January 1, Ghislaine Maxwell Ends Fight to Shield Names of ‘John Does’

Ghislaine Maxwell will let the court decide whether to unseal the names of eight “Joe Does,” ending her fight to keep their identities under wraps.

The names are found in documents connected to a 2015 defamation case brought by prominent Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre that was settled in 2017.

“After careful review of the detailed objections submitted by Non-Party Does 17, 53, 54, 55, 73, 93 and 151, counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell writes to inform the Court that she does not wish to further address those objections,” Maxwell attorney Laura Menninger wrote in a letter to federal Judge Loretta Preska.

“Each of the listed Does has counsel who have ably asserted their own respective privacy rights. Ms. Maxwell therefore leaves it to this Court to conduct the appropriate review.”

Maxwell, 60, faces up to 65 years in prison after being convicted last month on five federal charges, including sex trafficking of a minor, connected to her role in Epstein’s sexual abuse of underage girls between 1994 and 2004. Her attorneys plan to appeal.

Giuffre’s attorney had filed a brief on Wednesday, arguing for the names to be revealed.

“[G]eneralized aversion to embarrassment and negativity that may come from being associated with Epstein and Maxwell is not enough to warrant continued sealing of information. This is especially true with respect to this case of great public interest, involving serious allegations of the sex trafficking of minors,” Guiffre attorney Sigrid McCawley wrote.

“Now that Maxwell’s criminal trial has come and gone, there is little reason to retain protection over the vast swaths of information about Epstein and Maxwell’s sex-trafficking operation that were originally filed under seal in this case.”

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Ghislaine Maxwell ends fight to keep eight ‘John Does’ secret, court to decide whether names should be unsealed