Newly unsealed court documents have shed light on the allegations made by Sarah Ransome, an accuser of Jeffrey Epstein. In a series of emails from 2016, Ransome claimed to possess copies of tapes recorded by Epstein featuring some of his influential friends in compromising situations with a woman.
The list of names purportedly included former presidents Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and British billionaire Richard Branson, all suggested as possible visitors to Epstein’s private island.
In one of the emails now public, Ransome discussed her friend’s interactions with Donald Trump, mentioning his particular interest in her and alleging repeated sexual encounters at Epstein’s New York mansion.
In an October 2016 email to a New York Post columnist, Ransome retracted her statements, expressing concern over potential backlash and harm to her family. Further complicating the matter, Ransome admitted in a 2019 New Yorker article that she fabricated the tapes to highlight Epstein’s behaviour.
Responses to the Allegations
In response to these allegations, Trump advisor Steven Cheung issued a statement on Monday, dismissing them as “baseless” and highlighting their retraction. Similarly, a spokesperson for the Virgin Group refuted Ransome’s claims as “baseless and unfounded,” referencing her admission of fabrication in the New Yorker report.
These emails surfaced as part of a defamation lawsuit filed by another Epstein accuser, Virginia Giuffre, against Epstein’s former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, in 2015. The case has since been settled, but the unsealing of these documents brings renewed attention to the complex web of accusations surrounding Epstein and his associates.
