Following the release of newly-unsealed court documents, it has emerged that Michael Jackson allegedly had contact with Jeffrey Epstein.
Last month, New York judge Loretta Preska ordered the release of documents that were part of Virginia Giuffre's 2015 defamation case against Ghislaine Maxwell, shedding light on the identities of around 200 associates of the disgraced financier, previously known only as John and Jane Doe in court records, per Sky News.
The ruling addressed privacy concerns for Epstein victims mentioned in the documents, emphasizing the need to keep their identities confidential to protect alleged minor victims of sexual abuse who have not publicly spoken about their experiences.
The list of alleged contacts includes prominent figures such as former US presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as Prince Andrew, who has been mired in controversy regarding his association with Epstein.
It should be noted that the majority of those named in the files have not been accused of any wrongdoing and are not facing criminal charges.
Among the depositions in the unsealed documents is testimony from Johanna Sjoberg, who alleges that Prince Andrew groped her at Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 2001. In a 2016 interview under oath, Sjoberg mentioned meeting Michael Jackson at Epstein's house in Palm Beach, per BBC News.
When asked whether she massaged Jackson or had any physical interaction with him during their meeting, Sjoberg clarified: "I did not."
The timing and details of the meeting were not disclosed in the documents.
The release of these documents follows a deadline for objections from those named, with Judge Preska noting that many unredacted names had already been disclosed by the media or during Maxwell's trial.
Giuffre's defamation case against Maxwell led to a series of lawsuits, including accusations against Prince Andrew for "sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress," ultimately settled out of court. US district court judge Robert Sweet rejected Maxwell's motion to dismiss the case, finding Giuffre to be a victim of sustained underage sexual abuse between 1999 and 2002.
Epstein, facing sex trafficking charges, was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial. Maxwell, convicted of aiding Epstein in recruiting and abusing underage girls, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.
His death was ruled as suicide, however, various conspiracy theories surrounding his death have circulated online, given Epstein's known associations with powerful and political figures worldwide.
The US Justice Department watchdog ruled that Epstein’s death resulted from "negligence and misconduct" by officers at a New York federal prison.
