By Tony Bruce | Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | 5 min read
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal has never been confined to one man or one courtroom. It has always been about power—who had it, who abused it, and who was protected by it. With the recent unsealing of more than 20,000 pages of records tied to Epstein and his longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell, that uncomfortable reality has returned to the forefront. And this time, it’s pulling the names of the dead back into public view.
Released by the House Oversight Committee on November 12, the documents include depositions, emails, flight logs, contact lists, and internal correspondence that paint a broader picture of Epstein’s social orbit. More material, including evidence seized from Epstein’s private island, is expected in the coming weeks. As the archive expands, public attention has shifted not only to living figures but also to high-profile individuals who appear in the records and are no longer alive to respond.
Their inclusion does not imply guilt. In many cases, there is no allegation of wrongdoing at all. Still, their presence in the documents raises lingering questions about proximity to power, silence, and how Epstein moved so freely among the world’s elite for decades.
Virginia Giuffre, 41, died 2025
Virginia Giuffre was one of the most important voices in exposing Epstein’s abuse network. Her lawsuits, sworn testimony, and public advocacy forced a reckoning that authorities had long avoided. Giuffre alleged that Epstein and Maxwell trafficked her to powerful men while she was a teenager, claims that reshaped public understanding of how the operation functioned.
Her memoir, published after her death, connects Epstein to several high-profile figures and describes a system built on coercion and impunity. Giuffre died by suicide in 2025. Her death was widely mourned by survivors’ advocates, who credit her with helping dismantle a wall of silence that had protected Epstein for years.
Jeffrey Epstein, 66, died 2019
Epstein himself died in August 2019 in a federal jail cell while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges involving minors. His death, ruled a suicide, ended the criminal case against him and denied victims the chance to see him held accountable in court.
Rather than closing the book, Epstein’s death ignited years of investigations, civil lawsuits, and demands for transparency. The newly unsealed records are part of that unfinished reckoning.
Jean-Luc Brunel, 75, died 2022
French modeling agent Jean-Luc Brunel was long accused of recruiting underage girls into Epstein’s orbit. Multiple accusers alleged he used his influence in the fashion industry to exploit vulnerable teenagers.
Brunel died by suicide in a Paris jail in 2022 while awaiting trial on rape charges. His death ended a case many hoped would expose how Epstein’s network operated internationally.
Marvin Minsky, 88, died 2016
Marvin Minsky, a pioneering figure in artificial intelligence and a co-founder of MIT’s Media Lab, was named by Giuffre, who said she was forced to have sex with him on Epstein’s private island.
Minsky died in 2016 and never publicly responded to the allegation. No legal finding was made. His inclusion highlights how Epstein’s reach extended into elite academic and scientific circles.
Stephen Hawking, 76, died 2018
Stephen Hawking’s name appears in the records in a different context. Emails suggest Epstein sought to discredit rumors involving Hawking, who had visited Epstein’s island as part of a scientific trip.
Hawking was never accused of wrongdoing, and no evidence has emerged linking him to Epstein’s crimes. His appearance in the documents reflects how even tangential associations are now being reexamined.
Bill Richardson, 75, died 2023
Former New Mexico Governor and U.S. Ambassador Bill Richardson was named in Giuffre’s deposition, where she said Maxwell instructed her to give him a massage.
Richardson denied ever meeting Giuffre, and no charges were filed. His death in 2023 means the claim will never be tested in court, underscoring the limits of posthumous scrutiny.
Steven Hoffenberg, 77, died 2022
Steven Hoffenberg, a former Epstein associate, was convicted in the 1990s for running a massive Ponzi scheme. He later claimed Epstein was deeply involved but escaped prosecution.
Hoffenberg died in 2022, his body discovered days after his death. Authorities did not suspect foul play. His allegations remain part of the broader, unresolved questions surrounding Epstein’s financial dealings.
Michael Jackson, 50, died 2009
Michael Jackson was named by one Epstein accuser as having been present at Epstein’s home. She explicitly stated that no sexual activity occurred
Jackson’s name also appears in Epstein’s address books, but no evidence links him to Epstein’s criminal conduct.
Princess Diana, 36, died 1997
Princess Diana’s name appears multiple times in the documents, largely in media clippings and third-party correspondence. There is no indication she ever met Epstein or had any direct connection to him.
As more records are released, the Epstein case continues to expand beyond the living. The presence of these names does not rewrite history, but it does remind the public how deeply Epstein embedded himself in powerful circles. The dead cannot answer questions—but the systems that enabled him still can.
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