The Epstein 29 are men and possibly women who received sweetheart plea deals that allowed them to remain secret. (Illustration: NYI)
Ghislaine Maxwell has made an extraordinary claim that could blow open the Epstein child sex trafficking scandal.
In a a court filing Dec. 17, the convicted Epstein sex trafficker reveals that 29 individuals — including four Epstein co-conspirators — entered into secret plea deals with the government to avoid prosecution and keep their names secret.
Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell met through a mutual friend and for a time, were lovers, (Photo: DOJ)
The revelation makes it all the more imperative to release the full Epstein files immediately with minimal redactions. Attorney General Pam Bondi is currently in violation of a law that mandated the release on Dec. 19.
Maxwell’s court filing means the most damaging information has yet to be made public. Victims have long called for their abusers to be named and face justice.
The filing, a writ of habeas corpus, is a last-ditch effort to get a court hearing that will allow her to introduce new evdence that could free her from a 20-year jail sentece.
According to the filing, 25 men and four others were shielded from prosecution by the Department of Justice. Even Maxwell’s lawyers say she doesn’t know who they are.
Maxwell argues that it is unfair for prosecutors to cut deals with Epstein associates while prosecuting her. The four alleged co-conspirators were known to investigators but never charged.
“New evidence reveals that there were 25 men with which the plaintiff lawyers reached secret settlements – that could equally be considered as co-conspirators,’ the legal document states.”
“None of these men have been prosecuted and none has been revealed to Petitioner; she would have called them as witnesses had she known,” court papers add.
Donald Trump’s salacious birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein was confirmed in Congress.
Her filing also contain allegations of juror misconduct and suppression of evidence. She also claims prosecutors violated the terms of Epstein’s 2007 non-prosecution agreement in Florida.
Alex Acosta, a long-time Donald Trump supporter who was then the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, approved the controversial 2008 non-prosecution agreement, ending the Epstein investigation in a plea deal.
Epstein avoided more serious federal sex trafficking charges and all other potential co-conspirators were shielded from prosecution.
Acosta became Secretary of Labor during Trump’s first administration in 2017, but was forced to resign when his role in the Epstein deal received renewed publicity.
Now Maxwell claims she was prosecuted for political reasons while others escaped justice as part of an extended immunity agreement extended to the other co-conspirators.
Trump’s election to a second term reignited interest in the Epstein scandal in large part because Trump vowed during the campaign to release all Epstein files seized by the government.
The House Government Oversight Committee has also obtained files from Epstein’s estate. He died in Aug. 2019, allegedly by suicide, while awaiting trial in Manhattan.
Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, ‘best friends’ for almost 20 years, draw the attention of a fetching blonde. (Photo: House Committee)
The Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) was signed into law last November, after Bondi and the Justice Department refused to release the files.
Thousands of Epstein-related documents and photographs have been unsealed since early 2024, but more than 1 million other documents are still being withheld.
A number of high profile individuals, who had ties to Epstein, have surfaced in the files, but their connection to sex traficking, if any, is unknown, outside of Prince Andrew (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor).
The late Virgina Giuffre, who was photgraphed as a teen with the prince, alleged Epstein trafficked her to the royal family member several times. He’s always denied the charges, but settled a lawsuit filed by her for a reported seven-figure sum.
Other bold face names in the Epstein files released so far include:
-
-
- Bill Clinton: Named frequently in travel logs and seen in newly released photos with Epstein and Maxwell; he has denied knowledge of Epstein’s crimes.
- Donald Trump: Mentioned in various documents and flight logs as a former social acquaintance.
- Kevin Spacey: Pictured alongside Maxwell and Clinton in files released by the DOJ.
- Alan Dershowitz: A prominent attorney who previously represented Epstein.
- Leon Black: Billionaire who reportedly paid $62.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands to settle claims tied to his financial dealings with Epstein.
- Richard Branson: Billionaire seen in photographs with Epstein released in late 2025.
- Bill Richardson: Former New Mexico Governor (now deceased) named in depositions.
- George Mitchell: Former U.S. Senator mentioned in unsealed documents.
- Jean-Luc Brunel: French modeling scout who was under investigation before his death in prison.
- Glenn Dubin: Billionaire financier named in legal records.
The files also mention or show photos of Michael Jackson, Chris Tucker, Stephen Hawking, David Copperfield, Mick Jagger, and former Israeli Premiere Ehud Barak.
All of the above public figures have claimed they were unaware of Epstein’s illegal activities.
Maxwell, 64, enjoyed a long friendship with Epstein, and for a time they were lovers. She helped recruit and groom girls — some as young as 12 and 14 — for Epstein’s sexual pleasure.
Epstein and Trump both acknowledge they were “best friends” for almost 20 years until a falling out, and Trump has been accused of raping a 13-year-old girl at Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse. (See Video)
Bondi said in a court filing more Epstein files wlll be forthcoming and are currently being reviewed and redacted by her staff.
The delay has triggered an uproar on Capitol Hill. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democrat Ro Khanna of California, who co-sponsored the Epstein Transparency Act, have accused Bondi of a ‘flagrant violation’ of the law.
They petitioned Federal District Judge Paul Engelmayer in New York, to appoint a monitor or special master to oversee release of the files.
Engelmayer denied the request last week, but recommended they pursue other avenues.
The Supreme Court last year declined to hear Maxwell’s appeal, letting her conviction stand
-