The Justice Department has requested a federal judge overseeing the Jeffrey Epstein case to maintain secrecy around the identities of two individuals who received significant payments from him in 2018, according to legal documents. The U.S. Attorney’s office cited privacy concerns raised by the individuals as justification for withholding their names.
The payments, totaling $100,000 and $250,000, were made by Epstein during a period when investigative reports by the Miami Herald scrutinized his 2008 plea deal in Florida. Under the agreement, prosecutors assured that the two individuals would not face prosecution. The transactions surfaced after Epstein’s 2019 indictment in New York, where federal prosecutors argued he should remain jailed to prevent witness tampering. They highlighted the payments as evidence of potential collusion.
Epstein allegedly transferred funds from a trust account he controlled, with both recipients labeled as possible co-conspirators. One individual was identified in court documents as an employee linked to Epstein’s alleged trafficking operations, including arranging encounters with minors at his properties.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, asserted that the individuals had objected to disclosure, emphasizing their right to privacy. A federal judge has set a deadline of September 12th for responses to the request to keep the names sealed.
