A major investigation by the BBC has revealed that nearly 90 flights linked to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein arrived at or departed from UK airports, with British women who allege they were trafficked onboard.
Flight Logs Reveal UK Movements and Victims
The analysis of thousands of court documents and papers released by Epstein's estate identified 87 flights connected to Epstein using UK airports between the early 1990s and 2018. Many of these flights were previously unknown to the public.
Among the passengers listed were unidentified "females" travelling into and out of the country. Crucially, the BBC found that three British women who allege they were trafficked appear in Epstein's flight records and related documents. Shockingly, 15 of the UK flights took place after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting sex from a minor.
UK Police Under Scrutiny for Lack of Investigation
US lawyers representing hundreds of Epstein's victims told the BBC it was "shocking" that Britain has never launched a "full-scale UK investigation" into his activities in the country. This sentiment is underscored by the experience of one British victim.
Testimony from that woman was instrumental in convicting Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, of child sex-trafficking in the US in 2021. Despite her crucial role in that case, her Florida-based lawyer, Brad Edwards, revealed she has never been contacted by police in the UK.
In a statement to the BBC, the Metropolitan Police said it had "not received any additional evidence that would support reopening the investigation." However, they added: "Should new and relevant information be brought to our attention", including from US document releases, "we will assess it."
Mounting Pressure for Full Disclosure
The revelations come amid significant pressure for transparency in the US. A bill to release all government files related to Epstein passed the House and Senate last month, despite strong opposition from former President Donald Trump. The US Justice Department has until 19 December to comply, with hundreds of thousands of documents expected to be made public.
In a further development, a federal judge ruled last week that the department could publicly release investigative materials from the sex-trafficking case against Maxwell. Epstein's longtime confidante is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her crimes.
The BBC's findings raise urgent questions about the extent of Epstein's network in the United Kingdom and the adequacy of the official response to his crimes on British soil.
