Judge orders Epstein associates’ names unsealed

A federal judge in New York has ordered the identities of more than 150 people mentioned in court documents related to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein to be unsealed.

Judge Loretta A. Preska said most of the names — including sex abuse victims, litigation witnesses, his employees and some with a passing connection to his crimes — are already public and many did not object to the release, The Associated Press reported.

People identified have until Jan. 1 to appeal the order, which was signed Monday.

Many court documents related to a lawsuit filed by one of Epstein’s victims have already been released, but Preska made the decision about some records that were initially withheld on privacy grounds.

The judge noted individuals have done media interviews or their names had been released elsewhere, like in the trial of Ghislaine Maxwell — Epstein’s associate and former girlfriend — who has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for helping him sexually abuse underage girls.

Some records will remain confidential, including those who were children when they were subject to the abuse and want to maintain privacy, the AP noted.

Epstein took his own life in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. His case and death have sparked numerous conspiracy theories about the involvement of various rich and powerful people in the scandal.

The Associated Press contributed.