Feb 8, 2026, 8:31 p.mFeb 8, 2026, 8:31 p.m
Ghislane Maxwell probably had a German press card.Image: keystone
A press card appeared in the investigation files into the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which appears to have a connection to a German journalists’ association. The document is made out to Epstein confidant Ghislane Maxwell, who is currently in prison, and is valid in 2017, according to two scans in the files, each showing the front of the ID card. The “Spiegel” first reported about it.
Journalists receive a press pass to gain access to authorities and ministries. Journalists with press passes are also allowed on site at events or emergencies. It remained unclear why Maxwell should have applied for a press pass – and why it should have been issued. The document is an international press card from the International Federation of Journalists. The document is assigned to the German Journalists’ Union (dju) within the Verdi union.
Verdi announced that such an international press card (IPC – International Press Card) is valid for two years, so it would have to have been issued in 2015 or 2016. “We do not have any centrally accessible data on a process that occurred more than ten years ago,” it continued.
Application documents destroyed
The case cannot be clarified specifically: “According to our data protection concept, application documents are only stored for a specific purpose and are regularly destroyed after the year in which the application is submitted. “It can therefore be assumed that there is no longer any data or evidence on site that corresponds to the validity of the IPC,” says Verdi.
Maxwell was sentenced in 2022. According to the verdict, she played a central role in setting up the abuse ring that the multimillionaire Epstein ran for years from New York. Dozens of young women and minors fell victim to the abuse ring. In 2019, Epstein died in prison at the age of 66, before any further sentencing could have taken place.
The financier had excellent contacts in high society, which led to numerous speculations about the scope of the scandal. The law finally ordered the publication of the files, which US President Donald Trump had long resisted.
Congress subpoenas Maxwell
Maxwell was expected to testify in the US Parliament in Washington on Monday (February 9). However, it is expected that she will not answer specific questions in the non-public meeting at which, according to the media, she will be involved. Instead, she is likely to rely on the US Constitution, according to which no one has to testify against themselves. Congress has been working on the Epstein case for a long time. (sda/dpa)