TOPLINE
An allegation that former President Bill Clinton “threatened” Vanity Fair magazine to kill articles about sex trafficking allegations involving Jeffrey Epstein highlighted a second tranche of unsealed documents released Thursday, a day after he was named alongside figures like Prince Andrew, law professor Alan Dershowitz and magician David Copperfield as associates of the late convicted sex offender (all listed have denied any suggestion of wrongdoing).
KEY FACTS
The unsealed names mentioned in the initial tranche of documents Wednesday included prominent figures like Clinton, Dershowitz, Prince Andrew and Copperfield—all of whom have denied wrongdoing in their associations with Epstein.
The following mentions are from documents unsealed Thursday, which previously had much information, including the names of Epstein’s alleged victims and associates, redacted.
Former President Bill Clinton: “When I was doing some research into [Vanity Fair] yesterday, it does concern me what they could want to write about me considering that B.Clinton walked into [Vanity Fair] and threatened them not to write sex-traffic[k]ing articles about his good friend J.E.” (Attachment 2, email sent by Virginia Giuffre to journalist and friend Sharon Churcher) Representatives for Clinton and Vanity Fair did not immediately respond to Forbes’ request for comment, though Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair from 1992 to 2017, told CNN the incident “categorically did not happen.”
“Traveled with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell and may have information about Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual trafficking conduct.” (Attachment 5, a witness request made by Giuffre in a disclosure)
Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson: “Has knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual trafficking conduct and interaction with underage minors.” (Attachment 5)
Prince Andrew: “Has knowledge of Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual trafficking conduct and interaction with underage minors, including Virginia Giuffre.” (Attachment 5)
Lawyer Alan Dershowitz: “We all suspect Alan is a pedo and tho no proof of that, you probably met him when he was hanging [o]ut w [Jeffrey Epstein].” (Attachment 2, email sent by Churcher to Giuffre)
Jane Doe #3: “Epstein also trafficked Jane Doe #3 for sexual purposes to many other powerful men, including numerous prominent American politicians, powerful business executives, foreign presidents, a well-known Prime Minister, and other world leaders.” (Attachment 3, an excerpt from a joinder motion filed by Jane Doe #3 and Jane Doe #4 that does not go on to name the prominent figures).
CHIEF CRITIC
Though Clinton has publicly acknowledged his connection to Epstein and once praised the disgraced financier’s intellect, philanthropic endeavors and financial know-how, the former president has strongly denied having a close relationship with him and having any knowledge of his crimes. Clinton has also rejected allegations from Giuffre that he visited Epstein’s private island. Dershowitz welcomed the initial tranche of files unsealed Wednesday and has insisted that the publication of the documents will prove he “did nothing wrong.” The lawyer said that despite people possibly being “ashamed” about their connection to Epstein, the documents don’t indicate such people are guilty of anything beyond “having shown bad judgment.” Prince Andrew denies reports about a close relationship with Maxwell and has continuously denied allegations of abuse levied by Giuffre, claiming he had no memory of meeting her and targeting the authenticity of a photo of them said to be taken inside a home of Maxwell’s.
SURPRISING FACT
Giuffre in a disclosure also requested “All photos of Ghislaine Maxwell at Chelsea Clinton’s wedding.” (Attachment 5, one of several relevant documents requested by Giuffre)
KEY BACKGROUND
The second round of names associated with Epstein were unsealed Thursday as part of a settled 2015 defamation case between alleged victim Giuffre and Epstein associate Maxwell. The first set of unsealed names released Wednesday also mentioned people such as Michael Jackson, former President Donald Trump, billionaire Highbridge Capital co-founder Glenn Dubin and Thomas Pritzker, the billionaire Pritzker heir and executive chairman of Hyatt Hotels. However, Clinton, Prince Andrew and Dershowitz were mentioned the most out of the prominent figures noted in the documents. In one attachment, Epstein accuser Johanna Sjoberg recalled a comment made by Epstein in which he said Clinton “likes them young.” Sjoberg’s deposition also included a recalling of a suggestive photo op with Giuffre and Prince Andrew where the Duke of York put one of his hands on her breast and the hand of a puppet caricature of himself on Giuffre’s breast. Giuffre sued Maxwell in 2015, accusing her of “public ridicule, contempt and disgrace” used to discredit Giuffre’s claims about Epstein.
FURTHER READING
First Epstein Names Unsealed: Here Are The Biggest Takeaways (Forbes)