The records of Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell were unsealed

Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts **FILE PHOTOS**

Virginia Roberts Giuffre deserves so much credit for fighting like hell to get justice for herself and for other victims of Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Prince Andrew. I’ve always thought of Virginia as the tip of the iceberg, but perhaps she’s actually the tip of the spear. In 2015, Virginia sued Ghislaine Maxwell because, at the time, the criminal case into Maxwell and Epstein was nowhere (especially given Epstein’s sweetheart deal in 2008). Virginia sued Maxwell for defamation, the case was settled in 2017, and the records were sealed. Virginia has fought for years to get the information from the lawsuit unsealed, and on Thursday, she was victorious!

A federal judge ruled on Thursday to publicly release documents that have been kept under seal in a case involving Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s one-time girlfriend and alleged accomplice. US District Judge Loretta Preska verbally unsealed the documents in a ruling held via teleconference. She is giving Maxwell’s legal team a week to pursue an appeal to her decision but ordered the court to have the documents ready to be posted “within a week.”

The documents are connected to a 2015 defamation case brought by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, who claimed Epstein sexually abused her while she was a minor and that Maxwell aided in the abuse. The case was settled in 2017. Included in the now unsealed documents are Maxwell’s 2016 deposition related to the lawsuit in which she denies knowing if Epstein had a scheme to recruit underage girls for sex. Other documents include emails and depositions by others, including Giuffre and anonymous women who also claim to have been abused by Epstein.

Preska ruled that several medical records included in the court filings will remain sealed. In addition, she noted that the multiple anonymous women — “Jane Does” who accused Epstein of abuse but have not publicly spoken out — will continue to have their identities redacted in the documents. In her ruling, she said that the public’s right to have access to the information carried heavier weight than the “annoyance or embarrassment” to Maxwell.

“In the context of this case, especially its allegations of sex trafficking of young girls, the court finds any minor embarrassment or annoyance resulting from Ms. Maxwell’s mostly non-testimony … is far outweighed by the presumption of public access,” she said. Parts of the deposition were unsealed last August, a day before Epstein killed himself in his jail cell while awaiting trial for allegedly running a sex-trafficking enterprise.

[From CNN]

While Virginia is best known for discussing the crimes where she was trafficked to Prince Andrew, she’s also spoken about how Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to Alan Dershowitz multiple times. It’s also believed that when Virginia and Ghislaine Maxwell settled the defamation case, Ghislaine ended up paying Virginia “millions” for what amounted to a gag order. Virginia took the money and then immediately began to fight to unseal the documents. Like a boss. Anyway, hopefully the documents will be out next week!

National Day celebrations, Skaugum, Norway - 17 May 2019

Ghislaine Maxwell is seen in this court sketch as she appears before NY Judge Alison Nathan

Photos courtesy of WENN, Backgrid.

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42 Responses to “The records of Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit against Ghislaine Maxwell were unsealed”

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  1. Pearl Grey says:

    Congratulations to Virginia on another small victory in her big fight. She is very brave to continue to go against these extremely powerful criminals in her pursuit for justice. Let’s hope things continue to go in her favour.

    No wonder the palace were eager to hijack Princess Beatrice’s wedding. They knew that after the continued appeals from the FBI and the arrest and arraignment of Ghislaine, things were uncertain for Prince No Sweat. Now even more details are set to emerge about his abuse of Virginia as these documents are unsealed. If they were hoping that the PR wedding would serve as a distraction and signal to the world that the Queen supports the Yorks, they’re out of luck.

    • Esmom says:

      Ha, I just watched the Netflix documentary so I know what Prince No Sweat Means! She is incredibly brave, as are the other women who have spoken out on the atrocities committed by these monsters. Every day I expect to see news that Maxwell is dead. So many people have been fighting for so long against a breathtakingly corrupt officials. I hope justice is eventually served.

      • Carol says:

        I have to say Virginia is impressive. She is going against the most powerful people with endless money and she doesn’t back down. All these survivors are impressive. Not sure I would have the strength to keep the fight going. She has no idea how many people she is helping and inspiring.

    • TadBit says:

      I have a career loathing of dersh, the slimiest if there could be a contest among these heinous abusers. donny picked dersh in donny’s own impeachment trial, let us not forget

      • Hoot says:

        @TadBit – Oh I SO agree with you about Dershowitz. He doth protest too loudly…

  2. MurphyBrown82 says:

    She is a total hero. Keep going Virginia.

  3. Becks1 says:

    This is such an important step for the victims – Virginia and the others who have been fighting for justice.

    And again, if you haven’t seen it yet, watch Filthy Rich on Netflix. It’s a hard watch, but it really explains so much about how these girls were groomed and manipulated.

    • Esmom says:

      I just mentioned above that I just finished it. It is just unreal how much they were able to get away with for so long. I was humbled by all these ordinary people — from the victims to the law enforcement and legal people — who wouldn’t give up in the face of so much power, money and corruption. And enraged by the monsters who walk among us.

      • MUO2 says:

        I guess I just don’t understand the taking the money to shut up, then fighting to not have to shut up.

  4. JJ McClay says:

    She is a warrior. What an incredible woman, to fight so hard and so publicly after so much trauma — and to be going up against unimaginably wealthy, connected opponents too.

    Is it wrong that I am delighted that Buckingham Palace and the House of York must be in panic mode right now?! (Also: does this mean we should expect some major deflection — aka major Meaghan smearing — in the next week?)

    • NoWords says:

      I’m in utter awe of her. She’s indomitable.

      It’s not wrong to be enjoying the heck out of Andrew and BP’s fall! It’s the only thing that 2020 is giving us. I’ve always thought Andrew and covering for Andrew were a huuuuuge part of the smears. Started up after “the pregnancy announcement” at J&E’s wedding, notably increased any time Andrew was in the news (see: private plane pictures of Sussexes&Cambridges shortly after Epstein’s death). The queen will throw anyone under the bus for Andrew….

  5. Darla says:

    I’m very interested in seeing the Dershowitz stuff. His transformation into a full-throated Fox Trump attack dog has been interesting. I don’t care about Andrew. I hope he gets what’s coming to him but I wish all this emphasis wasn’t on him. This is about America, and those in power here right now. It really is. Beyond our imaginings IMO.

    • Esmom says:

      I have been thinking the same thing. Andrew is one guy, albeit a very prominent one. But here in the U.S. so many, too many, of these people are actually running things right now. It’s frightening and sickening and I’m still unable to envision how this all ends. Justice does not seem within reach.

    • lucy2 says:

      I get what you’re saying, but they all need to go down for this, American or not. Andrew has hid behind the facade of the royal family and its power for long enough.

      Remember Dershowitz crying that people weren’t friendly to him in Martha’s Vineyard anymore because he’s a Trump guy? Wait until all this comes out.

      • Hoot says:

        He is such a d*ck. Heard him condemning what these accusers were saying and I thought I’d gag. He’s the one I most want to see go down. Such an arrogant frog. Ashamed his name has to be associated with Harvard.

    • Betsy says:

      This.

      I certainly hope Andrew gets his, but I am more concerned about the nameless, faceless men (and possibly some women) with power.

  6. Digital Unicorn says:

    She’s an incredible women and I hope she and all other victims get justice.

    So now we know why Bea had her surprise wedding last week – the palace knew this was coming.

  7. MargaritasForBreakfast says:

    I know this is a victory for victims of sex trafficking and exploitation in general but I was very disappointed to see Virginia complaining on Twitter about the amount of media attention that George Floyd’s death and the ensuing BLM protests received. She and her followers deemed sex trafficking more important and less covered. It made me look at her differently and stop rooting for her cause against Prince Andrew on my own Twitter account. I hadn’t considered her fight for justice as being in competition with BLM’s fight for justice.

    • Becks1 says:

      I saw that, and while I thought her remarks were unfortunate and off the mark, I also think that she has tunnel vision when it comes to this issue, which I think is understandable. She is dealing with a past trauma and I think that has sort of closed her off to other traumas (like what black people experience at the hands of police.) I wish, like you said, that she didn’t view her fight for justice as being in competition with BLM, but I think that’s a result of her trauma.

      • Betsy says:

        I hadn’t seen that, but I’m with Becks1 on this one. That’s a lot of trauma, and largely one that she and other similar victims of trafficking and sexual assault share and much more quietly. There is no community, there is no boosting up, there is suffering alone, and not know how many other fellow survivors there are.

    • Suzieq359 says:

      That is disappointing to hear. Her cause and desire to get justice isn’t the only thing happening. There’s room for both. Her court proceedings will move forward regardless of BLM and other things happening in the world and there will still be media coverage. Did she comment on COVID too or just the racial equality movement?

      While she did get a settlement from Maxwell who is really funding her? With so many big names tied to Epstein I’m sure there are powerful people behind the scenes funding her legal fees and who knows what else to try and bring down there enemies. Hopefully she isn’t still being exploited by people with their own agendas.

  8. smee says:

    I’m sorry, but that courtroom drawing looks more like Hector “Tio” Salamanca than Jizzlane Maxwell…

  9. Betsy says:

    As I was reading this I was actually thinking, well Ghislaine is already dead on her feet, so she probably won’t fight this. I guess I’m putting the cart before the horse.

    And again, my main hope is that she has several dead man switches and just NAMES NAMES. They’re going to leave you out to dry, Ghissy! May as well take down as many as you can.

  10. KellyRyan says:

    More to come. I’m pleased the judge favored the release and Virginia remains at the forefront.

    • LaraW" says:

      Judge has given defendants 10 days to file an appeal, which Maxwell’s lawyers indicated they are going to do. Nothing is coming out immediately. Appellate proceedings will probably delay any release of information by at least a month, likely more.

  11. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    Most excellent news.

  12. Giddy says:

    Buckle up! It’s going to be a bumpy ride, and I’m delighted! Powerful men need to have the insulating power of their wealth stripped away. Let justice prevail!

  13. Jessica says:

    She should be Time’s person of the year and also receive a piece prize. Dirty Derchowitz and Asshole Andy … god I can’t imagine the horror of being trafficked to this disgusting men and the horrors of what went on behind closed doors that we may never know.

  14. Jules says:

    So interested to see what comes out of this. Rooting for Virginia.

  15. nicegirl says:

    Virginia is so courageous. Heroic. I’m filled with gratitude. I wish her the most amazing things life can bring. #SHERO

  16. cisne says:

    “I’ve always thought of Virginia as the tip of the iceberg, but perhaps *she’s actually the tip of the spear.*”

    You got it so very right here!

  17. khaveman says:

    Very interested in what’s in those documents. Time will tell.

  18. The Recluse says:

    Dershowitz and Andrew might want to stay clear of open windows – just in case.