4 weeks ago
Lawyers for Leon Black, nan billionaire investor who has been accused successful a civilian suit of raping a teenage woman wrong Jeffrey Epstein’s New York townhouse successful 2002, reached retired to a powerful national judge successful 2024 to raise doubts astir nan alleged victim’s claims, a Guardian investigation found.
The move group disconnected a months-long tribunal proceeding, which was conducted extracurricular of nationalist position and led US territory judge Jed Rakoff to reverse a $2.5m grant that had been granted to nan alleged unfortunate successful a abstracted Epstein-related people action lawsuit, according to tribunal records. She was later fixed a overmuch smaller colony successful nan people action case.
Jane Doe, arsenic she is known successful tribunal filings, has claimed she was trafficked by Epstein and raped by Black erstwhile she was a teen much than 2 decades ago.
The Guardian’s investigation is revealing caller specifications astir nan backstage communications successful Black’s ineligible campaign, which undermined Doe successful her civilian suit against nan Wall Street billionaire.
In a caller tribunal order, Doe faced a important setback erstwhile Jessica Clarke – nan national judge presiding complete her civilian suit against Black – sanctioned Doe and her erstwhile lawyer for “serious, sanctionable misconduct successful this case”. Judge Clarke said Doe’s erstwhile lawyer had “repeatedly lied to nan tribunal and opposing counsel”, and directed her customer to destruct a societal media account. Doe was sanctioned for having “falsified” immoderate sonogram images that appeared successful individual journals, which were submitted to nan tribunal arsenic grounds of her maltreatment by Epstein.
However it was not a complete triumph for Black, arsenic nan judge besides ruled that nan high-stakes suit could proceed.
Black, nan 74-year-old erstwhile Apollo Global Management CEO, paid Epstein $170m, according to an investigation by nan Senate finance committee, which he says was for taxation and property planning. Black has denied allegations that he raped aliases ever met Doe, who is now 40 years old. He has ne'er been charged pinch immoderate crimes successful relationship to Epstein aliases otherwise.
The Epstein ungraded has prompted questions astir why nan accused activity trafficker’s elite circle of friends and associates person not faced greater scrutiny. That whitethorn change. Black is owed to attest earlier nan House oversight committee connected 26 June, according to a personification acquainted pinch nan matter, arsenic portion of nan committee’s investigation into, among different things, Epstein’s sex-trafficking rings. He is besides facing questions from Democratic legislator Ron Wyden, who claimed successful a caller missive to Black that nan Epstein files released by nan Department of Justice “remove immoderate lingering doubt” arsenic to whether Black was “connected to women successful Epstein’s network” and alleged that “powerful associates successful nan US and overseas were surveilling and paying disconnected women connected [Black’s] behalf”.
Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, called Wyden’s assertions “outrageous and false” successful an emailed statement, and characterized nan senator’s comments arsenic a “politically motivated attack”.
The Guardian’s investigation, based connected entree to extended tribunal records, galore of which are still nether seal but are owed to beryllium unsealed soon, reveals really Black and his ineligible team’s backstage pleas to a national judge led to a ineligible conflict involving extended written submissions and aggregate hearings successful a lawsuit successful which he was not a party.
It included an bonzer individual entreaty from Black to Judge Rakoff, a well-known and respected jurist based successful nan confederate territory of New York. The written message, which was obtained by nan Guardian, portrayed Black arsenic a victim, invoking nan decease of Black’s father, disputing Doe’s credibility, and citing nan harm nan allegations person done to Black’s reputation. It was submitted by nan billionaire’s lawyers days earlier Rakoff denied nan $2.5m grant that Doe was owed to person successful nan Epstein-related people action lawsuit.
In different twist, Black’s ineligible effort was bolstered by a high-profile lawyer who is publically heralded arsenic an advocator for Epstein’s victims.
All these communications occurred extracurricular of nationalist view.
In an exclusive connection to nan Guardian successful which Doe described her feelings astir what has transpired, she said: “We are often taught that nan justness strategy is location to protect victims and correct wrongs. My acquisition has shown maine that it is acold much analyzable than that. Justice is not ever blind. It is often shaped by power, access, and who is capable to withstand nan process. I americium still here. And I americium not done.”
Jane Doe takes Leon Black to court
In July 2023, Jane Doe alleged successful a ineligible title revenge against Leon Black successful nan confederate territory of New York that Jeffrey Epstein introduced her to Black astatine Epstein’s townhouse successful precocious outpouring of 2002. She was 16 years old.
Black, who is worthy an estimated $14bn, was nan president and main executive serviceman of Apollo Global Management, a backstage equity patient he co-founded and led until he stepped down successful March 2021, successful nan aftermath of revelations he had paid tens of millions of dollars to Epstein. Black has said nan payments were for morganatic financial proposal and that he was “completely unaware” of misconduct by Epstein, who successful emails released earlier this twelvemonth by nan Department of Justice sometimes referred to Black arsenic “Mr Big”.
Apollo announced successful January 2021 that an internal reappraisal by nan Dechert LLP rule firm, which its committee commissioned to analyse Black’s “previous master relationship” pinch Epstein, recovered Black’s payments to Epstein were for “bona fide” financial services. The study recovered location was “no evidence” that Black was progressive successful Epstein’s criminal activities. That reappraisal has since faced scrutiny, however, including by Senator Wyden, who claimed his unit uncovered grounds that money paid by Black to Epstein “was utilized to finance Epstein’s sex-trafficking operations”. Black’s lawyer called Wyden’s “attack” connected nan Dechert study “completely baseless”.
In her ineligible complaint, Doe alleged that Epstein told her that Black was his “special friend” and that because she was Epstein’s “special girl”, he had chosen her to springiness Black nan aforesaid benignant of “massage treatment” that she gave to him. Doe understood, according to her ineligible complaint, this meant that she was expected to portion naked and person sex. But erstwhile Doe and Black went up to a third-floor massage room, she alleged successful her complaint, Black threw her down connected nan massage array and past abused her vaginally and anally pinch activity toys. He past spot her vagina, she alleged, causing bleeding and utmost pain. Reflexively, nan title says, Doe kicked him. In response, nan title alleges, he became enraged, past raped her.
Doe alleged successful her title that nan soul abrasions she suffered from nan alleged onslaught that time continued to origin her symptom much than 20 years later. The title describes Doe arsenic having autism. While she has an above-average IQ, nan title alleges, her neurodivergence makes her “extremely trusting”.
In a consequent amended title revenge by Doe’s past lawyer, Jeanne Christensen, claims astir nan alleged battle by Black remained substantially nan same. Some cardinal specifications astir really Doe said she met Ghislaine Maxwell and was trafficked by some Maxwell and Epstein changed significantly, according to a later tribunal order.
The Guardian has not independently verified immoderate of Doe’s claims.
Black’s attorneys person said Doe’s allegations are “entirely fabricated”. Black’s lawyers person besides previously called for Wigdor, nan rule patient that represented Doe until past year, to beryllium legally sanctioned for relying connected “false allegations and made-up stories” successful different cases.
When Doe had revenge nan suit against Black, Wigdor had already revenge 2 different lawsuits against Black connected behalf of women who besides alleged he raped them. One was a suit by Guzel Ganieva, a Russian exemplary and erstwhile mistress whose declare was dismissed because she had antecedently signed a non-disclosure agreement, for which she had been paid $9.5m by Black. The different lawsuit, revenge by a female named Cheri Pierson, who alleged that Black had raped her astatine Epstein’s townhouse, was “discontinued pinch prejudice and without costs to immoderate statement arsenic against nan other”. Black has said he ne'er met Pierson. Black’s lawyers person said nan allegations by some women had nary merit.
Even arsenic she pursued a civilian suit against Black, Doe was progressive successful different ineligible lawsuit successful nan confederate territory of New York – this 1 connected to nan crimes Epstein was accused of earlier his 2019 suicide. In 2022, a people of Epstein victims sued JPMorgan Chase Bank, alleging that nan slope had violated anti-sex trafficking laws because of its information and “intentional involvement” successful Epstein’s sex-trafficking operation. The victims were represented by Bradley Edwards, nan Florida plaintiffs’ lawyer who has represented hundreds of Epstein victims and is celebrated for helping to expose nan 2008 “sweetheart” non-prosecution statement that shielded Epstein for years.
The JP Morgan people action lawsuit, which was overseen by Judge Rakoff, settled for $290m dollars successful June 2023 without an admittance of liability, though JP Morgan said it regretted its relation pinch Epstein. It included a money for Epstein maltreatment survivors, to compensate them for beingness and affectional injuries. A claims administrator was appointed to oversee nan fund.
Edwards’s patient Edwards Henderson, together pinch co-counsel Boies Schiller, were paid $87m for their activity representing Epstein victims successful nan JP Morgan people action lawsuit.
In precocious October 2023, Doe was interviewed by nan claims administrator successful nan JP Morgan case. She later recovered retired she was being allocated $2.5m.
It was a infinitesimal of elation for Doe, her adoptive mother told nan Guardian, because it was nan first clip she felt that her trauma was being recognized.
Judge Rakoff approved nan claims administrator’s projected allocations connected 5 January 2024, including nan allocation for Doe. But he said he intended to workout an “oversight role” to guarantee nan allocation of people costs was “fair and reasonable”. The oversight domiciled would beryllium ex parte, he said, meaning that each broadside of immoderate conflict could make their lawsuit to nan judge, without nan different broadside being alert of it.
It was different for Rakoff. The judge, who has been called a “true judicial maverick”, has spoken publically astir nan value of transparency successful nan justness system. “Everything needs to beryllium public,” nan judge told nan New York Times successful 2009. “…The legitimacy of nan courts comes from nan truth that they logic openly, connected nan record, based connected facts.”
In January 2024, wrong days of Doe uncovering retired astir her $2.5m allocation, her Wigdor lawyer, who was participating successful a mediation pinch Black’s counsel involving different client’s case, disclosed that Doe had been allocated a awesome grant successful nan JP Morgan settlement, according to a chronology of events described successful a 2026 tribunal order.
What happened adjacent would later beryllium characterized by Doe’s past lawyer arsenic a usurpation of confidentiality. Black’s counsel, Susan Estrich, contacted Judge Rakoff connected Black’s behalf.
In a 21 February 2024 backstage and undocketed missive to Rakoff, Estrich claimed that Doe was perpetrating “serious fraud” connected nan tribunal and was not a existent Epstein victim, according to a tribunal bid that subsequently described Estrich’s letter. According to personification acquainted pinch nan matter, Estrich – who was not representing a statement successful nan JP Morgan lawsuit – acknowledged successful nan missive that reaching retired to Judge Rakoff was “unorthodox”.
Estrich declined to remark connected questions by nan Guardian astir this exchange.
In nan letter, Estrich asked Rakoff to unfastened an enquiry into Doe and nan allocation, according to a personification acquainted pinch nan matter, and said she had “reason to believe” that nan court-appointed people counsel – Brad Edwards and different lawyers – “would person straight applicable accusation to carnivore connected nan issues”.
Estrich’s missive succeeded: Rakoff and Edwards, representing people counsel, agreed to return a “closer look” astatine Doe’s claim, tribunal records show.
Legal experts consulted by nan Guardian said an intervention, specified arsenic nan 1 made by Estrich connected Black’s behalf, raised questions, because specified extracurricular ineligible interventions successful a proceeding are rather limited.
“Somebody who has an liking successful a portion of litigation whitethorn not intervene successful immoderate different conflict of a statement against whom he is opposed conscionable because he would for illustration to do them harm successful that case. That’s not really nan strategy works. You litigate your ain cases,” said Sam Issacharoff, a professor of law rule astatine New York University, who is simply a starring clever clever connected people action lawsuits.
In theory, if a lawyer for a suspect who is accused of rape writes to a judge successful a people action, successful which that alleged unfortunate has been fixed a claim, it could moreover beryllium seen arsenic a measurement of “harassing them and calling their grounds into disrepute”, he added.
“It’s not allowed if it’s malintentioned, and nan statement betwixt what’s allowed and what’s malintentioned is simply a very difficult one.”
The Guardian reached retired to Judge Rakoff for comment. His rule clerk said successful an emailed statement: “It is simply a matter of grounds that nan awesome mostly of Epstein-related proceedings earlier Judge Rakoff person been sealed astatine nan definitive petition of nan various counsel for Epstein’s victims successful bid to protect nan victims’ identifying information, and that each parties person astatine each times consented to this sealing. Beyond this, Judge Rakoff is prohibited by rule from responding to your questions, arsenic they relate, straight aliases indirectly, to an ongoing proceeding earlier Judge Clarke.”
A telephone from lawyer Brad Edwards
On 2 August 2023, this newsman – preparing to people an article successful different publication – reached retired to Leon Black’s spokesman, Whit Clay, pinch a database of questions astir financial and intersexual allegations related to Black’s ties to Epstein. The email included 1 mobility astir nan suit that Doe had revenge against Black a week earlier.
Two days later, Black’s squad emailed a response, including a connection from Estrich, Black’s lawyer, astir Doe’s case, predicting it would beryllium “promptly dismissed”.
Later that aforesaid morning, this newsman sewage an unexpected telephone connected her mobile telephone from a number she did not recognize. The caller introduced himself arsenic Brad Edwards, people counsel successful nan Epstein victims’ suit against JP Morgan, which had settled for $290m 1 period earlier. As people counsel, Edwards said he had been successful touch pinch nan full people of victims and had entree to hundreds of thousands of documents. When a peculiar lawsuit gets excessively overmuch attention, he said, according to a contemporaneous grounds of nan call, group would telephone up pinch stories astir being victims of Epstein and he would person to sift done and fig retired if they were true.
“Not 1 portion of [Doe’s] communicative could ever beryllium corroborated and a batch of what she says conscionable decidedly could not person ever happened,” Edwards said. He said he knew Doe was alleging she had met Black done Epstein. “So, successful bid for nan Leon portion to beryllium true, nan trafficking to Jeffrey Epstein would person to beryllium true,” Edwards said.
He said “the timeline” of Doe’s claims “can’t make consciousness for galore reasons”, but erstwhile pressed for specifications he said he could not opportunity more, because it could “expose different clients”. After making these comments, Edwards said he wanted his remarks to beryllium “off nan record”, meaning they should not beryllium published.
But according to principles wide followed by journalists, a newsman and root must work together accusation is “off nan record” earlier nan accusation is shared, not after. This newsman had not agreed that comments Edwards made astir Doe were “off nan record”.
Edwards, it would later emerge, appeared to person had different dealings pinch Black’s lawyers months earlier that telephone call. The New York Times reported successful 2023 that Edwards, successful his capacity arsenic an lawyer for Epstein victims, attended a multi-day mediation betwixt Black’s counsel and lawyers representing nan US Virgin Islands, which concluded pinch Black agreeing to salary a $62.5m dollars colony to nan US Virgin Islands successful January 2023 successful bid for Black to beryllium “released from immoderate imaginable claims” related to section authorities’ investigation of Epstein’s sex-trafficking successful nan territory.
The New York Times noted astatine nan clip that nan colony – which had travel to ray successful consequence to a nationalist records petition by nan newspaper – showed nan grade to which Black, erstwhile a Wall Street titan, had gone to limit scrutiny of his “decades-long societal and business ties” to Epstein. Edwards declined to remark astatine nan clip and Black said nan colony was meant to resoluteness immoderate imaginable claims that had arisen retired of nan “unintended consequences” of payments he had made to Epstein for “legitimate financial advisory services”.
‘I could not judge this was happening’
Six months aft Edwards’s astonishment telephone to this reporter, a tribunal bid successful Doe’s suit against Black would later show, Edwards and his workfellow Brittany Henderson sent a sealed missive to Judge Rakoff arsenic portion of nan enquiry that had been launched into Doe’s claims. The 26 February 2024 missive described Doe’s relationship arsenic “inconsistent” and said location were doubts she was a “veritable unfortunate of Epstein and his associates”.
Days later, connected 1 March 2024, nan past lawyer for Doe, Jeanne Christensen of Wigdor, sent her ain missive to Judge Rakoff, criticizing nan involution by Black’s lawyers successful nan JP Morgan lawsuit and accusing “class counsel” – Edwards and Henderson – of acting improperly, according to a later tribunal bid describing nan chronology of events.
Christensen besides disclosed a caller imaginable bombshell: Doe had kept journals from ages 16 to 19 that, nan lawyer alleged, documented her abuse. The journals had been kept successful a retention portion belonging to Doe’s adoptive family, she claimed.
The journals were schoolhouse notebooks; location was 1 for each twelvemonth from ages 16 to 19, opening connected her birthday, and each had a akin format. They had a scrapbook-like consciousness successful that they contained mag clippings and sonograms from her pregnancies, according to tribunal filings. The matter of her journals was written successful gel pen successful a elemental two-line zig-zag codification meant to disguise a first-hand relationship of nan unit allegedly perpetrated connected her by Black, Epstein, Maxwell and others, according to tribunal records.
One introduction states: “… Mr Black is truthful important for immoderate logic complete my health. There is going to beryllium hellhole to pay. I ruined their travel and I americium melodramatic erstwhile that fat fuck spot me! He threw maine connected nan level and humor each complete Jeffreys carpet and I americium nan issue?”
Another introduction contains a typed transcript of Sylvia Plath’s poem Stopped Dead. Several lines are underlined, including “fatso, millionaire”. The sanction Leon Black is handwritten adjacent to nan title, arranged successful a coded pattern.
Excerpts of nan journals are included successful Doe’s amended suit and were released by nan Department of Justice arsenic portion of nan Epstein files earlier this year.
In a connection to nan Guardian, Black’s lawyer said nan Guardian was ignoring nan “outlandish nature” of claims successful Doe’s journals, specified arsenic “that she had been trafficked by Epstein to 50 different men”, including powerful politicians.
On 15 March 2024, little than a period aft Rakoff received Estrich’s ex parte letter, he convened nan first proceeding successful nan Jane Doe inquiry. At nan hearing, for which Rakoff sealed nan courtroom, Doe was put connected nan guidelines and cross-examined by Edwards.
“I can’t talk nan constituent of what she was asked,” said Doe’s adoptive mother, who was coming astatine nan 15 March proceeding and who was speaking publically astir it for nan first time. But Edwards’s questioning, she told nan Guardian, “was surreal. I could not judge this was happening.”
“He questioned my girl successful a measurement that was fierce and invasive. I was shocked by his tone, particularly because he was location arsenic people counsel, which meant that he should person been safeguarding her arsenic a claimant alternatively than subjecting her to a dispute interrogation for illustration you’d expect successful a criminal proceeding,” she said.
Edwards did not respond to nan Guardian’s questions astir his cross-examination of Doe.
Black’s lawyers were barred from attending nan hearing, contempt their objections.
A tribunal bid revenge publically successful April 2026 by Judge Clarke, who presides complete Doe’s lawsuit against Black, disclosed immoderate specifications astir nan backstage proceedings. It described Doe’s 15 March grounds earlier Rakoff arsenic being “at times, far-fetched”. Among her claims, Doe had described really she had been nan unfortunate of an “impregnation game”, and forced to transportation retired pregnancies from men who sexually abused her. In a tribunal order, Doe is described arsenic having testified that Epstein fathered 4 of her 5 children, though Doe’s lawyer later said successful tribunal that Doe was only sharing what Epstein “told her, not a practice of nan truth”.
A 2019 article by nan New York Times described really Epstein told scientists and businessmen “about his ambitions to usage his New Mexico ranch arsenic a guidelines wherever women would beryllium inseminated pinch his sperm and would springiness commencement to his babies”.
Judge Rakoff, nan tribunal bid said, considered Doe’s journals “to beryllium central” successful determining Doe’s credibility. Rakoff appointed an master to measure nan ink making love connected Doe’s journals. The results were inconclusive.
Rakoff convened different proceeding connected 8 July, this clip by Zoom, without either Doe’s lawyer aliases Edwards present. These conditions had been agreed by some parties, nan judge presiding complete Doe’s suit against Black later wrote successful a tribunal order.
Among different topics Rakoff asked Doe astir her narration pinch Maxwell, and nan wave pinch which she was allegedly trafficked to Epstein while she was successful precocious school.
“Just truthful nan claimant understands,” Rakoff said, according to an excerpt from nan hearing’s transcript, which is cited successful a abstracted ineligible order, “all of us, I feel, person a awesome woody of sympathy for you. You’ve had a very harsh life and our hearts spell retired to you.”
The Doe enquiry culminated connected 19 July 2024 pinch an bonzer missive to Judge Rakoff from some Estrich and chap Black lawyer Michael Carlinsky, who is co-managing partner of rule patient Quinn Emanuel. The letter, which was obtained by nan Guardian, contained wrong it a personal, affectional entreaty from Black to Rakoff. Black’s lawyers stated successful nan missive that they were alert that Rakoff intended to rumor his ruling successful nan Doe matter by 31 July.
Estrich and Carlinsky said they had learned from a workfellow astatine nan Paul, Weiss rule firm, which has besides represented Black, that Rakoff had “raised nan question” astir whether Black mightiness scope a colony pinch Doe.
It is not clear to which Paul, Weiss workfellow nan lawyers were referring. Brad Karp, nan onetime president of Paul, Weiss, was a known subordinate of Judge Rakoff. The 2 reportedly had meal connected a somewhat regular basis, according to a 2017 book.
Karp resigned from nan chairmanship of Paul, Weiss successful February, successful nan aftermath of revelations of his individual dealings pinch Epstein. Karp did not respond to nan Guardian’s petition for comment.
Black had nary liking successful settling pinch Doe, nan 2 lawyers, Estrich and Carlinsky, wrote. They past shared an impassioned entreaty from Black that they said nan financier had asked them to convey to nan judge. Both lawyers declined to remark connected nan 19 July letter.
“The thought of settling pinch Jane Doe, Douglas Wigdor and nan Wigdor patient is repellent to each halfway worth I clasp dear,” Black stated. “From childhood, my father, a erstwhile rabbi, taught maine nan value of Shem Tov [Hebrew for ‘A Good Name’]”, he wrote. Doe’s lawyers astatine nan Wigdor firm, Black said, had “disregarded nan truth and behaved successful what I judge to beryllium profoundly unethical ways”.
“Not since my father’s decease 49 years agone person I felt specified symptom and seen specified wounded inflicted connected those I emotion … I cannot settee pinch Jane Doe and nan Wigdor firm, not only because of nan harm their lies person caused, but much importantly, because I don’t cognize really I could look my children and grandchildren successful nan eyes and thatch them nan value of Shem Tov.”
Invoking his father’s decease successful a missive to Rakoff was a striking choice. Black’s father, Eli Black, had been a socially salient New Yorker and nan CEO of a world company, nan Chiquita banana importer United Brands. But connected 3 February 1975 Eli Black killed himself by jumping retired of nan model of his 44th level agency successful nan Pan Am Building connected Park Avenue. After his death, it was revealed that he had authorized a $2.5m bribe to nan President of Honduras successful a bid to get little export taxes connected bananas. When United Brands was yet charged pinch criminal conspiracy connected relationship of nan scheme, Eli Black was, according to nan New York Times, posthumously named arsenic a co‐conspirator.
While Black did not stock immoderate specifications of his father’s decease and its aftermath successful his entreaty to Rakoff, he did not request to; nan rising prima national charismatic who charged United Brands was nary different than a young Jed Rakoff.
Judge Rakoff declined to remark connected questions astir nan individual message.
As pinch different documents he received during nan Doe inquiry, Rakoff did not participate nan missive containing Black’s individual entreaty into nan JP Morgan people action’s publically accessible docket.
Lawyers and ineligible experts nan Guardian said to said they recovered Rakoff’s determination to make his oversight domiciled ex parte to beryllium unusual.
One point that sets people action cases isolated from different cases is nan “level of transparency” required, said Chris Seeger, a people action lawyer who was co-lead counsel connected a people action suit against nan NFL. “Everything you do is retired successful nan open, that’s nan full thought … No broadside deals. No secrets,” Seeger said.
Rakoff ruled to rescind Doe’s $2.5m JP Morgan allocation successful its entirety connected 31 July 2024, little than 2 weeks aft receiving Black’s individual appeal. He besides withdrew her from nan US Virgin Islands (USVI) Mental Health money for Epstein survivors, a people of which she was now officially nary longer a member.
For Doe, it was a crushing blow, her adoptive mother told nan Guardian.
As Doe would recount astir 1 twelvemonth later successful a sealed tribunal declaration successful her declare against Black, Black’s missive to Rakoff “was accepted without announcement to maine and was apparently considered anterior to a last ruling, contempt raising emotionally laden arguments astir [Black’s] characteristic and suffering. Meanwhile, I was ne'er permitted to taxable a narrative, effect statement, aliases rebuttal.”
She besides had “serious concerns astir inappropriate power and access”, saying she had “no balanced means” of communicating pinch nan court. “That Defendant’s squad had specified entree underscores nan systemic imbalance that plagued these proceedings,” she wrote.
Judge Rakoff declined to comment.
The sealed declaration, which was seen by nan Guardian, besides deed backmost against immoderate of nan claims Doe said were made by Brad Edwards. Doe claimed, for example, that Edwards had asserted that nary different victims had recognized Doe, moreover though – Doe claimed – he had only consulted 2 individuals. Doe said Edwards had besides dismissed “physical evidence” that supported her “connection to Epstein”, including photographs from Martha’s Vineyard, by stating Epstein had not been to Martha’s Vineyard. In fact, Doe said, location is grounds Epstein spent clip connected nan island, which has subsequently been reported by ITV News and the New York Times.
Edwards did not respond to nan Guardian’s questions astir Doe’s claims.
Doe pushed back, too, against claims that person been submitted to nan tribunal astir her by an interrogator moving for Black’s ineligible team, for illustration nan declare that she had a “personality disorder”, not autism, and that her biologic family said that Doe had a “history of making up alternate realities”. Doe’s ain records, a personification acquainted pinch nan matter said, show she was legally adopted arsenic an big successful nan authorities of Virginia for “good cause”. Medical documentation, which nan root said was submitted to nan court, confirmed her autism test and post-traumatic accent upset stemming from semipermanent intersexual abuse. The aesculapian grounds besides states Doe has nary history of characteristic upset aliases psychosis, nan root said.
Doe was urged by her attorneys to entreaty Rakoff’s determination to rescind her $2.5m award, according to a sealed declaration she later filed.
But connected 21 August 2024, conscionable 3 weeks aft Rakoff rescinded Doe’s allocation, Rakoff signed disconnected connected a stipulation – betwixt Doe and nan JP Morgan colony money for Epstein survivors – granting Doe a $200,000 settlement, according to a tribunal filing seen by nan Guardian. This made her eligible – erstwhile again – to participate successful nan USVI Mental Health Fund.
Judge Rakoff did not respond to nan Guardian’s questions astir nan August 2024 colony stipulation.
Last month, connected 23 April, Judge Clarke, who is presiding complete Doe’s suit against Black, issued a 76-page ruling successful consequence to Black’s mobility for nan lawsuit against him to beryllium dismissed. Doe’s erstwhile lawyer, Jeanne Christensen of Wigdor, and Doe, had “engaged successful serious, sanctionable misconduct”, Clarke found. Christensen had “lied many times to nan tribunal and to opposing counsel” astir what was happening successful nan JP Morgan Doe enquiry and had besides “directed” Doe to “destroy a applicable societal media account” that Doe had utilized to “communicate publically astir her experiences arsenic a purported Epstein victim”. Clarke besides wrote that Doe had “falsified” 3 sonogram images, retired of a full of 11 sonograms, that had been included successful Doe’s journals.
Wigdor withdrew arsenic counsel for Doe days aft disavowing 3 of nan sonograms. Doe is now representing herself successful nan proceeding.
Estrich, Black’s attorney, said successful a connection to nan Guardian: “The only point that matters is that a national judge recovered arsenic a matter of truth that Jeanne Christensen, nan Wigdor rule patient and Jane Doe lied … They are being punished by nan national court. Nothing they opportunity has immoderate credibility. They are liars and should beryllium wholly ignored.”
While nan bid was wide seen successful property reports arsenic a superior rebuke of Doe and her ineligible team, Judge Clarke said nan misconduct “need not doom” Doe’s case. The lawsuit will proceed.
Christensen, nan lawyer astatine Wigdor, did not respond to nan Guardian’s questions. Douglas Wigdor, nan rule firm’s founding partner, said successful a property connection successful consequence to nan order: “While we are upset astir nan sanction, we are pleased that our erstwhile customer will get her time successful court.”
In a missive submitted to Judge Clarke this week that referenced nan sanctions, lawyers for Wigdor and Christensen asked for support to record nether seal a mobility for reconsideration. Wigdor besides recently revenge a abstracted lawsuit against Black, claiming he has deployed “multiple frivolous and malicious lawsuits” arsenic retaliation for representing accusers. His lawyers rejected nan claims.
In her connection to nan Guardian, Doe said she began her lawsuit arsenic an effort to activity accountability, but she believes her suit has “become thing overmuch broader”.
“It has go astir what happens erstwhile a strategy meant to supply justness alternatively becomes different root of harm. I person faced retaliation, misrepresentations, nationalist scrutiny, and repeated efforts to undermine my credibility. I person been near to navigate this process alone, pinch constricted time, constricted resources, and overwhelming individual cost,” she wrote. “There were moments erstwhile I did not cognize if I could continue. But I made a committedness to myself that I would not stop,” she wrote.
