Federal Agreement Protects Identities of Epstein Victims in Document Release

NEW YORK (AP) – A Manhattan federal judge confirmed Tuesday that lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein’s victims have reached an agreement with the Justice Department. The deal protects nearly 100 women after last week’s release of millions of documents exposed sensitive personal information, raising concerns about harassment and safety.

Judge Richard M. Berman canceled a hearing set for Wednesday after Florida attorney Brittany Henderson informed the court that discussions with the government had produced a resolution. Henderson and attorney Brad Edwards had asked for urgent judicial intervention in a Sunday letter, pointing out “thousands of instances” where victims’ identifying details remained unprotected.

Victims Face Threats

Some victims described the release of documents as “life threatening.” One woman said she had received death threats and had to close her bank accounts and credit cards after her personal information became public. The lawyers requested a temporary shutdown of the Justice Department’s website and the appointment of an independent monitor to prevent further mistakes.

Henderson did not disclose the exact terms of the agreement or the measures the government will take to secure identities. She wrote to the judge, “We trust that the deficiencies will be corrected quickly and in a way that protects victims from further harm.” The Justice Department did not immediately comment.

Court and Government Actions

Judge Berman said he was “pleased but not surprised that the parties were able to resolve the privacy issues.”

Earlier, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said the errors resulted from “technical or human mistakes.” The mistakes exposed victims’ names, email addresses, and in some cases, nude photos. Clayton added that the department improved its procedures and removed almost all documents identified by victims, lawyers, or internal review.

Background on the Documents

Most documents relate to investigations into sex trafficking by Epstein and his former associate, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her 2021 conviction in New York. Epstein died by suicide in a federal jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial.

The case highlights the difficulty of balancing public access to court records with protecting survivors’ privacy, particularly in high-profile criminal cases.