French prosecutors confirmed Friday that around ten people who hadn’t previously reached out now say they were victimized by Jeffrey Epstein’s trafficking network, expanding the probe into possible crimes committed in France or involving French accomplices. The late financier died in 2019 while awaiting trial in the U.S. on sex trafficking charges, closing his criminal case but leaving open civil and international investigations worldwide. These new accounts signal the case isn’t closed in Europe, where law enforcement continues to dig into Epstein’s operations and the networks that helped him move money and people across borders. The prosecutors did not say whether the new victims were minors or adults, or specify when the alleged abuse occurred, but stressed the fresh leads could reshape the scope of the French investigation moving forward. Their identities remain confidential under French law, protecting victims while shielding investigations from public interference. French courts have already convicted several associates of Epstein, including Ghislaine Maxwell Ghislaine Maxwell, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2022 for trafficking underage girls for Epstein. Maxwell’s conviction hinged partly on testimony from victims who came forward years after their abuse, showing how long it can take for survivors to feel safe speaking out. These new voices suggest the French case could still grow, especially if prosecutors uncover links to other countries where Epstein operated. The probe now includes examining how Epstein’s network moved money through French banks and whether French officials or elites turned a blind eye to his activities. Investigators are also looking into Epstein’s frequent trips to Paris and the Riviera, where he owned properties and hosted high-profile gatherings that sometimes involved underage girls. The new victims’ accounts could help prosecutors connect dots between Epstein’s U.S. operations and his European networks, filling gaps left by his death. So far, French authorities have not charged anyone in connection with the new leads, but the expansion shows the case remains active and could lead to further indictments. Survivors’ advocates say these disclosures underscore how Epstein’s crimes spanned continents, leaving a trail of unanswered questions that law enforcement is still untangling. The timing of these disclosures isn’t random—it comes as France faces renewed scrutiny over its handling of sex crimes, with recent laws making it easier for victims to seek justice decades after abuse occurred. This could embolden others with similar stories to come forward, knowing their accounts might finally be taken seriously. For now, prosecutors are reviewing the new evidence, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with international partners to see if these leads point to crimes committed on French soil or involving French citizens. The case remains open, and the public may hear more in the coming months as investigations progress.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: France 24
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 13:07 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #france24 · #world-news · #europe · #war · #conflict · #around

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Dez novas possíveis vítimas emergem na França, reacendendo o escândalo internacional que envolvia o bilionário Jeffrey Epstein.

A investigação francesa sobre a rede de tráfico e abuso sexual ligada ao falecido Jeffrey Epstein ganha novo fôlego com a chegada de dez novas potenciais vítimas, ampliando as suspeitas sobre a extensão das conexões do caso no país. Até então, a França já investigava figuras próximas a Epstein, incluindo empresários e políticos, em um escândalo que transcende fronteiras e relembra os abusos cometidos nos EUA. Para o Brasil, onde o tema da exploração sexual e do abuso de poder tem ganhado cada vez mais atenção, o caso serve como alerta sobre os riscos de redes internacionais de exploração, especialmente em um contexto de globalização e trânsito de pessoas entre continentes.

Com as novas denúncias, as autoridades francesas devem intensificar as buscas por evidências e possíveis cúmplices, enquanto a sociedade brasileira acompanha de perto os desdobramentos, questionando se o país também pode estar vulnerável a esquemas semelhantes.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

Una nueva oleada de testimonios está reabriendo las heridas de uno de los escándalos más oscuros de Francia. Al menos diez posibles víctimas se han presentado en las últimas semanas para denunciar presuntos abusos vinculados a la red de Jeffrey Epstein, ampliando así las investigaciones sobre su trama de explotación sexual y las conexiones que pudo tener en el país galo.

El caso, que ya arrastraba años de silencio y obstáculos legales, gana ahora un impulso inesperado gracias a los relatos de estas nuevas afectadas. Las pesquisas no solo buscan esclarecer el papel de Epstein y sus cómplices, sino también desentrañar posibles encubrimientos por parte de figuras poderosas de la política, el arte o los negocios en Francia. Para los hispanohablantes, este episodio recuerda la impunidad con la que operaban estas redes de explotación, así como la necesidad de que las víctimas encuentren justicia sin importar el tiempo transcurrido.