A federal court in New York has ordered lawyers for Ghislaine Maxwell to search her emails for dozens of lewd terms and high-profile names in the lawsuit brought by Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, court records reveal. This development sheds light on the ongoing legal battle surrounding the infamous Epstein case.
In the lawsuit, lawyers for Giuffre’s team focused on key names in Maxwell’s orbit, including the British Prince Andrew, as well as terms such as “nipple,” “schoolgirl,” “servitude,” and other sexual terms. Additionally, they sought the term “massage,” which was allegedly Epstein’s code word for sexual activities with the young women and girls he employed as massage therapists.
However, Maxwell’s lawyers disputed over a hundred requested names, including a list of first names belonging to Epstein accusers, associates, and others. They argued that these names were incredibly common and would result in the flagging of many unrelated emails. Maxwell’s lawyers also challenged searches for “common words,” lawyer names, and other keywords.
The back-and-forth between the two sides regarding the terms to be searched is a typical occurrence in a lawsuit, according to Frank Thornton, an expert in digital forensics. He explains that such lists are derived from witness testimonies and discussions about specific terms and names used in emails. The judge may have decided that some of the terms were irrelevant to the case, resulting in their exclusion from the search.
Some of the phrases requested by Giuffre’s lawyers may seem unusual, but they demonstrate how legal software can quickly scan vast amounts of documents for subjects that fall outside specific keywords. For example, one sought-after term was “joint* w/3 defend*,” which could refer to discussions about a “joint defense privilege” between Maxwell and Epstein.
Giuffre’s lawyers also sought references to law enforcement, including the FBI, as well as state and federal prosecutors. The documents released include redacted and sealed files that remained secret for years after the conclusion of a 2015 lawsuit between Giuffre and Maxwell.
It is worth noting that many of the names mentioned in the documents have previously been known through other means, despite being withheld from the public during the lawsuit. Furthermore, it is important to emphasize that not all individuals named have been accused of any wrongdoing.
Throughout the civil case, Giuffre’s lawyers accused Maxwell and Epstein of stalling and refusing to cooperate during depositions, as well as improperly withholding documents during discovery. Maxwell and Giuffre settled a lawsuit in 2017. Epstein died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Ghislaine Maxwell, who was recently sentenced to 20 years behind bars for grooming and sex trafficking Epstein’s victims, is currently appealing her conviction. She has chosen not to comment on the release of the documents.
The search through Maxwell’s emails provides further insight into the alleged activities surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and his associates. As the legal battle continues, more revelations may come to light, potentially implicating other high-profile figures connected to Epstein’s network.
