Jeffrey Epstein court documents expected to be published tonight – here’s what you need to know
Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew are set to be two of around 200 people named as associates of Jeffrey Epstein in court papers to be unsealed by a US court.
In December, New York district judge Loretta Preska made a ruling that they should no longer remain secret – and has now said her court will begin to publish names today.
Although the former US president and the Duke of York have already been linked to Epstein, the tranche of hundreds of files could reveal new details.
The documents mainly consist of previously unseen legal arguments from the defamation case Virginia Guiffre, Epstein’s main accuser, made against his former lover Ghislaine Maxwell in 2015.
Files were sealed or heavily redacted to protect the identities of “alleged victims, people not accused of wrongdoing…and absent third parties” that could have been implicated in the case.
Here we look at what you need to know.
Which case is it?
The documents were all part of a 2015 civil lawsuit lodged by Virginia Guiffre, who says she was one of Epstein’s principal victims of underage sex trafficking.
She sued Ghislaine Maxwell, 62, for defamation after her spokesperson issued a statement describing Ms Guiffre’s allegations against her and Epstein as “obvious lies”.
At the time Maxwell tried to have the case thrown out but district court judge Robert Sweet rejected her motion to dismiss it.
He ruled Ms Guiffre was the victim of “sustained underage sexual abuse between 1999 and 2002”.
Virginia Guiffre outside court
The ruling paved the way for Ms Guiffre, now 40 and living in Australia, to pursue various other lawsuits, including the one against Prince Andrew for “sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress”, which was settled for a rumoured $12m (£9.45m) in February 2022. The duke has always denied her claims.
It also helped facilitate the criminal case against Maxwell, who was found guilty of five out of six charges of grooming four girls for Epstein to abuse between 1994 and 2004. She was sentenced to 20 years in a US prison in December 2021 and has since launched an appeal.
Jeffrey Epstein’s mugshot. Pic: AP
What are the documents about?
Documents relating to the case were subjected to court orders sealing or redacting them to protect the privacy of some of the people named.
They are likely to be either people accused of wrongdoing – or not, including those who worked for Epstein, flew on his planes, or visited his homes, as well as alleged victims and witnesses.
The Miami Herald first intervened to get them unsealed on public interest grounds in 2018 – and this is the eighth set to be released.
The day after the first round was published in 2019, Epstein was found dead, aged 66, in his Manhattan prison cell where he was awaiting trial for child sex trafficking offences.
In December, judge Preska published her findings that there was no legal justification for keeping the names redacted.
She gave each of the people listed the chance to individually appeal her decision – with a deadline of midnight on 1 January.
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein in a photo released during her court case
How is Bill Clinton involved?
The file contains names of around 170 people, judge Preska’s December ruling states.
They were previously referred to as “John and Jane Does” depending on their gender to conceal their identities.
ABC News has reported that President Bill Clinton is “Doe 36”, mentioned in more than 50 of the documents.
There is no indication of any wrongdoing by Mr Clinton.
Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein and Bill Clinton in 1993. Pic: Mega
He was photographed with Epstein and admitted being associated with him in a philanthropic capacity, but his representatives have said he cut off all contact with him in 2005 – before he faced criminal allegations.
Ms Guiffre’s 2015 lawsuit is reported to include a claim that she met the former president on Epstein’s private Caribbean island Little St James.
Epstein’s properties on Little St James in July 2019
Epstein in front of one of his private jets
Read more:
Intimate pictures of Epstein and Maxwell revealed
Prison negligence to blame for Epstein’s death – report
Flight logs kept by one of Epstein’s private pilots have confirmed Mr Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane several times between 2002 and 2003 – as part of humanitarian projects in Africa – as well as to Paris, Bangkok and Brunei.
He previously said in media reports Epstein was a “highly successful financier and committed philanthropist” and that he “appreciated his insights and generosity during… a trip to Africa to work on democratisation, empowering the poor, citizen service and combating HIV/AIDS”.
In 2019, Clinton’s spokesperson said he had “never been to Little St James Island, Epstein’s ranch in New Mexico or his residence in Florida”.
But Ms Guiffre’s claim could formally contradict that statement.
Mr Clinton’s legal team has not lodged an appeal against his naming in the case.
Prince Andrew in Norfolk on Christmas Day 2023
What about Prince Andrew?
According to reports by ABC News, the redacted files will also include 40 documents of evidence from “Jane Doe 162”.
The news channel reports that she is Johanna Sjoberg, who has claimed Prince Andrew touched her breast on a sofa at Epstein’s Manhattan apartment in 2001.
Johanna Sjoberg. Pic: ANL/Shutterstock
She has said in court that when she was 17 she visited Epstein’s New York mansion while he, Maxwell and the Duke of York were there.
The duke denies this and Buckingham Palace has described the claims as “categorically untrue”.
Part of the reason judge Preska has ruled in favour of publishing names like hers is because she has already given interviews to media – including The Times.
The King has written to former US president Joe Biden after he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, Buckingham Palace said
The monarch, who is undergoing his own treatment for an undisclosed cancer, hosted the 82-year-old for tea and talks at Windsor in July 2023.
Mr Biden was diagnosed on Friday, with tests revealing the cancer had spread to his bones.
The former president posted an image of himself and his wife Jill on X on Monday and wrote: “Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The King and Joe Biden at Windsor Castle in July 2023. Pic: Reuters
The King’s letter comes after British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer”.
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the President swift and successful treatment,” he added.
Meanwhile US President Donald Trump said he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former US president Barack Obama said: “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family.
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Read more: Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer
Barack Obama (right) with Joe Biden at a campaign event in 2022. File pic: Reuters
After a poor debate performance against Mr Trump and amid escalating concerns around his age and fitness to serve, Mr Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential election race and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.
Ms Harris wrote on X after his diagnosis: “We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time.
“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
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Mr Biden’s diagnosis: What we know
Former US president Bill Clinton wrote on social media: “My friend Joe Biden’s always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts.”
Hillary Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016, said she was “thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they’ve done so much to try to spare other families from”.
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson said it was “sad news” and his family “will be joining the countless others who are praying” for Mr Biden.
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Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi described Mr Biden as a “great American patriot” and said she was “praying for him to have strength and a swift recovery”.
Mr Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, wrote on social media that he and his wife were “united in prayer for the Biden Family during this difficult time”.
Politicians have sent messages of support to Joe Biden, who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The 82-year-old, who is the oldest person to ever serve as US president, was described as a “fighter” with people wishing him a “fast and full recovery”.
US President Donald Trump said he was “saddened” by the news, adding: “We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
Former US president Barack Obama said: “Michelle and I are thinking of the entire Biden family.
“Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer in all its forms than Joe, and I am certain he will fight this challenge with his trademark resolve and grace. We pray for a fast and full recovery.”
Read more: Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ form of prostate cancer
Barack Obama (right) with Joe Biden at a campaign event in 2022. File pic: Reuters
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer”.
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family, and wishing the President swift and successful treatment,” he added.
After a poor debate performance against Mr Trump and amid escalating concerns for his health, Mr Biden withdrew from the 2024 election and endorsed his vice president Kamala Harris.
Ms Harris wrote on X: “We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time.
“Joe is a fighter – and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Mr Biden’s diagnosis: What we know
Former US president Bill Clinton wrote on social media: “My friend Joe Biden’s always been a fighter. Hillary and I are rooting for him and are keeping him, Jill, and the entire family in our thoughts.”
Hillary Clinton, who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2016, said she was “thinking of the Bidens as they take on cancer, a disease they’ve done so much to try to spare other families from”.
Speaker of the US House Of Representatives Mike Johnson said it was “sad news” and his family “will be joining the countless others who are praying” for Mr Biden.
Read more from Sky News:
UK and EU sign reset deal – live updates
Gary Lineker to leave BBC next week
Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim every Wednesday
Former House speaker Nancy Pelosi described Mr Biden as a “great American patriot” and said she was “praying for him to have strength and a swift recovery”.
Mr Trump’s secretary of state, Marco Rubio, wrote on social media he and his wife were “united in prayer for the Biden Family during this difficult time”.
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