Jeffrey Epstein Client List Revelation Raises Ghislaine Maxwell Questions
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A memo by Jeffrey Epstein investigators saying there is no "client list" relating to the dead financier and there will be no further charges has left some on social media questioning why his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell was sent to prison.
Donald Trump's administration ordered a review of the case with a view to the publication of names and evidence about the associates of Epstein who was facing federal sex trafficking charges when he was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in New York City in August, 2019. Investigators concluded he killed himself.
However, a memo by the Department of Justice and the F.B.I. now states there is no "client list" and there will be no more charges.
Axios published the two-page memo, which read: "This systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list.' There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions.
"We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties."
ABC News also confirmed the existence and content of the memo. Newsweek approached the D.O.J. for comment.
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein pose at the Mar-a-Lago Club, Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000.
Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein pose at the Mar-a-Lago Club, Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000.Reaction to Donald Trump's Jeffrey Epstein Review
The memo appeared to spark incredulity on X, formerly Twitter, where podcasters The Hodge Twins, wrote: "Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison for 20 years for sex trafficking kids with Epstein.
"And the DOJ and FBI just said that there is no client list, he didn't blackmail nobody, and nobody else is getting charged. So they sex trafficked kids to nobody??"
The post was viewed 2.4 million times and liked 91k times.
Nigel Cawthorne, author of Prince Andrew: Epstein, Maxwell and the Palace, told Newsweek: "That may be an argument she can use with a parole board, 'why is she the only one who has been prosecuted?' I think her lawyers will certainly be working on it."
Tim Young, media fellow for strategic communications at right wing think tank The Heritage Foundation, wrote: "Well then I guess Ghislaine Maxwell was trafficking children to no one? Why would she be in jail then?"
Another account posted: "Ghislaine Maxwell is in prison for trafficking underage girls to no one."
The memo stated that video evidence submitted to the F.B.I. could not be released because it depicted acts of child abuse.
Questions have also been asked about why the administration could not simply release the names of people depicted in the videos.
Cawthorne told Newsweek: "Obviously, there is a whole lot more to this because there's all the videos. What's happening with them? Who is shown in them?
"If they don't have the client list that Epstein compiled himself then they could compile a list from the video surely?"
The Trump Administration Promises Names
In February, Alina Habba, attorney and counsel to Trump, was a guest on Piers Morgan Uncensored and suggested there would be "names that will come out."
"America needs to remember one thing," she said, "we are going to be promises made, promises kept.
"But when you're dealing with victims, and by the way this is a perfect example of a case that was vetted, that went through trial, that had testimony and was prosecuted the right way, and I don't preemptively attack, that's just not the way I operate, but in this case, in Epstein's case, it is incredibly disturbing.
"We have flight logs we have information names that will come out."
Piers Morgan replied, "is it going to be shocking?" and Habba said: "I don't see how it's not shocking that there were so many individuals that were hidden and kept secret and not been held accountable."
And she appeared to hint at new charges when she said: "I believe in accountability, so you have to now go through your process. Now, I won't say they're guilty until they go through their time in court but again now it's time for accountability."
Ghislaine Maxwell's Criminal Conviction
The argument in relation to Maxwell trafficking "to no one" may prove rhetorically persuasive to many but the actual Government case against her focused on her role grooming girls, aged 14 to 18, for Epstein to abuse.
The indictment, published on the Department of Justice website read: "As MAXWELL and Epstein intended, these grooming behaviors left minor victims vulnerable and susceptible to sexual abuse by Epstein.
"MAXWELL was then present for certain sexual encounters between minor victims and Epstein, such as interactions where a minor victim was undressed, and ultimately was present for sex acts perpetrated by Epstein on minor victims.
"That abuse included sexualized massages during which a minor victim was fully or partially nude, as well as group sexualized massages of Epstein involving a minor victim where MAXWELL was present. In some instances, MAXWELL participated in the sexual abuse of minor victims."
It added: "The victims were as young as 14 years old when they were groomed and abused by MAXWELL and Epstein, both of whom knew that their victims were in fact minors.
"As a part and in furtherance of their scheme to abuse minor victims, MAXWELL and Epstein enticed and caused minor victims to travel to Epstein's residences in different states, which MAXWELL knew and intended would result in their grooming for and subjection to sexual abuse."
The terms of the indictment did not require the victims to have been abused by anyone other than Epstein in order to secure a conviction.
Maxwell was jailed for 20 years in June 2022 following a one month trial concluding in December 2021.
In June, 2008, Epstein admitted soliciting prostitution from a minor in Florida and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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