Why are the secret Epstein documents being released now?

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Thousands of pages of court documents are being publicly released for the first time, revealing the names of individuals who associated with the late sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. His spokesperson told CNN on Wednesday that it has now “been nearly 20 years since President Clinton last had contact with Epstein” and denied that the former president ever had any knowledge of Epstein’s crimes. But, The Miami Herald – whose investigative reporting first exposed Epstein’s crimes – sued for the release of all of the sealed documents. Maxwell’s legal team sought to block it for years – before finally giving up the fight in 2022. open image in gallery Virginia Giuffre with Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell at Epstein’s townhouse Then, in a landmark ruling in December, US District Judge Loretta Preska ruled that the trove of documents could be released and the names unsealed in full, saying that there was no legal justification to keep the names of Epstein’s associates redacted as “John and Jane Does”.