By A federal judge in New York has ruled that the identities of over 150 individuals mentioned in court documents related to the late-financier Jeffrey Epstein must be publicly disclosed. The majority of these names were already public, and many had not objected to their release.
The individuals affected by this order include sex abuse victims, witnesses involved in litigation, Epstein’s employees, and even individuals with tangential connections to the scandal. However, they have until Jan. 1 to appeal the order, which was signed by Judge Loretta A. Preska on Monday.
Judge Preska has been reviewing documents requested by the Miami Herald from a civil case filed by one of Epstein’s victims, which was eventually settled. While many of the records from this lawsuit have already been released, the judge made determinations regarding certain portions of the records that were initially withheld due to potential privacy concerns. She also decided what information about specific individuals could be made public.
In her decision, Judge Preska noted that some individuals mentioned in the records had given media interviews or had their names revealed publicly in other ways. For example, some names emerged during a trial involving Epstein’s associate and former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, two years ago.
However, Judge Preska also recognized the importance of protecting the privacy of individuals who were children when they were sexually abused by Epstein and wished to maintain their anonymity. Therefore, some portions of the records will remain confidential.
Epstein took his own life in August 2019 while in federal custody in Manhattan, awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. He had been accused of luring underage girls to his residences under the pretense of receiving massages, only to subject them to sexual abuse.
Maxwell, 61, was convicted in December 2021 and is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in helping Epstein recruit and sexually abuse underage girls.
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