Epstein accuser sues over rape as questions swirl about his death
● Daughter of disgraced UK press baron among those facing lawsuit
Prison guards on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein apparently killed himself are suspected of falsifying log entries to show they were checking on inmates every half-hour as required, according to a source familiar with the investigation into the US financier’s death.
Surveillance video shows warders never made some of the checks noted in the log, said the person, who was not authorised to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Those details came amid new developments yesterday in the fight over Epstein’s estate, with a woman filing a lawsuit claiming he raped her when she was a teenager in 2002.
Jennifer araoz sued epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell and three unnamed members of his staff – the first of many lawsuits expected to be filed by Epstein’s accusers as a state law came into effect that opens up a one-year window for victims of long-ago sex crimes to take legal action.
Ms Maxwell is a daughter of disgraced former UK press baron Robert Maxwell, who died after falling from his boat in unexplained circumstances in 1991.
“Today is my first step towards reclaiming my power Jeffrey Epstein and his enablers stole from me,” Ms Araoz said.
The lawsuit accuses Ms Maxwell of helping Epstein recruit teenage girls and providing “organisational support to Epstein’s sex trafficking ring”.
Ms Maxwell’s publicist and lawyers did not respond to emails seeking comment. She has denied wrongdoing.
Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating whether any Epstein associates will face charges.
Epstein, 66, is believed to have killed himself early on Saturday at the federal Metropolitan Correctional Centre in New York, where he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The cause of death has not been announced but a person familiar with operations at the jail said Epstein was discovered in his cell with a bedsheet around his neck.
His death prompted the Justice Department to place two guards on leave and remove the jail’s warden pending the outcome of investigations by the FBI and the department’s inspector general. Falsifying log entries can be a federal crime.
The case has thrown a spotlight on chronic understaffing at the jail, which has long been used to house some of the world’s most notorious criminals, including mobsters, drug lords and terrorists.
A person familiar with the jail’s operations said a guard in Epstein’s unit was working a fifth straight day of overtime and another guard was working mandatory overtime.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he lacked authorisation to discuss jail operations.
Last month Epstein had been put on suicide watch, with 24-hour monitoring and daily psychiatric evaluations, after he was found on the floor of his cell with bruises on his neck.
He was taken off suicide watch at the end of July.