Jeffrey Epstein: Fourth batch of court documents released
Additional court documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have been unveiled, comprising over 250 pages. Within the records, one accuser, Sarah Ransome, initially asserted witnessing sex tapes involving prominent figures like Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and Sir Richard Branson.
However, Ransome later expressed a desire to retract these allegations. This disclosure marks the fourth release of documents associated with Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s ex-girlfriend.
The case, initiated in 2015, was resolved in 2017, and Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for aiding Epstein’s exploitation of minors. Despite Ransome’s initial claims, it was reported in 2019 that she admitted to fabricating them.
The released files contain emails where Ransome alleges the existence of sex tapes, but no evidence has surfaced. Ransome also claimed in messages that Donald Trump engaged in sexual activities at Epstein’s New York residence, a statement the former president’s spokesperson dismissed as “baseless.”
The accused individuals have consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding Epstein.
The court documents also include photographs provided by Ms. Ransome to Ms Giuffre’s lawyers that allegedly showed girls and young women on Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean.
According to the documents, Ms. Ransome withdrew her claim about the tapes in an email to a New York Post columnist, stating she was concerned it would “create pain for my family”.
“I would like to retract everything I have said to you and walk away from this,” Ms Ransome says in an email dated 23 October 2016.
The emails are part of a court filing by a firm representing Epstein’s former lawyer – Alan Dershowitz – meant to show that Ms. Ransome “manifestly lacks credibility”.
Ms Ransome had claimed she was forced to have sex with Mr Dershowitz, who denies the allegations and says he has never met her.
She received a settlement in 2018 after suing Epstein and Maxwell for an undisclosed amount.
She alleged she was recruited by Maxwell into his sex-trafficking ring in 2006 when she was 22 years old.
Ms Ransome was a witness in Ms Giuffre’s case against Epstein and Maxwell and provided evidence of Maxwell’s involvement.
Ms. Giuffre made allegations of wrongdoing by Prince Andrew but made no claim of wrongdoing by Mr. Clinton, Mr. Trump, or Sir Richard.
Three other batches of long-sealed Epstein court files were released last week but contained few details that weren’t previously known.
Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008 and took his own life in 2019 while awaiting trial over sex trafficking charges.