Federal prosecutors cite privacy concerns as they fight to keep the identities of two individuals who received large payments from disgraced financier sealed.
Two mystery associates of Jeffrey Epstein who received a combined $350,000 from the disgraced financier will keep their identities hidden after the Justice Department successfully fought off attempts to reveal their names.
The bombshell payments – totalling $100,000 and $250,000, respectively – were made in late 2018, just days after the Miami Herald began publishing explosive investigative reports that reignited scrutiny of Epstein’s controversial 2008 plea deal.
Federal prosecutors have now moved to block NBC News from unsealing court documents that would reveal who received the substantial sums, arguing that both individuals have expressed serious privacy concerns about being publicly named.
payment look suspicious
The payments look suspicious because they happened right after bad news stories came out about Epstein. Prosecutors think the money was meant to keep people quiet.
Court papers show one person got $100,000 on November 30, 2018. The second person got $250,000 three days later on December 3. Epstein sent both payments from his trust account.
Both people were already protected from being charged because of Epstein’s 2008 deal in Florida. Many people said that deal was too easy on Epstein.
Key Figures in the Trafficking Network
According to prosecutors, at least one of the payment recipients was “featured prominently” in the Herald’s investigative series and played a significant role in Epstein’s alleged trafficking operation.
Court filings describe one individual as an employee who “facilitated the defendant’s trafficking of minors by, among other things, contacting victims and scheduling their sexual encounters with the defendant at his residences in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida.”
The payments only came to light in 2019 when Epstein was arrested in New York on federal sex trafficking charges. Prosecutors cited the mysterious wire transfers as evidence that Epstein might attempt to tamper with witnesses if released on bail.
Media Battle for Transparency
NBC News has been fighting to unseal the names, arguing that with Epstein now dead and criminal proceedings concluded, there’s no compelling reason to keep the identities secret. The network’s legal team pointed to the Justice Department’s own statement that no additional charges would be filed against uncharged third parties.
However, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton pushed back, emphasizing that both individuals are “uncharged third parties who have not waived their privacy interests” and have “expressly objected” to having their names made public.
The two mystery figures have reportedly sent sealed letters to prosecutors, expressing their concerns about being identified; however, the contents of these communications remain confidential.
Lasting Questions
The case continues to fuel questions about the extent of Epstein’s network and who may have been involved in or aware of his alleged crimes. The substantial payments suggest these individuals held significant importance to Epstein, whether as potential witnesses, co-conspirators, or both.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman is now weighing NBC’s arguments for transparency against the Justice Department’s privacy concerns. The judge has given the news organization until September 12 to respond to the government’s request to keep the names sealed.
The battle over the mystery recipients’ identities represents just the latest chapter in the ongoing efforts to fully understand the scope of Epstein’s alleged criminal enterprise and the network of individuals who may have been connected to it.
Epstein died by suicide in federal custody in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
YOU MAY LIKE:
Epstein Survivor Says He Kept Framed Photo of Trump on Desk, Called Him His ‘Biggest Brag’
Just Two More Republicans Needed for Vote on Jeffrey Epstein Files”(EXCLUSIVE)
