Jeffrey Epstein flight logs: Prince Andrew controversy resurfaces as nearly 200 names to be released
Despite having passed away in 2019 in prison while awaiting trial, disgraced financier and one of society’s most prolific sex offenders Jeffrey Epstein continues to regularly make headlines. Most recently, the deceased convict has garnered attention due to resurfaced documents regarding Epstein’s extensive flight logs and the impending release of the names of nearly 200 of the businessman’s former known associates.
Who is Jeffrey Epstein?
I think it would be difficult to find someone who didn’t know even a little bit about Epstein. He is regarded as one of the most notorious sex offenders of this decade and is credited for creating an international sex trafficking ring that recruited up to 100 women as young as 14 whom he and his associates sexually abused.
According to The Guardian, a New York judge is set to release a list of nearly 200 names of individuals known to be associates of Epstein. The deadline for any objections to the drop passed at midnight on Monday 1 January 2024. This development comes nearly nine years after the documents were produced in a controversial defamation case one of Epstein’s victims, Virginia Giuffre, filed against his most famous associate and long-term romantic partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.
The story surrounding the documents is simple. In 2011, Giuffre openly accused Maxwell and Epstein of forcing her into a sexual encounter with Prince Andrew when she was only 17 years old. Maxwell responded by calling her a liar, and Giuffre hit back with a defamation suit in 2015.
This suit then produced documents consisting mainly of flight logs that feature the names of several men Giuffre encountered while she was allegedly being trafficked by Epstein in the 2000s. Upon its release, it will represent the eighth, and likely final, round of unsealing records from the case since the Miami Herald intervened for access to the records back in 2018.
However, the internet isn’t famous for its ability to sit still and wait. As soon as this news gained circulation, netizens became obsessed with rehashing and re-obsessing over all of the previous documents that had been released.
Nevertheless, the misinformation mill has also been in overdrive and is currently passing off old documents as new ones or releasing the names of false associates. So, just to set the record straight, Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie, Ben Affleck and Beyoncé have not been aboard the infamous “Lolita Express.” Sorry to disappoint.
Nonetheless, one name kept resurfacing… the one and only “Andy.” Considering the case that forced the reveal of these filings, it didn’t take long for netizens to suspect that this might be describing no other than his Royal Highness and alleged child rapist, Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
In the wake of the news that more court documents might be released it has also been reported that the palace is “bracing” itself for renewed controversy around the Prince, who is reportedly living in “torment” due to the impending release.
Who might also feature on the list of Jeffrey Epstein’s associates?
So far, we know that former US president and then real estate developer Donald Trump took at least seven trips on a private plane with Epstein between 1993 and 1997, occasionally accompanied by members of his family.
Another former US president, Bill Clinton, was also photographed on the jet numerous times and had Epstein as a guest at the White House on at least 17 occasions during his presidency. Nevertheless, he has denied having any inappropriate connections with the sex offender.
Despite all this speculation, it should still be noted that it is unclear whether Trump, Clinton or anyone else listed on the documents has visited Epstein’s island in the Caribbean, the location that served as the base of his international sex-trafficking ring.
