The Independent February 21, 2026

Ghislaine Maxwell Fights Release of 90,000 Epstein Files

Documents released in the Epstein files investigation.

Ghislaine Maxwell is opposing the release of approximately 90,000 additional documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, according to court filings.¹ The legal effort comes as law enforcement and journalists continue to review previously released files that have already led to high-profile developments, including the arrest of Prince Andrew in London.⁴

Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking, filed objections to the document release through her legal team.¹ The materials are part of ongoing civil litigation related to Epstein’s activities.

The effort to block the release follows months of public scrutiny after previous batches of Epstein-related documents were unsealed under court order.

New Names Surface in Existing Documents

A former secretary to ex-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was named in recently released Epstein documents, according to Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansı.² The report did not specify the nature of the reference or provide additional details about the connection.

The revelation adds to a growing list of political and business figures identified in the documents, which span multiple countries and decades of Epstein’s activities. Previous releases have included flight logs, address books, and depositions from civil cases.

Gates Faces Scrutiny at India Summit

Bill Gates became the subject of controversy at an artificial intelligence summit in India, with his past meetings with Epstein cited as a point of contention.³ The Microsoft co-founder has previously acknowledged meeting with Epstein multiple times, saying in a 2021 interview that it was a “huge mistake.”

Gates told The Wall Street Journal in 2019 that he met with Epstein to discuss philanthropy.³ The New York Times reported in 2019 that Gates met with Epstein on multiple occasions starting in 2011, years after Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor.

The backlash at the India AI summit reflects ongoing public attention to prominent figures who maintained contact with Epstein, even after his initial criminal conviction.

Ohio Governor Defends Wexner Despite Epstein Ties

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said he supported billionaire Leslie Wexner despite Wexner’s business and financial ties to Epstein, according to Politico.⁵ DeWine made the comments when asked about public officials’ associations with individuals connected to the Epstein case.

Wexner, the founder of L Brands (now Bath & Body Works), gave Epstein power of attorney over his finances in the 1990s.⁵ Wexner has said he severed ties with Epstein in 2007 after learning of his “inappropriate” behavior and that Epstein had misappropriated millions of dollars from his fortune.

DeWine declined to comment on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem when asked during the same exchange with reporters.⁵

Wexner testified before Congress about his relationship with Epstein earlier this year, drawing criticism from some lawmakers who questioned his account. Rep. Nadia Ansari (D-Ohio) publicly stated she doubted the credibility of Wexner’s testimony, according to previous reporting by this publication.

Newsrooms Deploy AI to Analyze Document Trove

News organizations are using artificial intelligence tools to analyze the massive volume of Epstein-related documents, according to a report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University.⁴ The techniques allow reporters to search through thousands of pages for specific names, dates, and locations more quickly than manual review.

The Reuters Institute report noted that the document releases have led to significant news developments, including the arrest of Prince Andrew.⁴ British authorities arrested the Duke of York on charges related to sharing documents in the Epstein case, according to previous reporting.

The AI-assisted reporting methods represent a shift in how journalists handle large-scale document releases. Previous investigative projects involving leaked or unsealed files, such as the Panama Papers, also employed computational methods to organize and analyze data.

The use of technology has accelerated the pace at which reporters can identify newsworthy information in the Epstein files, though verification of facts and context still requires traditional journalistic methods.

Maxwell’s Legal Strategy

Maxwell’s opposition to releasing the 90,000 documents marks her latest legal effort since her conviction in December 2021.¹ A federal jury found her guilty of five counts related to recruiting and grooming underage girls for Epstein to abuse between 1994 and 2004.

The documents Maxwell seeks to keep sealed likely include depositions, emails, and other materials from civil cases filed by Epstein’s accusers. Previous document releases have come from defamation litigation brought by Virginia Giuffre against Maxwell, which was settled in 2017.

Courts have gradually unsealed materials from that case and related litigation over the past several years, with judges weighing public interest against privacy concerns for individuals named in the documents. The legal standard generally requires a compelling reason to keep court documents sealed, though exceptions exist for sensitive personal information.

Maxwell’s attorneys have not publicly detailed their specific objections to the release of the additional 90,000 documents.¹ The court has not yet ruled on the motion.