Ghislaine Maxwell to Expose Names of 8 Powerful Men Linked to Epstein's Crimes
Convicted child sex trafficker will no longer conceal identiies of 'John Does'
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Convicted child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell has decided to expose the identities of eight powerful men linked to Jeffrey Epstein's crimes that she previously fought to conceal.
Maxwell's legal team revealed she will no longer protect the names of "eight John Does" who allegedly raped Epstein's sex trafficking victims.
One of Maxwell's attorneys stated in a letter to federal Judge Loretta Preska this week that she would no longer protect the identities of the “John Does.”
The names were sealed in a 2015 civil lawsuit brought against Maxwell by Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
Maxwell had previously refused to identify the men and her lawyers found to keep their identities hidden.
“After careful review of the detailed objections submitted by Non-Party Does 17, 53, 54, 55, 73, 93, and 151, counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell writes to inform the Court that she does not wish to further address those objections,” said the Jan. 12 letter, signed by Laura Menninger.
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The letter was written the same day that a Manhattan federal court judge refused to dismiss Giuffre’s case against Prince Andrew.
Ms. Giuffre’s legal team has long been battling for the “John Does” to be publicly identified.
“Now that Maxwell’s criminal trial has come and gone, there is little reason to retain protection over the vast swaths of information about Epstein and Maxwell’s sex-trafficking operation that were originally filed under seal in this case,” Sigrid McCawley, a lawyer for Giuffre, wrote to Judge Preska on Wednesday.
Last month, Maxwell was convicted of five charges involving the sex trafficking of minors for the benefit of Epstein and his powerful friends.
Giuffre did not testify in that trial but has accused Maxwell and Epstein in other lawsuits and public appearances.
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In a lawsuit filed last year, Giuffre also accused Prince Andrew of sexually abusing her as a teenager – a charge that he vehemently denies – after Epstein and Maxwell allegedly brought her to him.
It is not known whether the prince is one of the John Does in the 2015 case.
On Thursday, Queen Elizabeth stripped Prince Andrew of his military titles after a judge cleared the sexual abuse case against him to move to trial.
“With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”
