DOJ requests judge to keep names of two Epstein associates wired large sums of money sealed
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has requested a federal judge to keep confidential the identities of two associates of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein who received large money transfers from him in 2018. One associate was wired $100,000,and the other $250,000,both payments made following critical media coverage of Epstein’s controversial 2008 Florida plea deal. These payments surfaced after Epstein’s 2019 arrest and indictment. Prosecutors suggest that the payments might indicate attempts by Epstein to influence potential co-conspirators who could provide testimony against him. the DOJ argues the names should remain sealed, while NBC News has sought to make them public. The judge has allowed NBC News until September 12 to respond to the DOJ’s motion, with the outcome on keeping the names secret still pending.
DOJ requests judge to keep names of two Epstein associates wired large sums of money sealed
The Department of Justice asked the federal judge overseeing the case of the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein to keep anonymous the names of two associates who received money from him in 2018.
The first associate received $100,000 from Epstein, and the second received $250,000, with both payments made after the Miami Herald published a series where victims criticized a plea deal he received in Florida in 2008.
NBC News has tried to make the names of the two people public since last month. As part of the 2008 plea agreement, federal prosecutors agreed to keep those names sealed.
The payments only became public after Epstein was indicted and arrested in 2019.
Prosecutors wrote on Nov. 30, 2018, that Epstein “wired $100,000 from a trust account he controlled, to an individual named as [REDACTED] a potential co-conspirator — and for whom Epstein obtained protection in — the NPA.”
Prosecutors added that “this individual was also named and featured prominently in the Herald series.”
Prosecutors also wrote that “the same records show that just three days later, on or about December 3, 2018, the defendant wired $250,000 from the same trust account to [REDACTED], who was also named as a potential co-conspirator — and for whom Epstein also obtained protection in — the NPA.”
They continued: “This individual is also one of the employees identified in the Indictment, which alleges that she and two other identified employees 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 prosecutors said that Epstein’s payments may be evidence of “efforts to influence witnesses.”
“This course of action, and in particular its timing, suggests the defendant was attempting to further influence co-conspirators who might provide information against him in light of the recently re-emerging allegations,” they said.
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The judge has given NBC News until Sept. 12 to respond to the Justice Department’s request to keep the names of the individuals secret.
It’s unclear why the DOJ wants the names to remain secret, or when a ruling will be made.
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