Jeffrey Epstein court documents updates — Files show financier ordered witness bribe to dispute Hawking ‘orgy’ claim
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JEFFREY Epstein urged Ghislaine Maxwell to offer bribes to those who could "disprove" an allegation that Stephen Hawking took part in an "underage orgy", according to bombshell court documents claim.
The internationally renowned physicist was pictured at a barbecue on Little St James, often referred to as Epstein's "Paedo Island".
He was part of a group of 21 scientists attending a conference in March 2006, which Epstein had funded.
In the message, Epstein suggested Prince Andrew accuser Giuffre had made claims about the British scientist and former US President Bill Clinton.
The email read: "You can issue a reward to any of Virginia's friends, acquaints, family that come forward and help prove her allegations are false.
“The strongest is the Clinton dinner, and the new version in the Virgin Islands that Stephen Hawking participated in an underage orgy."
Read our live blog for the latest updates as the documents are unsealed...
Ghislaine Maxwell's convictions
The British socialite was found guilty of five of the six charges she was accused of.
In December 2021, the jury deemed her guilty of:
- Conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts
- Conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
- Transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity
- Sex trafficking conspiracy
- sex trafficking of a minor
She was later sentenced to 20 years in prison.
What to know about Epstein’s island, part two
There have been allegations surrounding claims that Bill Clinton visited the island.
However, Mr Clinton's office has previously said the President knew "nothing about the terrible crimes" committed by Epstein on his island.
Epstein set about building an enormous stone mansion with cream-coloured walls and a bright turquoise roof surrounded by a maids’ quarters.
Years later, and on the other southwest edge of the island, he built a square-shaped blue and white building resembling a religious temple, topped with a gold dome.
Many have speculated that the child sex abuse Epstein has been accused of may have occurred in this secluded space.
What to know about Epstein's island
Jeffrey Epstein's private Caribbean island has become the center of a sex trafficking probe against him, amid claims underage girls were used as sex slaves and repeatedly abused inside a temple.
The billionaire bought the island of Little St James more than two decades ago - transforming it into a high-security private oasis, complete with a mansion and a bizarre blue and white gold-domed structure.
The island remained Epstein’s main residence but has been shrouded in mystery.
It's high security, secluded location and locally-known moniker as "Paedophile Island" has given rise to more sinister theories about its use.
Neighbouring islander Kevin Goodrich, who operates boat charters from nearby St Thomas, said: “Everybody called it ‘Paedophile Island' ... It’s our dark corner.”
Epstein never married
Jeffrey Epstein was never married but did have a number of high-profile girlfriends.
The two most high-profile long-term girlfriends were Eva Andersson-Dubin and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andersson-Dubin and Epstein were romantically linked for an 11-year period in the 1980s.
Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, by the FBI for her alleged "unspeakable" part in delivering young girls into the hands of Epstein.
Epstein never married
Jeffrey Epstein was never married but did have a number of high-profile girlfriends.
The two most high-profile long-term girlfriends were Eva Andersson-Dubin and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Andersson-Dubin and Epstein were romantically linked for an 11-year period in the 1980s.
Maxwell was arrested on July 2, 2020, by the FBI for her alleged "unspeakable" part in delivering young girls into the hands of Epstein.
More on Prince Andrew's additional accuser
A key figure relating to the Duke is Johanna Sjoberg.
She has claimed that in March 2001, when she was 21, Andrew groped her breast at Epstein’s New York mansion while playing with a Spitting Image puppet of himself.
She also claims Virginia Giuffre was there.
Virgina Giuffre's allegations
Virginia Roberts Giuffre alleged that she was recruited by Maxwell, the daughter of disgraced tycoon Robert Maxwell, as a teenage “sex slave” for Jeffrey Epstein.
She also claims she was introduced to Prince Andrew by Epstein, and that the royal had sex with her when she was 17 - an allegation the Duke has strongly denied.
She launched a legal battle against Andrew in 2021, accusing him of sexually abusing her at Epstein’s mansion.
When Maxwell branded Virginia a liar over claims of sexual abuse, Virginia filed a defamation lawsuit in 2015.
How Jeffrey Epstein died
Jeffrey Epstein's death came two weeks after he was placed on suicide watch when he was found nearly unconscious in his cell with injuries to his neck.
Law enforcement officials confirmed on August 10 he had taken his own life at Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, which is where he had been held without bail pending trial on child sex-trafficking charges.
Chief Medical Examiner Dr Barbara Sampson announced on August 16, 2019, that the death was a "suicide."
She said she made the determination "after careful review of all investigative information, including complete autopsy findings."
Epstein's autopsy revealed that the financier had multiple broken neck bones, often consistent with strangulation.
During his autopsy, Epstein was found to have broken his hyoid bone, which is near the Adam's apple in men, according to the .
Although hyoid breaks can occur during a hanging, experts told the paper the fracture is more common in strangulation victims.
Who was Jeffrey Epstein?
Jeffrey Epstein was an American financier and convicted child sex offender.
The 66-year-old was born in Brooklyn, New York City, and grew up on Coney Island.
The wealthy banker socialised with a lot of rich and powerful people including Prince Andrew, Donald Trump and the Clintons.
In a Channel 4 documentary, The Prince And The Paedophile, private investigator Mike Fisten claimed that Epstein had 13 telephone numbers to contact the Queen's second son on.
A telephone contact book was found in Epstein's Palm Beach home that is said to have included a line for the Duke of York at Buckingham Palace.
Epstein was believed to have kept a secret diary detailing his friendships with celebs as an “insurance policy”.
Virginia Giuffre responds to ruling
Virginia Roberts Giuffre has spoken since it was ruled that the highly anticipated court documents would be unsealed.
She said: "There’s going to be a lot of nervous ppl over Christmas and New Years, 170 to be exact, who’s on the naughty list?"
What the documents may include
The new files expected to be released this month are likely to involve emails, legal documents, depositions and more.
Documents relating to several people who "played a role in Epstein's sex trafficking" will be unsealed, the court ruling says.
What the documents may include
The new files expected to be released this month are likely to involve emails, legal documents, depositions and more.
Documents relating to several people who "played a role in Epstein's sex trafficking" will be unsealed, the court ruling says.
Jeffrey Epstein’s high profile pals to be named
Over 150 of pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's high-profile associates and his victims will be named after a judge ordered the unsealing of hundreds of files.
The documents are expected to reveal more about the convicted sex offender's trafficking crimes and just how far his network reached.
American judge Loretta Preska has "unsealed in full" the 177 names which include his victims, friends, recruiters and more.
The material is likely to be uncovered this week.
Jeffrey Epstein’s high profile pals to be named
Over 150 of pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's high-profile associates and his victims will be named after a judge ordered the unsealing of hundreds of files.
The court documents are expected to reveal more about the convicted sex offender's trafficking crimes and just how far his network reached.
American judge Loretta Preska has "unsealed in full" the 177 names which include his victims, friends, recruiters and more.
The material is likely to be uncovered this week.
Expected release of court documents tied to Prince Andrew accuser
The unsealed court documents are expected to include information about one of Prince Andrew's accusers - Johanna Sjoberg - who alleges that he groped her at Epstein's mansion.
Others who are expected to be identified in the court documents include a "member of law enforcement", a "journalist who investigated Epstein," and a "medical provider".
It is not suggested they are accused of any wrongdoing.
