teenager to have sex with influential men, including Prince Andrew and lawyer Alan Dershowitz, both of whom have long denied the allegations.

She also claimed that Maxwell told her that former President Bill Clinton visited Epstein’s private home in the Virgin Islands. A lawsuit Giuffre brought against Prince Andrew was later settled out of court, and she also settled with Dershowitz in November 2022, admitting she might have been mistaken when identifying the attorney as an Epstein associate. A spokesperson for Clinton stated in 2019 that the former president was unaware of Epstein’s “terrible crimes.”

Preska has stated that several notable names from the list have already been disclosed in media interviews or had their names included in other public court documents related to Epstein. Levitt has until Jan. 22 to submit an affidavit to support Doe’s claim that her name becoming public places her in danger and provide details about any threatening or hateful messages she has received.

Clear Thoughts (op-ed)

As the names of over 150 associates of Jeffrey Epstein prepare to be unsealed, we’re reminded of the depth and breadth of this sordid saga. This isn’t just about one man’s depravity, but a network of influential figures who allegedly enabled or partook in it.

The appeal from ‘Jane Doe’ to keep her identity private is a poignant reminder of the potential consequences for those involved. While we must respect the rights of individuals to safety and privacy, it’s equally critical that those who may have contributed to Epstein’s illicit activities face public scrutiny.

The case of Giuffre v. Maxwell has been a significant driving force in this unsealing process, and rightly so. Victims of Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking ring deserve justice, and part of that justice involves exposing those who may have participated or turned a blind eye.

As this story unfolds, let’s remember the real tragedy here: the victims. Their search for justice is what truly matters in this grim narrative.

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