"Judge Orders Release of Jeffrey Epstein's Associates' Names in Court Documents"

A federal judge has ordered the release of court documents containing the names of over 150 individuals connected to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, including sex abuse victims, witnesses, and Epstein's employees. The judge stated that most of the names were already public and that many had not objected to their release. Individuals mentioned in the documents have until January 1 to appeal the order. The judge also determined that some portions of the records should remain confidential, particularly those identifying individuals who were children when they were sexually abused by Epstein. The case has sparked conspiracy theories about the involvement of powerful figures in sex trafficking, but the criminal cases have focused on Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial, and Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence.